Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards vs Discover it® Student Cash Back

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
VS
Discover it® Student Cash Back
The short answer: The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Bank of America® Customized Cash RewardsDiscover it® Student Cash Back
Annual feeNo annual feeNo annual fee
Welcome offer$200 online cash rewards bonusCashback Match in year 1
Dining3x1x
Groceries2x1x
Gas3x1x
Travel3x1x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$491$292
Points typeCash back onlyCash back only
NetworkVisaDiscover

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards earns about $491 a year in rewards and the Discover it® Student Cash Back about $292, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards delivers more total value, about $199 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and dining. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards or the Discover it® Student Cash Back better?
On typical household spending, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards comes out ahead, by roughly $199 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Discover it® Student Cash Back can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards and the Discover it® Student Cash Back?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards or the Discover it® Student Cash Back?
As of June 2026, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards offers $200 online cash rewards bonus and the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers cashback match in year 1. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.