Is the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card Worth the $550 Annual Fee?
Yes. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card hands back up to $570 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $550 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $550 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
Every credit, broken down
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card offsets its fee with statement credits and benefits. Here is every one, with the most you can get from each per year. Remember that credits only count if you would have spent that money anyway, and some renew on a monthly or semi-annual schedule you have to use or lose.
| Credit or benefit | Up to |
|---|---|
| Up to $300 airline incidental fee credit annually | $300 |
| Up to $150 lifestyle credit annually (streaming, food delivery, fitness, rideshare) | $150 |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit (up to $120 every 4 years) | $120 |
| Total stated value | $570 |
If you use all of it, that is $570 back against a $550 fee, which covers the fee on its own.
What you earn on spending
Credits are only half the story; the card also earns rewards every time you swipe. On $29,160 of annual spending, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card earns about $461 a year at a flat 1 cent per point. The figure below is based on a typical household budget. See the full category breakdown in our Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card review, or run your own numbers in the rewards calculator.
The break-even
Add it up. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card costs $550 a year. Its credits return up to $570, and everyday rewards add about $461. That is a net of $481 in your favor every year you hold it, before any welcome bonus. First-year holders also collect a welcome bonus worth about $750, pushing the first-year total to roughly $1,231.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card worth the annual fee?
- Yes. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card hands back up to $570 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $550 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $550 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
- How do you offset the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card annual fee?
- Use the statement credits first: the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card offers up to $570 a year, enough to cover the fee by itself. Everyday rewards add roughly $461 more on a typical budget.
- Is there a no-annual-fee alternative to the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card?
- Yes. If you cannot clear the $550 fee, a no-fee card keeps every dollar of rewards as profit. See our ranked no-fee picks to compare.
