Compare the Features and Benefits of Chase Freedom Rise® and
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Chase Freedom Rise® is specifically aimed at those people who haven’t yet established credit, whether they are young or new to the country.

What’s great about this card is that unlike most “starter” credit cards, this credit card actually earns cash back and a handsome 1.5% cash back at that – all with no annual fee and it’s not a secured credit card, meaning you are being given credit the same as anyone else and you’ll be able to build your credit score by using the card and making on time payments. The cash back is awarded as Chase Ultimate Rewards points, but they are not transferable points – only cash back.

There are no intro 0% APR offers on this card so it’s best for someone that will be able to pay their bills on time and, ideally, in full.

A common question we get is the difference between the Chase Freedom Rise and Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Only the Rise is intended for those with little to no credit history. They both earn 1.5% cash back and both do charge a foreign transaction fee – but the similarities end there. If you have a credit history you would want to apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited for a larger credit line and many more card features and benefits.

With over 3,800 branches, Bank of America is a retail banking giant. It offers its Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card to customers who are looking to earn strong rates of cash back on all purchases, but don’t want to pay an annual fee.

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases

This card offers 1.5% cash back per dollar spent on all purchases, with no limits. This is very competitive for a card with no annual fee. This high rate of return comes at the expense of bonus categories, as this card doesn’t have any, like other cards do for things like travel and dining purchases.

Cash back rewards can be deposited into a Bank of America savings account, redeemed as a statement credit, or applied to an eligible Merrill account.

And unlike a Bank of America Travel Rewards card, you don’t get any statement credits towards baggage fees, or the purchase of vacation packages, just cash rewards.

However, Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn a 25%, 50% or 75% bonus on their rewards, depending on which tier they are in. And these are simple cash rewards, so you don’t have to redeem points to be rewarded.

Many cardholders will find this simple formula better than earning bonuses on some purchases, but a mere 1% on other purchases.

And your cash back rewards never expire so long as your account remains open and in good standing.

But what makes this card exceptional is the ability for Bank of America Preferred Rewards customers to earn as much as 2.625% cash back. That’s what you’ll get if you’re in one of the higher tiers of their program and earn a 75% bonus on your rewards earned. Others will earn a 25% or 50% bonus, which is still enough to take this card from competitive to remarkable.

Otherwise, this simple card is also one that’s light on benefits. There’s very little to no travel insurance or purchase protection policies, but you do get a free credit score, which most cards offer these days. One notable benefit is Bank of America’s Museums on Us program, which offers free access to hundreds of museums on the first full weekend of the month. This unique benefit can offer significant value to families, parents and other museum lovers.

There’s no annual fee for this card, but there is a 3% foreign transaction fee imposed on purchases processed outside of the United States. That leaves this card as a solid choice for those looking for a competitive, but basic cash back card rather than a travel rewards credit card.

However, if you also happen to be a Bank of America Premier Rewards member, then using this could be the most rewarding card that you could ever use.