Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $550 | $595 |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 online bonus points | 75,000 ThankYou® Points |
| Dining | 2x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1.5x | 1x |
| Gas | 1.5x | 1x |
| Travel | 2x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 1.5x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $461 | $439 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 online bonus points | 75,000 ThankYou® Points |
| To earn it | $5,000 in 90 days | $6,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,231 | $1,294 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $481 | $544 |
The Citi Strata Elite℠ wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | Yes — Priority Pass | Yes — Priority Pass, Admirals Club |
| Annual credits | ~$570/yr (3 credits) | ~$700/yr (4 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Transferable to airline & hotel partners |
On perks and redemptions, the Citi Strata Elite℠ carries the heavier credit stack (about $700 a year); the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns transferable points with a higher redemption ceiling, while the other is capped nearer a flat cent. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Only the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns transferable points. Its Citi ThankYou move to American Airlines, Turkish, Avianca, and Air France-KLM, where a point can be worth several cents on a premium-cabin redemption, far above its cash value. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card pays flat cash back, worth about a cent, so its ceiling is nearer a penny per point no matter how you redeem.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card earns about $461 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata Elite℠ about $439, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card charges $550, but carries about $570 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $700 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The two are effectively tied on value, with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card marginally ahead, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, travel. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward dining.