How do I redeem my Bank of America rewards?

Bank of America rewards points are worth up to 1 cent per point. The exact ammount depends on which BofA rewards card you have and how you redeem the points.

For example, points from the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card are worth $0.01 each when redeemed for travel credits (1,000 points = $10). They’re worth $0.006 per point (1,000 points = $6) when redeemed for cash, and gift card redemption values vary.... read full answer

Meanwhile, all points earned with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card are worth $0.01 per point.

Other points-earning BofA credit cards are co-branded with specific companies. The Free Spirit Airlines Credit Card, the Free Spirit Airlines Credit Card with No Annual Fee, and the Sonesta Credit Card are a few of them. Many have different point-redemption values, too.

You should redeem credit card rewards as often as possible, whether they’re points, miles, or cash back. It is important to redeem often because credit card rewards can be devalued or expire, depending on the type of rewards they are.

The longer credit card rewards earnings stay in your account unredeemed, the more time they’re subject to devaluation, the more likely they are to expire, and the less you actually get to benefit. Rewards don’t get you anything until you put them to use, after all.... read full answer

Reward Expiration and Devaluation

Just because you earned your credit card rewards fair and square doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll retain their value, or that they’re yours forever. Some credit card rewards expire after a certain amount of time if you don’t redeem them. In fact, some credit card terms state that other events, such as a late payment or even prolonged account inactivity, can put your rewards in jeopardy. So it’s a good idea to read the terms closely.

However, making sure you’re aware of everything in the card’s terms may not be enough. Many credit card companies have language in their terms allowing them to change the rewards structure at any time. They can change rules that govern which purchases earn rewards, how much your miles or points are worth, and anything else about the rewards program. For example, a credit card company can decide your 30,000 points are worth $250 rather than $300.

Redeem Rewards Often

The possibility for change in credit card rewards programs is reason enough to redeem your rewards often. Rewards from cash back credit cards are considered the most stable rewards, because they can’t be devalued by credit card companies. That doesn’t mean they can’t expire, though. And due to possible devaluation or expiration, miles and points should also be redeemed as often as possible.

Frequent Travelers May Want to Save Up

Miles and points can definitely serve people better when they’re saved up to redeem for travel. But expired or devalued miles and points won’t take you anywhere. That’s why it’s a good idea to pay for travel with a combination of points/miles and cash, if the rewards program allows it.

If you can’t pay for your travel accommodations partly with rewards and partly with a normal credit card purchase, stockpile points or miles with caution, and only after determining exactly when they could expire. Plus, if you’re not in a position to redeem points or miles regularly, you might get more value and enjoyment from a cash back credit card instead.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, knowing when and how to redeem credit card rewards to get the best value can be tricky, considering the obstacles of devaluation, expiration, and varying redemption rules. For instance, many credit card rewards programs have minimum redemption thresholds, meaning you can’t redeem your rewards until you collect a certain amount of them.

But there are solutions to such problems, and applying them to your situation can be very valuable. For example, some credit cards have the option to auto-redeem once your unused rewards hit a certain threshold. Doing that is a good idea if you don’t want to redeem for travel. That way, you’ll know your rewards won’t be sitting in your account, waiting for the rules to change.

The Mastercard reward points redemption process depends on the card. But keep in mind that rewards points are offered by the credit card issuers, not by Mastercard or any other network. So, cardholders will need to follow the instructions for their specific card issuer’s rewards program. Most of the time, it’s possible to redeem points through the cardholder’s online account, mobile app, or through a dedicated rewards website run by the issuer. It’s also often possible to redeem points over the phone.... read full answer

How to Redeem Mastercard Points Online

1. Log in to your online account with your user ID and password.
2. Find the accounts page and click the rewards tab.
3. Select your redemption option.
4. Redeem your rewards.

Typically, you can redeem Mastercard reward points for a variety of different things, like cash back/statement credits, travel, gift cards, merchandise, charitable donations, exclusive experiences and more. However, some issuers’ redemption options are more limited than others.

More info regarding Mastercard reward points

It’s important to keep in mind that the value of your points may depend on the redemption option. For example, you might get 1 cent per point toward travel but 0.5 cents per point toward cash back, or vice versa, depending on the card. So if you want to maximize your rewards, you should redeem Mastercard reward points for the options that give you the highest value per point.

It’s also a good idea to redeem often. Issuers have the power to devalue points (make them worth less) at any time, and some points expire after a certain amount of time.