NEA® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card* vs. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
The NEA® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card* is nearly identical to the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. The main difference is that the NEA Customized Cash Rewards is targeted toward educators and other members of the National Education Association. Both cards come with no annual fee and the ability to earn up to 3% in an eligible category of your choice.
The regular version offers a $200 online cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. You can apply the bonus as a statement credit rather than receiving an Amazon gift card. The NEA-branded version also has a lower minimum spending requirement, which is helpful if you want to earn a welcome offer with less spending.
NEA® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card* vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is another option with no annual fee. With the Freedom Unlimited, you’ll earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year.
You might come out ahead with the NEA Customized Cash Rewards card if a majority of your spending is in a 3% bonus category and/or at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. But if your spending is spread around in multiple categories, the higher everyday cash back with the Freedom Unlimited card (1.5% vs. 1%) may make it the better choice.
NEA® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card* vs. Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is another card that gives a high bonus amount for spending in one specific eligible category. With the Custom Cash card, you’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025 and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
You get a higher percentage of cash back and your eligible bonus category is chosen automatically, but that comes with the tradeoff of a lower maximum bonus spending threshold.
There’s also a $0 annual fee and a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from date of account opening on purchases and from date of first transfer for balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. There is also a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.