Bank of America points are transferable, but only to specific airline and hotel partners
If you hold a Bank of America rewards credit card, you can move your points to airline frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty accounts, but not to other banks or cash accounts. The transfer partners vary by card — a travel rewards card has different options than a cash-back card. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio in most cases, meaning 10,000 points becomes 10,000 airline miles or hotel points. The transfer happens when ready online, and you cannot reverse it once it goes through.
Not all Bank of America cards offer point transfers at all. If your card earns cash back only, you cannot transfer those rewards to a partner program — you can only redeem them as statement credits, travel purchases through the Bank of America portal, or deposits to a linked bank account. Check your card's rewards page or your online account to see which transfer partners are available to you.
Key Takeaways
- Bank of America points transfer only to airline and hotel partners, not to other credit card programs or banks.
- Transfer partners differ by card type — a travel card offers more airline and hotel options than a cash-back card.
- Points transfer when ready at a 1:1 ratio, and the transfer cannot be undone once submitted.
- Cash-back rewards from some Bank of America cards cannot be transferred to partners at all and must be redeemed as statement credits or account deposits.
Which Bank of America cards allow point transfers
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card lets you transfer points to more than a dozen airline partners, including American Airlines, United, Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue, plus hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and IHG. The Bank of America Premium Rewards card offers similar transfer options. Both cards earn points on all purchases and allow transfers with no minimum point requirement.
The Bank of America Cash Rewards card and the basic Bank of America Unlimited card do not offer transfer partners. These cards earn cash back, which you redeem as a statement credit, a deposit to your Bank of America checking or savings account, or a purchase through the Bank of America travel portal. If you want to move rewards to an airline or hotel program, you need a card that earns transferable points.
Business credit cards from Bank of America, such as the Business Advantage Unlimited card, also have their own reward structures. Some business cards offer point transfers to partners, while others do not. Log into your business account or call the number on the back of your card to confirm what transfer options are available.
How to transfer your points to an airline or hotel
Log into your Bank of America online account and navigate to the rewards or points section. Look for a link labeled "Transfer Points" or "Redeem Points." You will see a list of airline and hotel partners available for your card. Select the partner you want, enter the number of points to transfer, and confirm the transfer partner's frequent flyer or loyalty account number.
Bank of America will ask you to verify the account number before the transfer goes through. This step is important — if you enter the wrong account number, your points go to someone else's account, and Bank of America cannot retrieve them. Double-check the account number against your airline or hotel loyalty card or account login before you confirm.
Once you submit the transfer, the points appear in your airline or hotel account within 24 hours, though most transfers complete within a few hours. You will receive a confirmation email from Bank of America with the transfer details. Keep this email in case you need to reference the transaction later.
Point transfer ratios and minimum amounts
Most Bank of America point transfers happen at a 1:1 ratio — 5,000 points becomes 5,000 airline miles or hotel points. However, some premium cards or specific transfer partners may offer bonus ratios, such as 1.25:1 or 1.5:1, meaning your points are worth more when transferred to certain programs. Check the transfer page for your card to see if any bonus ratios are currently available.
Bank of America does not set a minimum number of points you must transfer, so you can move as few as 1,000 points or as many as your balance allows. However, some airline and hotel partners have their own minimums — for example, an airline might require a minimum transfer of 5,000 miles. If you try to transfer fewer points than a partner requires, the system will tell you before you confirm.
What happens after points are transferred
Once points land in your airline or hotel account, they are no longer Bank of America points — they are now airline miles or hotel points governed by that program's rules. You can use them to book flights, hotel stays, or other rewards that program offers. You cannot transfer them back to Bank of America or to a different airline or hotel.
The expiration rules for transferred points depend on the airline or hotel program, not Bank of America. Some programs expire miles or points after a period of inactivity, while others do not expire them at all. Before you transfer, check the partner program's website to understand when your points might expire and what activity keeps them active.
Alternatives if you do not want to transfer points
If you have a Bank of America card that earns transferable points but you prefer not to use transfer partners, you can redeem your points directly through Bank of America. You can use points to pay for flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel purchases booked through the Bank of America travel portal. Points redeemed this way are typically worth 1 cent per point, though the value can vary by purchase.
You can also redeem transferable points as a statement credit to offset a purchase on your card, though the redemption value is usually lower than transferring to a partner or booking through the travel portal. Some cards allow you to deposit points into a linked Bank of America bank account as a lump sum. Review your card's redemption options in your online account to see which method gives you the most value for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer points to someone else's airline account?
No. You can only transfer points to an airline or hotel account registered in your own name. Bank of America requires you to enter the account number, and the transfer goes to that specific account. You cannot gift points to a family member or friend by transferring them to their account.
What if I transfer points to the wrong airline account?
Once a transfer is submitted, Bank of America cannot reverse it or retrieve the points. The points belong to the account they were transferred to. Contact the airline directly to see if they can help, but they are under no obligation to move points between accounts. Always verify the account number before confirming a transfer.
Do transferred points count toward elite status in an airline program?
No. Transferred points count as miles or points in your account balance, but they do not count toward elite status qualification. Elite status is earned through paid flights or spending with the airline's credit card. Check the airline's website for its current elite qualification rules.
Can I transfer points from a closed Bank of America card?
No. Once you close a credit card, you lose access to transfer that card's points. If you have points on a card you plan to close, transfer them to an airline or hotel partner or redeem them before closing the account.