Bank of America is quietly rewarding cardholders who can drop $1,500 on new purchases over three months with a flat $175 credit. In practice, that’s about a 12 % rebate—roughly the cost of a short domestic flight you might have booked anyway.
The kicker is that the offer isn’t limited to premium cards. The source confirms the credit extends to cards without an annual fee, so even your basic checking‑linked card can qualify. All you have to do is coax the system into offering it.
There are two ways to pull the rabbit out of the hat. First, fire up the chat bot, tell it you want to close the card, and keep clicking “next” until the retention offer pops up (don’t hit the final “submit” if you want to keep the card). Second, ask Erica, Bank of America’s virtual assistant, whether any offers are available for your account. Both routes have worked for customers.
Don’t expect this to be a brand‑new promotion. The same $175 retention deal was being discussed back in 2023, and there’s even an 11‑year‑old guide that walks you through the nuances of retention offers across issuers. It’s a reminder that banks will often sweeten the pot if you’re already thinking of leaving.
Bottom line: If you have a $1,500 spend coming up—new phone, airline tickets, or a bulk grocery run—grab the $175 credit. If you’d have to shuffle money just to hit the threshold, the math flips and the “deal” feels more like a penalty. Either way, knowing the trick can save you a tidy chunk of change.