If you are working on US credit cards, pursuing diversity in issuers is a good way to future-proof your plans. While many start out with American Express, moving on to Chase, Citibank, or Bank of America is a good next step. Earning different points currencies will pay off in the long run, plus access to different credit products is always a major plus.
But getting in with other financial institutions can be a struggle. I recently obtained my first card with Bank of America, and while it has been possible to get a card in-branch with them for years, I actually was able to get approved over the phone with an ITIN.
With that in mind, I wanted to share how you can get a Bank of America card with an ITIN, and why you should want to add a Bank of America card to your wallet.
Why You Should Want a Bank of America Credit Card
Bank of America has been a bit of a sleeper bank for me over the years, as it didn’t have any cards in its lineup that overly interested me. Sure, they issued two Alaska Airlines co-branded cards, but there were other ways to earn Alaska Miles, so I never felt too pressured to pursue this avenue. Plus, getting approved for a Bank of America card with an ITIN seemed much harder than it is today.
However, with the launch of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program (previously known as the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan), Bank of America now issues three incredibly valuable credit cards that earn Atmos Rewards points.
While these three cards offer great credits and benefits on Alaska Airlines, the real value is the points. Atmos Rewards points are a phenomenal currency when it comes to booking business and first class flights, and these cards are the only easy method to earn Atmos Rewards points en masse. For example, I recently booked a Calgary (YYC) to Frankfurt (FRA) business class flight on Condor for 55,000 Atmos Rewards points plus $72 USD in taxes and fees per person.
The Bank of America Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card is the most premium card in the lineup offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 Atmos Rewards points for an annual fee of $395 USD. This card offers many benefits on Alaska Airlines flights, but most notably for Canadians, it offers 3x Atmos Rewards points on any purchases in a foreign currency.
The Bank of America Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card earns 3x Atmos Rewards on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, dining, and foreign purchases.
80,000 Atmos Rewards points
$4,000
$1,840+
$395
No
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You can also earn a monthly 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® banking account. This makes the effective earn rate on foreign currency purchases an industry-leading 3.3%!
The Bank of America Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Card is a more entry-level card that offers a few basic Alaska Airlines benefits, plus a welcome bonus of 60,000 Atmos Rewards points for an annual fee of $95 USD.
The Bank of America Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Card earns 3 Atmos Rewards points on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, plus one free checked bag and preferred boarding when flying with either airline.
60,000 Atmos Rewards points
$3,000
$1,380+
$95
No
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The Bank of America Atmos Rewards Visa Signature Business Card is the business card in the lineup and has benefits very similar to the Ascent card. It offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 Atmos Rewards points for an annual fee of $70 USD.
The Bank of America Atmos Rewards Visa Signature Business Card earns 3 Atmos Rewards points on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, plus one free checked bag and preferred boarding when flying with either airline.
60,000 Atmos Rewards points
$4,000
$1,380+
$70
No
–
No matter the card you are interested in, any of these Atmos Rewards credit cards would be an excellent addition to your wallet as you start accruing valuable Atmos Rewards points to redeem for your next vacation.
How to get a Bank of America Credit Card with an ITIN
Apply In-Branch
Reed opened a Bank of America bank account and applied for a credit card in-branch in late 2021. His experience was mixed as he had to visit two different branches in Seattle until he found a rep who knew what they were doing and could process applications for non-resident aliens with ITINs.
That being said, he was able to successfully open a bank account and apply for a credit card in person, which he was eventually approved for. So, going in-branch will definitely work, but might require some persistence and speaking with a couple of advisors until you find one that can help you out.
If you want to learn more about Reed’s experience, see his article on opening US bank accounts for Canadians.
Apply Over The Phone
Applying for a Bank of America credit card over the phone was surprisingly simple, even as an ITIN holder. Locate the card that you want to apply for on the Bank of America and scroll down on that card page. You’ll find a phone number and a priority code. Make note of this priority code for when you call in to apply.
After calling in, the entire application process was pretty routine as it involved providing personal details and employment information, no different than any other credit card application.
I did let the representative know that I had an ITIN instead of an SSN when she asked for it, and there was no issue in using that number. I also stated that I am a Canadian citizen and a non-resident alien who spends a significant amount of time in the United States, in addition to providing my US address.
All in all, I did get instantly approved for the Bank of America Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card on the phone. The call took less than 20 minutes, and I should be receiving my card within the next 7-10 business days.
I will note that I did use and provide my Canadian phone number, but for those with a US number, such as Google Fi, it would be recommended to use and call with that number. You can run into issues using a Canadian phone number when it comes to two-factor authentication, and while it is a carrier-dependent issue, it is good to be aware of and mitigate this risk in advance.
Caveats To Be Aware Of
There are a few things to be aware of as an international Bank of America credit card holder. To keep it transparent up front, these comments are based on datapoints from others and users on other platforms, but I think it’s always important to stay apprised of the risks.
There is always the risk that even though you may have been approved when applying over the phone, you might eventually be required to go in-branch to verify your identity. I’m ok with this risk, and would gladly plan a one or two-night trip to the United States to resolve it, but others might not be as flexible. This risk can likely be mitigated by applying for the card in a branch in the first place.
There are a few datapoints of issues when the cardholder has had the majority of their spend in a foreign currency, and as a result, their account was shut down. While it seems counterintuitive, as they actually promote higher earning rates on foreign currency purchases on one of the cards, it is a risk to be aware of if you plan on using the card a lot in Canada.
Even with these potential risks, I still think it’s worth getting in with Bank of America as you look to diversify in US credit cards and start earning Atmos Rewards points.
Conclusion
If you are looking to branch out from American Express US cards, Bank of America might be a great option thanks to its valuable Atmos Rewards credit cards. Whether you choose to apply in-branch or over the phone, we wish you luck on your next application and hope you will find yourself earning Atmos Rewards points soon!
Josh Bandura
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I had trouble getting in with a BoA card. Received a rejection notice citing not enough credit history despite having US cards with Amex and Chase for a few years now. Perhaps it had to do with the reporting agency BoA used for my credit check. I’m not sure but will try again in the future or visit a branch as BoA does offer some good products.
Hey John,
Definitely would try in-branch at some point. The problem you are having with BoA is similar to the problems I’ve had with Chase despite having many years of US history. Sometimes things are just fickle I suppose.
Thanks for the information of getting the credit card from BoA. I followed Reed´s experience and opened a bank account in Seattle, but not with BoA, but with Chase, because of Reed´s mixed experience with BoA. I live in Germany and therefore in the same situation like somenone living in Canada with US cards. Chase instead was very easy and I am still happy with them. I recently got my first credit card with them. I tried to get my first credit card with Capital One a few weeks before. I got approved for their beginner card (Savor), but in the end I didnt get the card because they didnt verify my identity. They asked for US driving licence, which I dont have. A friend of mine with the same background got verified just with passport. He used the card for three month, than C1 closed the account from one day to another because of “suspicious activities”. Maybe because he used the card just outside the US, even if he payed every statement in time and the full amount. He lost all the points he collected. Yes, there is still a risk, getting US Cards and using them most of the time abroad (from the US). But I love the Condor Business Class. I travelled with condor from FRA to MIA and back in their Business class and I loved it. So I definitly want to get a card, that collect Atmos Rewards…