If you’ve been putting off that Bank of America credit card application, this might be the nudge you needed. Rakuten — the free browser add-on and app that pays you cash back for shopping through its links — just added Bank of America cards to its portal, and the bonuses are big: up to $275 on one card and $175 on another, according to an update from Doctor of Credit dated 6/22/26.
Why it’s notable: Per Doctor of Credit, this offer “matches the highest ever” recorded for one of the cards and is “close to the highest ever” for the other. In other words, this isn’t a routine promo — it’s near the top of the range these bonuses typically hit, which matters if you’ve been tracking Bank of America card offers and waiting for a good window to apply.
Who this is best for: This deal makes the most sense for households who were already planning to open a new credit card in the near future — not people chasing bonuses they don’t need. If you’re a Southern family gearing up for late-summer travel or back-to-school spending, routing a planned card application through Rakuten costs you nothing extra and adds a few hundred dollars in cash back on top of whatever the card’s own sign-up bonus offers. It’s also a smart move for value-seekers who already use Rakuten for everyday online shopping and want to stack that habit with a bigger one-time payout.
This is not a fit for anyone opening cards they don’t need just to chase a bonus, or anyone with an existing Bank of America relationship who wouldn’t qualify as a new applicant — most cash-back sign-up offers like this are restricted to new cardholders, so check the card’s terms before applying.
How it compares: Rakuten cash-back bonuses on credit cards fluctuate constantly — DoctorofCredit’s own tracking shows this offer sitting at or near record highs for both cards involved, which is the main reason it’s worth flagging now rather than waiting to see if it climbs higher.
Caveats: As with any Rakuten cash-back offer, payouts typically require you to apply through the Rakuten portal (not directly through the bank), be approved, and often meet a minimum spend within a set window — read the specific terms on the offer page before applying. These portal bonuses can also change or disappear without much notice, so if you’re already in the market for one of these cards, don’t sit on it too long.
Bottom line: If a new Bank of America card was already on your radar, this is a good moment to apply through Rakuten rather than going direct — you’d be leaving cash on the table otherwise. Check Rakuten’s portal for the current terms on both cards before you apply, and confirm the exact bonus amount and requirements at checkout, since these offers move quickly.