Bank of America is a traditional full-service bank with 4,300+ branches and comprehensive banking products, while Capital One is primarily a credit card and online banking specialist with lower fees and higher savings rates but limited branch access. BofA serves customers seeking in-person banking; Capital One appeals to those prioritizing competitive rates and digital-first banking.
Bank of America vs Capital One — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Full-service retail and commercial bank with extensive branch network and integrated investment services.
Major US credit card issuer focused on accessibility and rebuilding credit with diverse product offerings.
Physical Branch Network. Savings Account APY (2026). Monthly Maintenance Fees. Primary Business Focus. Credit Card Rewards (Best Offer). Minimum Opening Deposit. Mobile App Rating (2026)
Choose Bank of America if you value comprehensive financial services, extensive branch access for in-person transactions, and integrated wealth management tools. Choose Capital One if you prioritize competitive interest rates, zero monthly fees, and a streamlined digital-first banking experience focused on credit cards and savings accounts.
Bank of America: 3,800 | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 165+ | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 165+ full financial centers | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: Bank of America Premium Rewards (1.5x points) | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $30 billion client interactions | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: Advanced AI-personalized solutions | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: Standard rewards catalog (5-7 categories) | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 63 markets | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: Comprehensive wealth management focus | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: Highly rated with AI integration | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: Varies by account type ($500-$10,000) | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: Competitive with digital strengths | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: BofA: $3.6T | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 4,300 branches | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 16,000+ ATMs | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 38 million users | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 3.5% preferred categories | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $500-$2,500 | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $7.3 billion | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $2.9 trillion | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $35 per transaction | Capital One: $0 (with SafePass)
Bank of America: 6.49% | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 4.10% | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $2,950 billion | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 5,000+ | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 4,200+ branches | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 4.3 stars | Capital One: 4.3/5.0
Bank of America: $0 for brokerage | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $3.45 trillion | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 4,250 | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $500 | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 724 points | Capital One: N/A
Major Regulatory Enforcement Actions (2020-2025)
Bank of America: 3 actions | Capital One: N/A
Average APY on Savings (High-Yield Savings)
Bank of America: 4.35% APY | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 0.01% - 0.04% | Capital One: 4.70%
Bank of America: 4,300+ | Capital One: 0
Bank of America: 15,000+ | Capital One: 30,000+ (surcharge-free network)
Bank of America: 4.7/5 | Capital One: 4.8/5
Bank of America: $3.45 trillion | Capital One: $507 billion
Bank of America: 4,200 branches | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 16,000 ATMs | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $17.50 average | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 68/100 | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 4.1/5 stars | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 6.8% | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $12 (waivable) | Capital One: $0
Bank of America: 0.01% | Capital One: 4.60%
Bank of America: ~50% | Capital One: ~70%
Bank of America: Merrill Edge + full advisory | Capital One: None
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2025)
Bank of America: 0.01% | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $12 (waivable) | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 4,300+ | Capital One: 1,000+ partner locations
Bank of America: 64,000+ | Capital One: N/A
Customer Satisfaction Score (JD Power 2024)
Bank of America: 5.89% | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $100,000 | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: 0.01%-0.04% | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: $25,000 | Capital One: N/A
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 10+ airlines and partners
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 2.5% (2026)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 1 (uniform)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: Variable transfer rates
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: Basic
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 2x flat
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 4.05%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 3.99% - 8.99%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 3.2/5
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 620+
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 21.99% - 35.99%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 1-3 business days
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: $50,000
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 20+ cards
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 0% - 1%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 20+ million
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 7.99%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 5.5%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 35.99%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 3+ (loans, cards, deposits)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 1.5% (Quicksilver)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 5% (rotating categories)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 99%+ (Visa/Mastercard network)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: None (entry/mid-tier)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 8.99%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 29.99%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 0% - 8%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 2-3 business days
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: Varies by product (up to $100k+ for auto loans)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 195 million customers
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 4.20% - 4.35%
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 5% rotating
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: $475+
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: $495 (Venture X equivalent)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 1.5%
Top-Tier Card Rewards Rate (Select Category)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 5% (rotating)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 670+
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2024)
Bank of America: N/A | Capital One: 82/100
How to choose between Bank of America and Capital One
Bank of America vs Capital One — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Bank of America vs Capital One. Contains 118 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Bank of America vs Capital One — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Bank of America vs Capital One.
Capital One significantly outperforms with 4.20%-4.35% APY versus Bank of America's 0.01%-0.04% APY. On a $10,000 deposit, Capital One customers earn ~$428 annually while BofA customers earn $2.50—a difference of $425.50 per year.
Can I access my money in person at Bank of America or Capital One?
Bank of America has 4,300+ branches for in-person deposits and withdrawals. Capital One operates online-only with no branches, but provides surcharge-free access to 30,000+ ATMs nationally and accepts deposits via mobile app or mail.
Capital One's Quicksilver One card offers 5% cash back on rotating categories versus Bank of America's BankAmericard at 2% flat-rate. However, Capital One cards may carry annual fees ($39-$95), while BofA's top cards typically waive fees for premium customers.
Does Bank of America or Capital One charge monthly fees?
Bank of America charges $12-$25 monthly maintenance fees on most checking accounts (waived with $1,500+ balance or direct deposits). Capital One charges $0 monthly fees on all accounts regardless of balance.
Which is safer: Bank of America or Capital One?
Both are equally safe. Both are FDIC-insured institutions protecting deposits up to $250,000 per account. Bank of America is larger (ranked #1 by assets), while Capital One is the 8th-largest U.S. bank. Both carry top credit ratings from S&P, Moody's, and Fitch.
How to Choose Between Bank of America and Capital One
Physical Branch Network: Bank of America has 4,300+ branches nationwide, while Capital One has No physical branches (online-only).
Savings Account APY (2026): Bank of America has 0.01% - 0.04%, while Capital One has 4.20% - 4.35%.
Monthly Maintenance Fees: Bank of America has $12 (Advantage Checking average), while Capital One has $0 (all checking/savings accounts).
Primary Business Focus: Bank of America has Full-service banking (checking, savings, loans, wealth management, investment banking), while Capital One has Credit cards, savings accounts, and auto loans.
Consider: Credit Card Rewards (Best Offer)
Credit Card Rewards (Best Offer): Bank of America has 2% flat-rate (BankAmericard), while Capital One has 5% rotating categories (Quicksilver One).
Minimum Opening Deposit: Bank of America has $0 - $100 (varies by account), while Capital One has $0.
Mobile App Rating (2026): Bank of America has 4.1/5 stars (800K+ reviews), while Capital One has 4.3/5 stars (500K+ reviews).