Bank of America
Merrill Lynch Octave Black Card
Hover to explore — real card art from our catalog
Card review
Merrill Lynch Octave Black Card
Bank of America
Last updated September 21, 2026· Rates, fees, and credits from WalletFlo's OneCard catalog (refreshed hourly). Verify current terms on the issuer site.
Annual fee
$950
Welcome bonus
See issuer
Est. net value
$39/yr
Credit score
Varies
Top earn rate
2.5x everything else
Overview
How this card fits in your wallet — fees, value, and who it's built for.
The Merrill Lynch Octave Black Card from Bank of America carries a $950 annual fee. On WalletFlo's typical spend profile, the OneCard engine estimates $639.00 in rewards plus $350.00 in credits and perks — $39.00 net per year before welcome bonuses.
Earning rates
Category bonuses from our catalog — verify current offers on the issuer site.
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Everything elseAll Purchases | 2.5× |
Credits & benefits
Statement credits and perks we model in net-value calculations.
Credits
- Travel$350/yr
Is the annual fee worth it?
Quick breakeven from stated credits and perks — open the full tool to dig deeper.
Credits & perks vs fee
- Annual fee
- −$950
- Stated credits
- +$350
- Perks (est.)
- +$0
- Net after credits & perks
- -$600
Verdict
Fee exceeds stated credits & perks
You'll need enough rewards on your spend to cover the gap — model that below.
WalletFlo calculator tools
Micro-tools for this card — each opens a dedicated calculator with your context pre-filled where possible.
Reward Calculator
Estimate annual rewards and net value on your spend.
Side by Side Compare
Compare against another card with the same spend profile.
Is the Annual Fee Worth it?
See if credits and perks offset the annual fee.
Points & Miles → $ Converter
Convert points and miles to estimated cash value.
Awards vs Cash Calculator
Compare redeeming points for travel vs cash back.
Transfer Partner Calculator
Explore transfer partner conversions across programs.
Reward calculator
Model this card on your spend — adjust categories and compare with others.
Loading calculator…
Frequently asked questions
- What credit score do I need?
- Issuers generally look for good-to-excellent credit; exact thresholds vary.
- Is the annual fee worth it?
- See the annual fee analysis above, or open the full calculator to model credits and perks against $950 per year.