How to Pay Your Bank of America Credit Card
How Bank of America processes your credit card payment
Bank of America accepts payments through several channels: online through their website or mobile app, by phone, by mail, or in person at a branch. When you send a payment, it enters their system and moves through an ACH transfer (if from another bank) or posts directly (if from a Bank of America account). The payment reduces your balance and stops interest from accruing on that amount going forward.
Payments made before your statement due date lower the amount you owe when the next bill arrives. Payments made after the due date are recorded as late, which triggers a late fee and reports to credit bureaus. Bank of America typically posts payments the same business day if you submit them before their cutoff time, usually 5 p.m. Eastern.
The minimum payment shown on your statement covers interest and a small portion of principal, but paying only the minimum means you carry a balance and pay interest charges month after month. Paying the full statement balance by the due date avoids all interest.
Key Takeaways
- Payments posted before your due date prevent late fees and credit damage, while payments after the due date trigger both immediately.
- Bank of America processes most payments the same business day if submitted before 5 p.m. Eastern, but mailed checks take 5 to 7 business days to arrive and post.
- Paying only the minimum keeps you in a cycle of interest charges; paying the full statement balance stops interest from accruing.
- You can set up automatic payments through your Bank of America account to ensure you never miss a due date.
- Late payments stay on your credit report for seven years and lower your credit score, affecting loan rates and other borrowing costs.
Paying online or through the mobile app
Log into your Bank of America account on their website or open the mobile app, then navigate to the credit card you want to pay. Select "Make a Payment" and enter the amount you want to send. You can pay the full balance, the minimum, or any amount in between.
Bank of America lets you choose the payment date, which is useful if you want to time the payment to match when you receive income. If you select a date in the future, the payment sits in a queue until that date, then posts. Payments submitted for today or tomorrow typically post within one business day.
The app and website both show your current balance, due date, and minimum payment in one place, so you can see exactly what you owe before you submit. This is the fastest and most common way to pay, and there is no fee.
Paying by phone or at a branch
Call Bank of America's payment line at the number on the back of your card. A representative will ask for your card number, the amount you want to pay, and the account you want to pay from. Payments by phone post the same business day if you call before the cutoff time.
You can also walk into any Bank of America branch and pay in cash or with a debit card at the teller window. The teller will process the payment immediately and give you a receipt. This method is useful if you do not have online access or prefer to handle money in person.
Both methods carry no fee, but calling or visiting takes longer than paying online. If you are close to your due date, online payment is faster and more reliable.
Paying by mail
Write a check to Bank of America, include your account number on the check, and mail it to the address shown on your statement. The envelope usually lists a separate mailing address for payments, different from the general correspondence address—use the payment address to avoid delays.
Mailed checks take 5 to 7 business days to arrive, and Bank of America may take another 1 to 2 business days to process and post the payment. This means a check mailed on a Monday might not post until the following Wednesday or Thursday. If your due date is soon, mail is too slow; use online payment instead.
Write the check for the exact amount you want to pay. Do not send cash by mail. Include only the check and the payment stub from your statement—do not include other documents, as they can slow processing.
Setting up automatic payments
Bank of America allows you to schedule recurring payments so money leaves your account on the same date each month without you having to remember. Log into your account, go to the credit card, and select "Set Up Auto Pay" or "Automatic Payments." Choose the amount (full balance, minimum, or a fixed dollar amount), the date you want it to post each month, and which account to pull the money from.
Automatic payments are useful if you want to ensure you never miss a due date. Many people set the payment for a few days before the due date, giving a buffer in case of processing delays. You can change or cancel the automatic payment at any time through your account.
If you set automatic payments for the full statement balance, your balance will be zero after each payment posts, and you will owe nothing until the next statement closes. This is the simplest way to avoid interest and late fees.
What happens if you miss a payment
If your payment does not arrive by the due date, Bank of America charges a late fee, usually between $25 and $39 depending on your card and how much you owe. The late fee appears on your next statement as a separate charge, increasing your balance.
A late payment also reports to the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and stays on your credit report for seven years. This damages your credit score, which lenders use to decide whether to lend you money and at what interest rate. A lower score means higher rates on mortgages, car loans, and other credit products.
If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, Bank of America may raise your interest rate on the card, sometimes to a penalty rate that is significantly higher than your regular rate. If you miss a payment by 60 days or more, the account may be referred to a collections agency.
If you realize you will miss a payment, call Bank of America before the due date and ask about options. Some cardholders can request a one-time late fee reversal or a short extension, though this is not may provide.
Understanding payment timing and posting
The day you submit a payment is not always the day it posts to your account. Online payments submitted before 5 p.m. Eastern typically post the same business day. Payments submitted after 5 p.m. or on a weekend or holiday post the next business day. Mailed checks post 5 to 9 business days after you mail them, depending on mail speed and Bank of America's processing time.
Your due date is the deadline for payment to post, not the deadline for you to submit it. If your due date is a Friday and you mail a check on that Friday, the check will not arrive and post until the following week, making it late. To be safe, submit mailed payments at least 10 business days before your due date.
Bank of America calculates interest daily based on your balance. If you pay part of your balance, interest stops accruing on the paid portion immediately, but continues on the remaining balance. Paying the full statement balance by the due date stops all interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Bank of America credit card from another bank's account?
Yes. Log into your Bank of America account and select the option to pay from an external account. You will need to provide the routing number and account number from the other bank. Bank of America will verify the account, which takes one to two business days, then you can use it for payments. Payments from external accounts are processed as ACH transfers and typically post within one business day.
What if I pay more than I owe?
Bank of America holds the overpayment as a credit on your account. The next time you make a purchase, the credit reduces the amount you owe. You can also request a refund of the overpayment by calling customer service, though some overpayments under $1 may not be refunded.
Does paying early help my credit score?
Paying before the due date does not hurt your score, but it does not help it either. Credit bureaus see only whether you paid on time or late, not how early you paid. What helps your score is paying the full statement balance by the due date, month after month, which shows lenders you manage credit responsibly.
How do I know if my payment posted?
Log into your Bank of America account and check your recent transactions or statement. Your current balance should reflect the payment. If you paid online, you should see confirmation on the screen immediately after submitting. If you paid by mail or phone, wait one to two business days, then check again.
What if I need to dispute a payment that posted?
Call Bank of America's customer service number on the back of your card and explain the issue. If you paid twice by accident or the payment amount was wrong, the bank can reverse the transaction and reissue a credit. Disputes are usually resolved within one to two business days.