How to Stop Payment on a Bank of America Check or ACH Transfer
What a stop payment does and when to use it
A stop payment is an instruction you give Bank of America to block a specific check or ACH transfer from leaving your account. Once you issue the stop payment, the bank will reject the payment if it has not already cleared. This works only for checks you wrote and ACH transfers you initiated—not for charges someone else made with your card or account number.
Stop payments are useful when you realize you made a mistake (wrong amount, wrong payee), when a check gets lost in the mail, or when you need to cancel a recurring ACH payment that you set up but no longer want. They do not reverse a payment that has already cleared; for that, you would need to contact the payee directly or file a dispute.
Bank of America charges a fee for stop payments. The fee varies depending on whether you use online banking, phone, or visit a branch, and whether you have a premium account. Check your current fee schedule on the Bank of America website or call your branch to confirm the exact cost before you request one.
Key Takeaways
- A stop payment blocks a check or ACH transfer before it clears, but only works if the payment has not already been processed by the receiving bank.
- You must provide Bank of America with the exact check number, amount, and payee name, or the ACH details (payee name, amount, and scheduled date) to stop the payment.
- Stop payments are not permanent; they typically last 180 days for checks and 120 days for ACH transfers, after which you may need to request a renewal.
- Bank of America charges a fee for each stop payment request, and the amount depends on how you submit the request and your account type.
- If a payment has already cleared your account, a stop payment will not reverse it; you will need to contact the payee or dispute the charge instead.
How to request a stop payment online or by phone
The fastest way to stop a check or ACH transfer is through your Bank of America online account. Log in, go to the Transfers section, and look for the option to stop a payment. You will need to enter the check number or ACH details (payee name, amount, and date scheduled). The system will confirm whether the payment is still pending or has already cleared.
If you do not have online access or prefer to speak with someone, call Bank of America customer service at the number on the back of your card or statement. Have your account number, the check number or ACH details, and the amount ready. The representative will process the stop payment over the phone and provide you with a confirmation number. Keep this number for your records.
You can also visit a Bank of America branch in person to request a stop payment. Bring your account information and details about the payment you want to stop. A teller can process it immediately, though you may still be charged the standard fee.
What information you need to provide
For a check stop payment, Bank of America will ask for the check number, the exact amount, the payee name, and the date you wrote the check. If you have the check in front of you, this information is easy to find. If you do not remember the exact amount or check number, look at your check register or recent bank statements.
For an ACH transfer stop payment, you will need the payee name (the company or person receiving the money), the exact amount, and the date the transfer is scheduled to leave your account. If the transfer is recurring (like a monthly subscription or loan payment), you may be able to cancel the entire series rather than stopping a single payment—ask the bank representative about this option.
The more accurate your information, the faster the bank can process your request. If you provide incorrect details, the stop payment may fail, and the original payment could still go through.
How long a stop payment lasts and what happens if it expires
A stop payment on a check typically remains in effect for 180 days from the date you request it. An ACH stop payment usually lasts 120 days. After that period, the stop payment expires, and if the original payment has not yet cleared, it could go through.
If you need the stop payment to last longer, you can request a renewal before it expires. Contact Bank of America and ask to extend the stop payment for another 180 days (for checks) or 120 days (for ACH transfers). You will likely be charged another fee for the renewal.
Once a payment actually clears your account—meaning the receiving bank has accepted and processed it—a stop payment no longer matters. The money is gone, and you cannot reverse it through the stop payment system. At that point, your only option is to contact the payee directly and ask for a refund or credit.
Stop payments versus canceling recurring payments
If you set up a recurring ACH payment (such as an automatic bill payment or subscription charge) and want to stop it, you have two options: stop a single upcoming payment, or cancel the entire recurring series.
Stopping a single payment is useful if you want to keep the recurring payment going but need to skip one month. Canceling the entire series is faster if you never want the payment to happen again. Many companies also let you cancel recurring payments directly through their website or customer service, which may be simpler than going through your bank.
If you cancel a recurring payment through Bank of America but the company continues to charge you, contact the company first to confirm the cancellation on their end. If they refuse to stop, you can then file a dispute with Bank of America for unauthorized charges.
What to do if a stop payment fails
Sometimes a stop payment does not work because the payment cleared before your request reached the bank, or because you provided incorrect information. If this happens, you will see the charge on your account statement.
Contact Bank of America immediately and explain that the stop payment did not go through. Ask whether the payment has fully cleared or is still processing. If it has cleared, the bank cannot reverse it, but you can file a dispute or chargeback if the payment was unauthorized or fraudulent.
If the payment was legitimate but you simply changed your mind, contact the payee directly and ask for a refund. Many companies will refund a recent payment if you ask within a few days. Keep the stop payment confirmation number and any correspondence with the payee in case you need to file a dispute later.
Stop payments for lost or stolen checks
If you wrote a check and it got lost in the mail or you suspect it was stolen, a stop payment is the right tool. Request the stop payment as soon as you realize the check is missing, and provide Bank of America with all the details you remember.
If the check does turn up and clears your account after you have already issued a stop payment, the bank will reject it and return it to the payee marked "stop payment." The payee will then contact you, and you can reissue the payment through a different method (ACH, wire transfer, or a new check).
For added security, consider asking the payee to confirm receipt of any replacement payment before you assume the original check was lost. This prevents you from paying twice by accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop a payment that already cleared my account?
No. Once a payment clears, the stop payment system cannot reverse it. You will need to contact the payee and ask for a refund, or file a dispute with Bank of America if the charge was unauthorized or fraudulent.
How much does a stop payment cost?
Bank of America charges a fee for each stop payment, but the amount varies by account type and how you submit the request. Check your account fee schedule or call your branch for the current fee.
Can I stop a payment someone else made with my account information?
A stop payment works only for payments you initiated yourself. If someone else used your account or card number without permission, contact Bank of America right away to report fraud and file a dispute instead.
What if the payee says they never received the payment after I stopped it?
If you stopped a check, the bank will return it to the payee marked "stop payment," and they should see it in their records. If you stopped an ACH transfer, the payee's bank will reject it. Ask the payee to check their bank records or contact their bank for proof of the rejection. You can then reissue the payment through a different method.
Do I need to stop a payment if I just want to cancel a subscription?
Not always. Many subscription services let you cancel directly through their website or app. Try that first. If the company continues to charge you after cancellation, then contact Bank of America to stop the ACH payment or dispute the charge.