The main ways to pay your Bank of America credit card
You can pay your Bank of America credit card through their website, mobile app, phone, mail, or in person at a branch. The fastest route is online or through the app—both process the same day if you pay before the cutoff time, usually around 8 p.m. Eastern. Phone payments take the same day if you call before 8 p.m. Eastern; mail takes 5 to 7 business days to reach them, and in-person payments at a branch post immediately.
Each method connects to the same account, so it does not matter which one you use—the payment reduces your balance the same way. The choice comes down to speed and what you have on hand: a debit card or bank account for online/phone, a check for mail, or your card itself for a branch visit.
Bank of America does not charge a fee for any of these payment methods. If a third party charges you to pay—like a bill-pay service or a wire transfer company—that fee comes from them, not from Bank of America.
Key Takeaways
- Online and mobile app payments post the same day if submitted before 8 p.m. Eastern; phone payments work the same way.
- Mail payments take 5 to 7 business days to arrive, so send them at least a week before your due date to avoid late fees.
- You can set up automatic payments from a Bank of America checking account or another bank account to pay on a date you choose each month.
- Payments made in person at a Bank of America branch post immediately and do not require a separate account.
Paying online through the Bank of America website
Go to bankofamerica.com, sign in with your username and password, and select your credit card account. Click "Make a Payment" or "Pay Now"—the exact wording varies by account type. Enter the amount you want to pay, choose the date (today or a future date up to 365 days out), and select where the money comes from: a Bank of America checking or savings account, or an external bank account you have already linked.
If you are paying from an external account for the first time, you will need to add it. Bank of America asks for the routing number and account number, which you can find on a check or in your other bank's app. The account takes 1 to 2 business days to verify; after that, you can use it for payments.
Once you submit the payment, you get a confirmation number on screen. Bank of America sends a receipt to your email. If you pay before 8 p.m. Eastern on a business day, the payment posts the same day; if you pay after 8 p.m. or on a weekend, it posts the next business day.
Paying through the Bank of America mobile app
Open the Bank of America app, tap your credit card, and select "Pay" or "Make a Payment." The steps are the same as the website: enter the amount, pick the date, and choose the account to pay from. You get a confirmation number and an email receipt. The timing is also the same—payments submitted before 8 p.m. Eastern on a business day post the same day.
The app also shows your current balance, due date, and minimum payment in one place, so you can see what you owe without logging into the website. If you set up a fingerprint or face ID on your phone, you can use that to sign in instead of typing your password each time.
Paying by phone or setting up automatic payments
Call Bank of America's credit card customer service at the number on the back of your card. A representative will ask which account you want to pay from and how much to send. Phone payments work the same day if you call before 8 p.m. Eastern on a business day. You do not need to be a Bank of America customer to pay this way—you can call from any phone and pay from any bank account.
If you want to pay the same amount on the same day each month, set up automatic payments through the website or app. Go to "Manage Payments" or "Autopay," enter the amount and the date, and choose which account to pull from. You can set it to pay a fixed amount (like $200), your minimum payment, or your full statement balance. Bank of America sends you a reminder email a few days before each automatic payment goes through, so you can cancel or change it if you need to.
Paying by mail or in person
To pay by mail, write a check to Bank of America and include your account number on the check. Mail it to the address on your statement or on the back of your card. Do not mail cash. Bank of America takes 5 to 7 business days to receive and post mail payments, so send it at least a week before your due date if you want to avoid a late fee.
If you have a Bank of America branch near you, you can walk in and pay in person. Bring your credit card or account number and a debit card or cash. The payment posts immediately—you do not have to wait for processing. You do not need a Bank of America checking account to do this.
What happens if you miss a payment or pay late
If your payment does not arrive by the due date, Bank of America charges a late fee. The amount depends on your card and your account history; it ranges from $25 to $40 for most cards. A late payment also appears on your credit report 30 days after the due date, which can lower your credit score.
If you realize you will miss the due date, call Bank of America before it passes. They cannot erase a late fee, but they may be willing to waive it once if you have a clean payment history. Paying even a day late still triggers the fee, so if you are close to the deadline, use online or phone payment to make sure it posts in time.
If you have already missed a payment, pay as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more interest accrues on the balance, and the damage to your credit score grows. After 60 days late, the interest rate on your card may increase. After 180 days late, Bank of America may close the account and send it to a collection agency.
Paying more than the minimum or paying off the full balance
You can pay any amount you want, at any time. Paying more than the minimum reduces your balance faster and saves you money on interest. If you pay the full statement balance by the due date, you owe no interest at all—this is how credit cards work best for your wallet.
When you make a payment, it first covers any interest and fees, then reduces your principal balance. If you have a 0% introductory rate on purchases or transfers, paying more than the minimum still counts toward that balance, so the interest-free period applies to whatever you owe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Bank of America credit card with another credit card?
No. Bank of America does not accept credit card payments for credit card balances. You must pay from a bank account (checking or savings), with cash, by check, or with a debit card. Paying a credit card with another credit card through a third-party service counts as a cash advance and charges a fee and higher interest rate.
What if I pay from a bank account at a different bank?
You can link an external bank account to your Bank of America credit card and pay from it online or through the app. The first time you add an account, it takes 1 to 2 business days to verify. After that, payments from that account post on the same schedule as payments from a Bank of America account—the same day if submitted before 8 p.m. Eastern on a business day.
How do I know if my payment went through?
Bank of America sends an email receipt immediately after you submit a payment online, through the app, or by phone. You can also log into your account and check the transaction history, which shows all payments and their status. If a payment is scheduled for a future date, it appears as "pending" until that date arrives.
Can I cancel a payment after I have submitted it?
If the payment is scheduled for a future date, you can cancel it through the website or app before that date arrives. If the payment has already posted or is scheduled for today, you cannot cancel it. For automatic payments, you can turn them off anytime through "Manage Payments" or "Autopay."
What is the best way to pay if I want to avoid interest?
Pay your full statement balance by the due date. The due date appears on your statement and in your online account. If you pay only the minimum, interest accrues on the remaining balance at your card's APR. Automatic payments set to "full statement balance" make this easier because the payment adjusts each month based on what you owe.