What you need to bring and who can be on the account

Bank of America lets you open a joint account with one other person — a spouse, family member, or anyone else. Both of you must be present in person at a branch, or one of you can start the account online and the other can complete it in the branch within 30 days. You will each need a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card) and a Social Security number or tax ID.

The account will be owned equally by both people unless you specify otherwise in writing. Either of you can withdraw money, make deposits, and close the account without the other's permission. If that is not what you want — for example, if you want one person to control spending — you need to discuss account restrictions with the banker before you open it, because the default setup gives both people full access.

You do not need to be related or married. Bank of America does not require proof of relationship. If you are opening an account with someone who is not a U.S. citizen, they will need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number, and you should call ahead to confirm the branch can process that.

Key Takeaways

  • Both account holders must provide a valid photo ID and Social Security number or ITIN in person at a Bank of America branch, or one person can start online and the other can finish in the branch within 30 days.
  • Either person can withdraw, deposit, or close the account without permission from the other unless you set up written restrictions beforehand.
  • You can open a joint checking account, savings account, or money market account; the process and requirements are the same for all three.
  • Bank of America charges a monthly fee for most joint checking accounts unless you meet balance or direct deposit requirements, so confirm the fee structure before you open the account.

Opening the account online or in person

If you start online, go to bankofamerica.com, click "Open an Account," and select "Joint Account." You will enter both names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers, and choose the account type (checking, savings, or money market). Bank of America will run a background check through ChexSystems, which looks at your banking history. If you have unpaid overdrafts or fraud flags at other banks, you may be denied.

After you complete the online form, Bank of America sends a link to the second person's email. That person has 30 days to verify their identity in a branch using their photo ID. If they do not complete it within 30 days, the account application expires and you have to start over. The account does not open until both people have been verified.

If you both go to the branch together, the process is faster. Bring both photo IDs and Social Security numbers, tell the banker you want to open a joint account, and they will fill out the paperwork in front of you. You will both sign, and the account opens the same day. The banker will also ask what type of account you want and whether you want online banking access set up immediately.

What type of joint account to choose

Bank of America offers joint checking, joint savings, and joint money market accounts. A joint checking account is for everyday spending and bill payments. It comes with a debit card and online banking, and either person can write checks or transfer money. Most joint checking accounts charge a $12 monthly fee unless you maintain a $1,500 minimum balance or have a direct deposit of at least $250 per month.

A joint savings account earns interest on the balance and is meant for money you are not spending regularly. Interest rates vary and are usually low — often less than 0.05% annually — but the account has no monthly fee. You can make up to six withdrawals per month without penalty; after that, Bank of America charges $10 per withdrawal.

A joint money market account combines features of checking and savings: it earns interest, comes with a debit card and checks, but also has the six-withdrawal limit. It requires a higher opening balance (usually $2,500) and charges a monthly fee if your balance drops below that threshold. For most people, a joint checking account plus a separate joint savings account is simpler than a money market account.

Monthly fees and how to avoid them

Bank of America's joint checking account fee is $12 per month. You can waive it if you meet one of these conditions: keep a minimum balance of $1,500 in the account at all times, have a direct deposit of at least $250 per month, or link the account to a Bank of America investment or credit product (like a credit card or brokerage account). If you do not meet any of these, you pay the $12 fee every month.

The joint savings account has no monthly fee, but you pay $10 for each withdrawal beyond six per month. If you are using the savings account as an emergency fund and rarely touch it, this is not a problem. If you plan to move money in and out frequently, a regular checking account might be cheaper.

When you open the account, the banker will explain which fee waiver option works best for your situation. If your balance is low or you do not have direct deposit, ask whether a different account type (like Bank of America's basic checking account) might cost less. Some people open a joint checking account for shared bills and keep separate individual accounts for personal spending to avoid fees.

Setting up online banking and debit cards

Once the account opens, both people can set up online banking. Each person logs in with their own username and password and can see the full balance and transaction history. Bank of America will mail a debit card to each person at the address on file; this usually takes 7 to 10 business days. You can request expedited delivery in the branch or online for a fee.

Both debit cards draw from the same account balance, so if one person spends $500, the other person sees the balance drop by $500. There is no separate spending limit per card unless you call and ask the banker to set one up. If you want to restrict one person's spending, you can request a daily withdrawal limit on their card, but this requires a phone call to customer service and must be set up after the account opens.

You can also set up alerts so both people get text or email notifications when the balance drops below a certain amount, when a large transaction occurs, or when the account is overdrawn. These alerts help prevent surprises and overdraft fees. Set them up in the online banking portal under "Alerts & Notifications."

What happens if one person wants to close the account

Either person can close a joint account without the other's permission. If one person closes it, the account closes for both people — the other person cannot keep it open. Any remaining balance is sent to the person who initiated the closure, unless the bank receives a court order saying otherwise. This is why joint accounts work best when both people trust each other completely.

If you are concerned about this, talk to the banker before you open the account. Some couples set up a joint account for shared expenses (rent, utilities, groceries) and keep separate individual accounts for personal money. This limits the damage if one person closes the joint account — you still have your own money in your own account.

If you and the other person disagree about closing the account and one of you has already closed it, you cannot reopen it. You would have to open a new account. If there is a legal dispute over the money in the account, you may need a court order to access it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a joint account if the other person is not a U.S. citizen?

Yes. They will need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number. Call your local Bank of America branch ahead of time to confirm they can process an ITIN, because not all branches handle them regularly.

What if one person has a ChexSystems flag or bad banking history?

Bank of America may deny the account if either person has unpaid overdrafts, fraud, or other serious banking issues in their ChexSystems record. If you are denied, ask the banker for the specific reason. You can dispute inaccurate information with ChexSystems directly, or you may be able to open an account at a different bank that does not use ChexSystems.

Do both people have to be present to open the account?

No. One person can start the account online, and the other person has 30 days to verify their identity in a branch. Both people can also go to the branch together and open it the same day. The online-then-branch method takes longer but works if you cannot both be there at once.

Can I set a spending limit on the other person's debit card?

Yes, but only after the account opens. Call Bank of America customer service or visit a branch and ask to set a daily withdrawal limit on one of the debit cards. This is not the same as a spending limit — it controls how much cash they can withdraw per day, not how much they can charge to the card.

What if the account gets overdrawn?

Bank of America charges an overdraft fee (usually $35) each time the account goes negative. Both people are responsible for the overdraft, and it affects both of your banking records. Set up low-balance alerts so you catch it before it happens, or link a savings account to cover overdrafts automatically.