What autopay does and how to turn it on

Autopay is an automatic payment system that withdraws money from your Bank of America checking or savings account on a date you choose, usually monthly. You set it up once, and the bank handles the transfer without you having to log in each time. Bank of America calls this feature AutoPay, and you can use it to pay bills to companies, other people, or loans.

To set up AutoPay, log into your Bank of America account online or through the mobile app, go to the bill pay section, and add a payee (the person or company receiving the money). Then you choose the amount, frequency, and start date. The bank will deduct the payment automatically on that schedule until you cancel it.

AutoPay works for almost any bill: credit cards, utilities, rent, loan payments, insurance premiums, and subscriptions. The main limit is that the payee must have a mailing address or bank account number in the United States. You cannot use it to send money internationally through this feature.

Key Takeaways

  • AutoPay withdraws money from your Bank of America account on a schedule you set, and you control the amount and date each time or lock it to the same payment.
  • You set up AutoPay through online banking or the mobile app by adding a payee, entering the amount, and choosing how often to pay.
  • Payments typically take three to five business days to reach the payee after the withdrawal date, so schedule them before your bill due date.
  • You can change or cancel any AutoPay payment at any time, and the bank will not charge you a fee to set it up or use it.
  • If a payment fails because your account does not have enough money, Bank of America will attempt to retry it, but you are responsible for any late fees from the payee.

Steps to set up AutoPay in online banking

Log into your Bank of America account at bankofamerica.com using your username and password. Click on Bill Pay in the left menu, then select Pay Bills. If this is your first time using bill pay, you may need to activate the feature first.

Click Add a Payee and enter the name of the company or person you want to pay. Bank of America will search for the payee in its database. If the payee appears in the list, select it. If not, you can add a new payee manually by entering their mailing address or bank account details (for payments to another person's bank account).

After you add the payee, click Schedule a Payment. Enter the amount you want to pay, the date you want the payment to go out, and how often you want it to repeat (one-time, weekly, biweekly, monthly, or custom). Review the details and click Confirm. The payment will appear in your scheduled payments list, and the bank will process it automatically on the date you chose.

Setting up AutoPay through the mobile app

Open the Bank of America mobile app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Scroll down and tap Bill Pay. Tap Pay a Bill or Add a Payee if this is your first payment to that company.

Enter the payee name and let the app search for it. If it finds a match, tap it to select. If not, tap Add Payee Manually and enter the mailing address or bank account number. Then tap Next.

Enter the payment amount, the date you want the payment to leave your account, and the frequency (one-time or recurring). Review the summary and tap Confirm. You will receive a confirmation number and can see the payment in your scheduled list.

How long payments take and when to schedule them

When you schedule an AutoPay payment, the money leaves your Bank of America account on the date you choose. However, the payee does not receive it immediately. Bank of America typically takes three to five business days to deliver the payment after it leaves your account, depending on the payee's bank and processing method.

To avoid late fees, schedule your AutoPay payment to leave your account at least five to seven business days before the bill's due date. For example, if your electric bill is due on the 20th, schedule the payment to go out on the 13th or earlier. This gives the payee time to receive and post the payment before the deadline.

Some companies process payments faster than others. If you are unsure how long a specific payee takes, contact them directly or check their website. You can also set up the payment and then cancel it if you realize the timing is wrong—there is no penalty for canceling.

Changing or canceling an AutoPay payment

You can modify or stop any AutoPay payment at any time. Log into your Bank of America account, go to Bill Pay, and find the payment in your Scheduled Payments list. Click on the payment to open it.

To change the amount or date, click Edit, make your changes, and click Confirm. The new details will apply to the next payment in the schedule. If you want to cancel the payment entirely, click Cancel Payment or Delete. The bank will stop the payment and remove it from your schedule. If the payment has already been processed (left your account), you cannot cancel it, but you can contact the payee to request a refund.

Changes take effect immediately for future payments. If you cancel a recurring payment, the bank will stop all future payments but will not refund payments that have already gone out.

What happens if a payment fails

If your Bank of America account does not have enough money on the scheduled payment date, the payment may fail. Bank of America will attempt to retry the payment, usually the next business day. If the retry succeeds, the payment goes through. If it fails again, the bank will stop trying and notify you.

When a payment fails, you are responsible for any late fees or penalties the payee charges. The bank does not cover these costs. To avoid this, make sure your account has enough money before the payment date. You can also set up a low-balance alert in your Bank of America account so you get notified if your balance drops below a certain amount.

If a payment fails repeatedly, contact Bank of America customer service to troubleshoot. The issue might be with the payee's information, a temporary system problem, or insufficient funds. You can reach Bank of America at 1-800-432-1000 or through the mobile app.

Fees and security for AutoPay

Bank of America does not charge a fee to set up, use, or cancel AutoPay. The service is free for all checking and savings account holders. Some companies may charge a fee if you pay them through AutoPay, but that fee comes from the payee, not from Bank of America.

AutoPay is secure because the bank uses encryption and authentication to protect your account information. When you set up a payment, your account number and routing number are stored securely. The payee receives only the information needed to process the payment, not your full account details.

If you notice an unauthorized payment or believe your account has been compromised, contact Bank of America immediately. The bank has fraud protection policies and can investigate unauthorized transactions. You may be able to reverse a fraudulent payment if you report it quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up AutoPay to pay a credit card from another bank?

Yes. You can use Bank of America AutoPay to send money to any credit card company, even if it is not a Bank of America card. Add the credit card company as a payee using their mailing address, enter the amount, and schedule the payment. The money will be deducted from your Bank of America account and mailed to the credit card company.

What if I want to pay a different amount each month?

You can set up AutoPay with a fixed amount that repeats every month, or you can set up one-time payments and manually schedule each one. If your bill changes monthly (like a utility bill), you may want to use one-time payments instead of recurring AutoPay so you can adjust the amount each time. Alternatively, you can edit the recurring payment before each payment date to change the amount.

Can I use AutoPay to send money to someone's personal bank account?

Yes, but only if you have their bank account number and routing number. When you add a payee, select the option to pay to a bank account instead of a mailing address. Enter their account and routing numbers, and the bank will transfer the money electronically. This is faster than mailing a check and typically takes one to two business days.

What happens if I close my Bank of America account?

All AutoPay payments linked to that account will stop. If you open a new Bank of America account, you will need to set up AutoPay again from scratch. The bank does not transfer scheduled payments to a new account automatically. Make sure to cancel or reschedule any payments before you close your old account.

Can I set up AutoPay for a loan payment?

Yes. You can use AutoPay to pay a Bank of America loan (mortgage, auto loan, personal loan) or a loan from another lender. For Bank of America loans, the payment will be deducted from your account and applied to your loan automatically. For loans from other lenders, add the lender as a payee and schedule the payment like any other bill.