Set up autopay through the Bank of America website or app in three steps

Log into your Bank of America account online or through the mobile app. Go to the credit card account you want to set up autopay for, then select "Manage Autopay" or "Set up Autopay" — the exact wording depends on whether you already have autopay running on other accounts. Choose your payment amount (minimum payment, statement balance, or a fixed dollar amount you set), pick the day of the month you want the payment to leave your bank account, and confirm. Bank of America will pull the money from your linked checking or savings account on that date every month until you turn it off.

The whole process takes about five minutes. You do not need to call anyone or visit a branch. Once autopay is active, you will see it listed under your account settings, and you can change the amount or payment date anytime by going back to the same menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Autopay pulls money from a Bank of America checking or savings account you link to your credit card account.
  • You choose the payment amount: minimum payment, full statement balance, or a fixed amount you decide.
  • You pick the day of the month the payment goes out, and it repeats automatically every month until you stop it.
  • If your payment fails because your bank account does not have enough money, Bank of America will notify you and the late payment may show on your credit report.
  • You can change or cancel autopay anytime through your account settings without calling customer service.

Which payment amount to choose

Minimum payment is the smallest amount Bank of America requires you to pay each month. It covers interest and a portion of principal, but paying only the minimum means you carry a balance and pay interest charges every month. This option keeps your payment low but costs you more over time.

Statement balance means autopay sends the full amount you owe at the end of your billing cycle. If you charge nothing new after the statement closes, this pays off your card completely and you owe no interest. This is the most common choice for people who want to avoid interest charges.

Fixed amount lets you set a dollar figure — say $500 or $1,000 — that autopay sends every month. Use this if you want to pay more than the minimum but less than your full balance, or if your spending varies and you want a steady payment.

If you choose minimum payment or a fixed amount less than your statement balance, you will carry a balance and pay interest on it. Check your credit card agreement for the current interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate).

Picking the payment date

You can set autopay to go out on any day from the 1st through the 28th of the month. Choose a date after you know your paycheck has hit your bank account, so the money is there when autopay pulls it. If you pick the 15th and your paycheck arrives on the 20th, your autopay payment might fail.

Bank of America processes autopay payments the same day you select. If that date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment goes out the next business day. Check your statement a few days after your chosen date to confirm the payment went through.

What happens if autopay fails

If your linked bank account does not have enough money on the payment date, Bank of America will decline the autopay payment. You will receive an email or text alert (depending on your notification settings) telling you the payment failed. The credit card payment is now late, and you owe it immediately.

A late payment stays on your credit report for seven years and can lower your credit score. Bank of America may also charge you a late fee — typically $25 to $35 for the first late payment in six months, and up to $39 for subsequent ones. You can still make the payment manually through your account to stop further damage, but the late mark will already be recorded.

To avoid this, make sure your linked bank account has enough money before your autopay date. If your balance is tight, set autopay for a few days after you typically receive income, or choose a fixed amount you know you can cover every month.

Changing or stopping autopay

Log into your Bank of America account, go to the credit card, and select "Manage Autopay." You can change the payment amount, change the payment date, or turn autopay off entirely. The change takes effect on your next scheduled payment date. If you turn off autopay, you will need to make manual payments going forward, or set up autopay again later.

If you are closing your credit card account, turn off autopay first. Once the card is closed, autopay cannot process, and you may be charged a late fee if a payment was scheduled.

Linking a different bank account to autopay

If you want autopay to pull from a different checking or savings account, go to "Manage Autopay" and look for an option to change the linked account. You can only link accounts that are in your name at a U.S. bank. Bank of America will verify the new account by sending two small deposits to it — usually within one to two business days — and you will need to confirm the amounts in your Bank of America account before the link is active.

Once the new account is linked and verified, you can select it as the source for autopay. Your next scheduled payment will pull from the new account.

Autopay and your credit score

Autopay does not hurt your credit score. Paying on time every month — whether by autopay or manually — helps your credit score. Payment history makes up 35% of your credit score, so consistent on-time payments are one of the biggest factors lenders look at.

Autopay also helps you avoid late payments, which are the most damaging thing you can do to your credit. If autopay fails and you miss a payment, that is what hurts your score, not the autopay itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up autopay to pay from a non-Bank of America account?

No. Bank of America autopay only pulls from a checking or savings account you hold at Bank of America. If your paycheck goes to a different bank, you can transfer money to your Bank of America account and then set up autopay, or you can make manual payments from your other bank's account.

What if I want to pay more than my statement balance one month?

Autopay will send only the amount you set it to send. If you want to pay extra, log into your account and make an additional manual payment for the extra amount. The next month, autopay will send its regular amount as scheduled.

Does Bank of America charge a fee to use autopay?

No. Autopay is free. Bank of America does not charge you to set it up, change it, or use it. You only pay interest if you carry a balance, and late fees if a payment fails.

Can I set up autopay on a Bank of America business credit card?

Yes. The steps are the same: log in, go to the business credit card account, select "Manage Autopay," and choose your payment amount and date. The payment pulls from a linked business checking or savings account.

What if I close my Bank of America checking account but still have the credit card?

Autopay will fail on your next scheduled payment date because there is no linked account to pull from. You will receive a late payment notice. Before closing your checking account, either turn off autopay or link it to a different Bank of America account you are keeping open.