Turn on autopay in the mobile app or online banking
Bank of America lets you set up automatic payments through their mobile app, their website, or by phone. The fastest route is the app or website—both take about three minutes and let you choose your payment amount and due date right away.
On the website, log in to your Bank of America account, find your credit card under "Accounts," and click the card. Look for "Manage Autopay" or "Set Up Autopay" in the payment section. On the mobile app, tap the card, then tap "Payments," then "Autopay." You'll see options to turn it on and pick how much to pay each month.
If you prefer to set it up by phone, call the customer service number on the back of your card. A representative will walk you through the choices and confirm the setup before hanging up.
Key Takeaways
- You can set up autopay through the Bank of America website, mobile app, or by calling the number on your card.
- Choose between paying the full statement balance, a fixed dollar amount, or the minimum payment each month.
- Autopay pulls money from a linked Bank of America checking or savings account on or shortly after your due date.
- You can change or cancel autopay anytime through the same app or website section where you turned it on.
- If your autopay payment fails, Bank of America will send you a notice, and you'll need to pay manually or fix the linked account.
Choose what amount to pay automatically each month
Bank of America gives you three main choices for how much autopay takes from your account each month. You can pay the full statement balance (the total you owe), a fixed dollar amount that you set, or just the minimum payment.
Paying the full balance each month means you'll never carry a balance and won't pay interest. A fixed amount works if you want to pay down your card steadily—say $500 a month—but you'll need to make sure that amount is at least the minimum or your payment will fail. The minimum payment option ensures you never miss a due date, but you'll pay interest on whatever balance remains.
Most people choose full balance autopay if they can afford it, because it keeps the card at zero and avoids interest charges. If you're paying down debt, a fixed amount lets you control how fast you pay it off.
Link the bank account that autopay will draw from
Autopay pulls money from a checking or savings account you link to it. This account must be at Bank of America—you cannot set up autopay to pull from an account at another bank. If you don't have a Bank of America checking or savings account, you'll need to open one first.
When you set up autopay, Bank of America will show you which accounts are available to link. Pick the one you want the payment to come from. Make sure that account has enough money on your due date, or the payment will fail and you'll get a notice.
You can change which account autopay pulls from anytime by going back to the autopay settings and selecting a different linked account.
Understand when the payment actually leaves your account
Bank of America schedules autopay to process on or shortly after your credit card's due date. The exact timing depends on how the payment system processes that day—sometimes it goes through the same day, sometimes the next business day. You should assume the money will leave your account by the due date or within one business day after.
If your due date falls on a weekend or holiday, Bank of America will process the payment on the next business day. Check your checking or savings account a day or two after your credit card due date to confirm the payment went through.
The payment will show up on your credit card statement as a payment received on the date it processed. Your credit card balance will drop by that amount, and your checking or savings account will show the withdrawal.
What happens if autopay fails
If autopay fails—usually because your linked bank account doesn't have enough money—Bank of America will send you a notice by email or mail. The payment won't go through, and your credit card payment will be late unless you pay manually before the due date passes.
A late payment will show on your credit report and may trigger a late fee from Bank of America. To fix it, log into your account and make a manual payment right away, or contact customer service to troubleshoot why the autopay failed. Common reasons include insufficient funds, a frozen or closed account, or a hold placed by your bank.
If autopay keeps failing, turn it off and switch to manual payments until you fix the underlying problem—like moving money into your checking account or updating your account information.
Change or cancel autopay anytime
You're not locked into autopay. You can change the payment amount, switch to a different payment option (like minimum payment instead of full balance), or turn it off entirely through the same place you set it up.
On the website or app, go back to your credit card's payment section and look for "Manage Autopay" or "Edit Autopay." You can adjust the amount, change the linked account, or click "Turn Off Autopay" to stop it. Changes usually take effect on your next scheduled payment date.
If you turn off autopay, you'll need to make manual payments each month or set up a new autopay plan. Bank of America won't remind you to pay if autopay is off, so mark your due date on a calendar or set a phone reminder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up autopay to pay from a checking account at another bank?
No. Bank of America autopay only pulls from a Bank of America checking or savings account. If you bank elsewhere, you'll need to open a Bank of America account or make manual payments instead.
What if I want to pay more than the autopay amount in a given month?
You can make an extra manual payment anytime through the website or app without affecting your autopay schedule. The autopay payment will still go through on your due date as normal, and your extra payment will reduce the balance further.
Does autopay protect me if I dispute a charge on my card?
Autopay and disputes are separate. If you dispute a charge, you should still let autopay process as scheduled—disputing doesn't pause it. The disputed amount won't affect your autopay payment, though it may affect your available credit while the dispute is being reviewed.
How far in advance do I need to set up autopay before my first payment is due?
Set it up at least a few days before your due date to make sure it processes in time. If you set it up the day before your due date, it may still go through, but you risk it processing late if there's a system delay.
Will autopay work if my credit card is temporarily frozen or locked?
No. If your card is frozen for security reasons, autopay won't process until you unlock it. Contact Bank of America to unlock your card, then autopay will resume on your next scheduled payment date.