Check the Bank of America status page first
Bank of America publishes a real-time status page at bankofamerica.com/security/status. This page shows whether their website, mobile app, and online banking systems are working or experiencing outages. Check it before you assume the problem is on your end.
The status page updates every few minutes during an outage and lists which services are affected — for example, whether you can log in but not transfer money, or whether the entire site is unreachable. If the page itself is down, you won't be able to reach it, but that's rare; the status infrastructure usually stays up even when the main website doesn't.
Key Takeaways
- Bank of America's official status page at bankofamerica.com/security/status shows real-time updates on outages and which services are affected.
- If you can't reach the website or app, try a different device or network (mobile data instead of WiFi, or vice versa) to rule out a problem on your end.
- During an outage, you can still use ATMs, call customer service at 1-800-432-1000, or visit a branch in person to handle urgent transactions.
- Bank of America posts outage notices on their Twitter account @BankofAmerica and sometimes on their homepage once service is restored.
- If the outage lasts more than a few hours, contact customer service to report any missed payments or transactions you need to document.
Test your own connection before concluding the site is down
Before you assume Bank of America's systems are down, rule out problems on your end. Try accessing the website from a different device — if it works on your phone but not your computer, the issue is local. If it fails on both, try switching from WiFi to mobile data or vice versa.
Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. Old cached data sometimes prevents a page from loading correctly even after the site has recovered. If you're using an older browser version, update it and retry.
Visit a site like DownDetector.com and search for "Bank of America." This site aggregates outage reports from users across the internet. If hundreds of people are reporting the same problem at the same time, the outage is real. If only a handful are, the problem is likely specific to your location or device.
What to do during a Bank of America outage
If the website and app are genuinely down, you have several options for urgent transactions. ATMs remain operational during most outages because they run on separate systems. You can withdraw cash, deposit checks, or transfer money between your own accounts at any Bank of America ATM.
Call customer service at 1-800-432-1000 to speak with a representative. They can process transfers, payments, and account inquiries over the phone, though some complex transactions may require you to wait for the website to return. Have your account number and a form of ID ready.
Visit a Bank of America branch in person if you need to handle a transaction that can't wait. Tellers can process most routine banking tasks, including deposits, withdrawals, and bill payments. Branch hours vary by location, so check their website or call ahead if possible.
How long outages typically last
Most Bank of America outages resolve within one to four hours. Planned maintenance windows — which the bank announces in advance — usually last two to three hours and happen during off-peak times, often late at night or early morning.
Unplanned outages caused by technical failures or security incidents can last longer. If an outage extends beyond six hours, it usually means a significant infrastructure problem. Bank of America will post updates on their status page and Twitter account as they work to restore service.
During an extended outage, the bank may temporarily limit certain services (like transfers to external accounts) even after the main website comes back online, as they restore systems in stages.
Document transactions if you miss a payment deadline
If the outage prevents you from making a time-sensitive payment — like a bill due that day or a loan payment — document what happened. Take a screenshot of the status page showing the outage, note the time you tried to pay, and keep any error messages you received.
Contact the company or lender you were trying to pay and explain that Bank of America's systems were down. Most creditors will not penalize you for a late payment if you can show the outage occurred and you attempted payment on time. Some may ask you to provide the screenshot or status page link as proof.
If a late fee or penalty does post to your account, call the creditor and ask them to reverse it based on the documented outage. You can also contact Bank of America customer service to report the missed transaction and ask them to note it in your account file.
How to stay informed about future outages
Follow @BankofAmerica on Twitter for real-time outage announcements. The bank posts updates there faster than on their website during major incidents. You can also enable notifications for their account so you see posts immediately.
Sign up for Bank of America's email alerts through your online banking settings. You can choose to receive notifications about account activity, security alerts, and service updates. Some customers also set calendar reminders to check the status page before making time-sensitive payments on days when they know maintenance is scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my money safe if the website is down?
Yes. An outage affects your ability to access or move your money, not the money itself. Your deposits are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per account type, and that protection doesn't change during an outage. Once the website comes back online, your account will be exactly as you left it.
Can I still use my debit card if the website is down?
Usually yes. Debit card transactions and ATM withdrawals run on separate systems from the website. Most outages don't affect card processing. However, if the outage is severe enough to take down core banking systems, card transactions may fail. Try your card at a merchant or ATM to test it.
What if I see an error message instead of a down page?
Error messages like "502 Bad Gateway" or "503 Service Unavailable" usually mean the server is overloaded or temporarily offline. These are signs of an outage. If you see a message like "This site can't be reached," check your internet connection first, then try the status page. If the status page loads but shows an error, the outage is real.
How do I know if it's a scam website pretending to be Bank of America?
Always type the URL directly into your browser address bar rather than clicking a link in an email or text. The real Bank of America website is bankofamerica.com. Check for a padlock icon in the address bar and "https://" at the start of the URL. Bank of America will never ask you to log in through a link in an email.
Can I file a complaint if an outage causes me financial harm?
You can contact Bank of America customer service to report the issue and ask for compensation if you incurred fees or penalties directly caused by the outage. The bank is not legally required to reimburse you, but they often will for documented cases. You can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov if you believe the bank failed to handle the situation fairly.