Bank of America online banking goes down for scheduled maintenance, system errors, and account locks — and the fix depends on which one is happening

If you cannot log in to Bank of America online or the site shows "not available", the first step is to check whether the problem is on your end or theirs. Open a new browser window (or try a different browser entirely) and go to bankofamerica.com. If the page loads but you still cannot log in, the issue is your account or credentials. If the page itself does not load or shows an error message, Bank of America's systems may be down.

Bank of America posts scheduled maintenance windows on their website and in the mobile app — usually between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Eastern time on weekends. If you are trying to log in during one of these windows, you will see a message saying online banking is temporarily unavailable. Unscheduled outages are less common but do happen; you can check the Bank of America status page or call their customer service line at 1-800-432-1000 to confirm whether the system is actually down.

If the website loads but your login fails, the problem is usually one of four things: you are using the wrong password, your account is locked, your browser is blocking cookies, or your device needs to complete a security verification step.

Key Takeaways

  • Check whether bankofamerica.com itself loads in a fresh browser window to tell whether the outage is on Bank of America's side or yours.
  • Scheduled maintenance typically happens between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Eastern time on weekends; unscheduled outages are posted on Bank of America's status page.
  • If the website loads but you cannot log in, try resetting your password, clearing your browser cookies, or disabling browser extensions before assuming your account is locked.
  • A locked account usually shows a specific message during login; call 1-800-432-1000 to unlock it, and be ready to verify your identity with your Social Security number or account details.
  • If you use a shared device or public computer, Bank of America may require you to complete a security verification step before allowing login.

Resetting your password when you cannot remember it

If you know your username but cannot remember your password, go to bankofamerica.com and click "Forgot username or password?" on the login page. Bank of America will ask you to enter your username or the email address associated with your account, then send a password reset link to that email address. The link expires after a set time, so check your email when ready — including your spam folder, since some email providers filter Bank of America messages.

Click the reset link and create a new password. Bank of America requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (like ! or #). Once you have set the new password, wait a few minutes before trying to log in again, because the change sometimes takes a moment to sync across their servers.

If you do not receive the reset email within a few minutes, call 1-800-432-1000 and ask to reset your password over the phone. Have your Social Security number and account number ready. A representative can walk you through the process or reset it for you directly.

Clearing browser cookies and disabling extensions

Bank of America online banking requires your browser to accept cookies — small files that store your login session. If your browser is set to block all cookies, or if you recently cleared your browser history, you may not be able to log in even with the correct password. The login page will load, but the system will not recognize you after you submit your credentials.

Clear your browser's cookies and cached data, then try logging in again. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data, select "All time" from the dropdown, check "Cookies and other site data", and click Clear Data. In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy, click "Manage Website Data", search for "bankofamerica.com", select it, and click Remove. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data.

Browser extensions — especially password managers, ad blockers, and VPNs — can also interfere with Bank of America's login process. Try disabling all extensions temporarily and logging in again. If that works, re-enable them one at a time to find which one is causing the problem. You can then either remove that extension or add an exception for bankofamerica.com.

Understanding account locks and security holds

Bank of America locks accounts for two reasons: suspicious activity (fraud protection) or too many failed login attempts. If your account is locked, the login page usually shows a message saying your account is temporarily locked or that you need to verify your identity. This is different from a straightforward login failure — the system is actively preventing access.

If you see a lock message, call 1-800-432-1000 when ready. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and account number ready. A representative will ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions or confirming recent transactions. Once verified, they can unlock your account on the spot. The unlock usually takes effect within a few minutes, though sometimes it takes up to an hour for the change to sync across all of Bank of America's systems.

If you locked your account by entering the wrong password too many times, waiting 24 hours will usually unlock it automatically. However, calling to unlock it when ready is faster and more reliable.

Logging in from a new device or location

Bank of America's fraud detection system flags login attempts from new devices or unusual locations. When this happens, you will see a message asking you to verify your identity before you can proceed. This is a security step, not an account lock.

The verification usually involves confirming a code sent to your phone or email, or answering security questions you set up when you created your account. Follow the prompts on the screen. Once you verify, Bank of America will remember that device for future logins — you will not have to verify every time you use it.

If you do not receive the verification code, check your spam folder or wait a few minutes and request a new code. If you still do not receive it, call 1-800-432-1000 and ask a representative to send the code to a different phone number or email address on file.

Checking Bank of America's system status

Bank of America does not have a single public status page like some other banks, but you can check for outages in a few ways. First, try logging in from a different device or network (use your phone's cellular data instead of Wi-Fi, for example). If it works on one device but not another, the problem is your device or network, not Bank of America's systems.

Second, check Bank of America's social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook) or call 1-800-432-1000 to ask whether there is a known outage. Representatives can tell you when ready whether the system is down and when it is expected to be back online. Third, search "Bank of America outage" online to see whether other users are reporting the same problem — if hundreds of people are posting about it, the system is almost certainly down on Bank of America's end.

If the system is down, there is nothing you can do except wait. Bank of America typically restores service within a few hours for unscheduled outages. Scheduled maintenance is announced in advance, so you can plan around it.

Troubleshooting on mobile versus desktop

Bank of America online banking works through both the website (bankofamerica.com) and the mobile app. If you cannot log in on the website, try the mobile app, and vice versa. Sometimes one platform has a problem while the other works fine.

If the mobile app is not working, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Open your phone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play), search for "Bank of America", and delete the app. Then reinstall it fresh. This clears out any corrupted files that might be preventing login. After reinstalling, log in with your username and password.

If the website is not working, try accessing it in an incognito or private browser window. This disables all extensions and uses a fresh set of cookies, which often solves login problems that regular browsing cannot. If you can log in in incognito mode but not in regular mode, the problem is definitely an extension or cached data on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Bank of America maintenance usually take?

Scheduled maintenance typically lasts between 2 and 4 hours, though Bank of America sometimes extends it if problems come up. The maintenance window is usually posted 24 to 48 hours in advance on their website and in the mobile app. If you need to access your account during maintenance, use the mobile app instead — sometimes one platform is down while the other stays up.

What should I do if I keep getting an error message that is not about login?

Write down the exact error message and call 1-800-432-1000. Error messages like "connection timeout", "page not found", or "server error" point to specific problems that a representative can diagnose. Have your account number and the error message ready when you call.

Can I access my account if I forgot my username?

Yes. Go to bankofamerica.com and click "Forgot username or password?" You can enter your email address or phone number instead of your username, and Bank of America will send you a reset link. If you do not remember the email or phone number on file, call 1-800-432-1000 and a representative can help you recover your username.

Is it safe to log in from a public Wi-Fi network?

Bank of America encrypts your login, so your password is protected even on public Wi-Fi. However, public networks are less find overall, and Bank of America's fraud detection may flag the unusual location and ask you to verify your identity. If you are on public Wi-Fi and do not want to deal with verification, wait until you are on a private network to log in.

What if I have been locked out for more than 24 hours?

Call 1-800-432-1000. A 24-hour automatic unlock usually works, but if it does not, a representative can manually unlock your account. Have your Social Security number and account details ready. They may ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions before they unlock it.