Bank of America shows your credit score for free if you have certain accounts
Bank of America displays your credit score at no cost through its online banking platform and mobile app, but only if you hold specific account types. The score you see comes from one of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — and updates monthly. You do not need to pay for a separate credit monitoring service to see this number.
Not every Bank of America customer sees a credit score in their account. The feature is available to people with checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, or credit cards issued by Bank of America. If you have only a basic savings account or a product like a CD, you may not have access to this feature.
Key Takeaways
- Bank of America displays your credit score free through online banking or the mobile app if you have a checking account, savings account, or Bank of America credit card.
- The score updates once per month and comes from one of the three major credit bureaus, though Bank of America does not always tell you which one.
- You can see your score by logging into your account, going to the Accounts section, and looking for a Credit Score or Credit Insights card.
- The score Bank of America shows is for informational purposes only and may differ from scores other lenders see when you explore for credit.
- If you do not see a credit score in your account, you can get a free annual credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official government site.
Where to find your credit score in Bank of America online banking
Log into your Bank of America account on the website or open the mobile app. On the website, look for the Accounts tab at the top of the page. Scroll down to find a card labeled "Credit Score" or "Credit Insights" — this section displays your current score and shows how it has changed over the past few months.
On the mobile app, the process is similar. After logging in, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and look for a section called Credit Score or Credit Insights. The exact location varies slightly depending on which version of the app you have, but it is usually near your account summary or under a Tools section.
If you do not see a credit score card in either location, your account type may not be may be able to access for this feature. You can contact Bank of America customer service at 1-800-432-1000 to confirm whether your account qualifies.
What the Bank of America credit score actually tells you
The score Bank of America shows is a real credit score, not a marketing estimate. It reflects how lenders view your creditworthiness based on your payment history, outstanding debt, length of credit history, and other factors. However, it represents only one snapshot of your credit profile.
Different lenders use different scoring models. A mortgage lender, auto lender, and credit card company may each see a slightly different score when they check your credit. The score Bank of America displays is meant to help you track your credit health over time, not to predict exactly what another lender will see. Banks also use additional information beyond your credit score — such as your income, employment history, and account balance — when deciding whether to lend to you.
Bank of America updates your credit score once per month, usually on the same date each month. If you have made recent changes to your credit — such as paying down a large balance or disputing an error — you may not see the change reflected until the next monthly update.
Understanding the credit bureau behind your Bank of America score
Bank of America pulls your credit score from one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. These companies collect information about your borrowing and payment history from lenders and creditors. The bureau Bank of America uses depends on your location and account type, and the company does not always make this clear in the account interface.
If you want to know which bureau provides your score, you can contact Bank of America directly or check your account documentation. Knowing the source matters because each bureau may have slightly different information about you, which can result in different scores. If you dispute an error on your credit report, you need to contact the specific bureau that reported the error, not Bank of America.
Getting your free annual credit report from the official source
In addition to checking your credit score through Bank of America, you have the right to one free credit report per year from each of the three major bureaus. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official government site run by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion together. You will answer security questions to verify your identity, and then you can view your report from any or all three bureaus.
Your credit report is different from your credit score. The report lists all your accounts, payment history, and any negative marks like late payments or collections. The score is a single number calculated from that information. Checking your report helps you spot errors — such as accounts you did not open or payments marked late when you paid on time — that could be dragging down your score.
You can request your free annual report once per year from each bureau. Many people spread out their requests throughout the year so they can monitor their credit more frequently without paying for additional reports.
What to do if your Bank of America credit score seems wrong
If your Bank of America credit score looks lower than you expected, the first step is to check your credit report. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and pull your report from the bureau that Bank of America uses (if you know which one). Look for accounts you do not recognize, payments marked late that you made on time, or duplicate entries.
If you find an error on your credit report, you can dispute it directly with the credit bureau. The bureau has 30 days to investigate your dispute and correct any mistakes. You can also file a dispute with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) if you believe a bureau is not handling your complaint fairly. Correcting errors on your report can improve your credit score over time.
If your report looks accurate but your score is still lower than expected, focus on the factors that matter most: paying all bills on time, keeping credit card balances low relative to your credit limits, and avoiding new debt in the short term. These changes take time to show up in your score, but they are the most reliable way to improve your creditworthiness.
Other ways to monitor your credit beyond Bank of America
Bank of America's credit score tool is convenient if you already bank there, but it is not your only option. Many credit card companies — including Discover, Capital One, and American Express — also show cardholders their credit score for free. If you have multiple credit cards, you may be able to see scores from different bureaus, which gives you a more complete picture.
Some free credit monitoring services like Credit Karma and Experian's free service also display your credit score and send alerts when your report changes. These services make money by showing you credit offers, but they do not charge you to see your score or report. If you want monitoring without marketing, your annual free report from AnnualCreditReport.com remains the most straightforward option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit score through Bank of America hurt my credit?
No. When you check your own credit score or report, it is called a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your credit score at all. Only "hard inquiries" — when a lender checks your credit because you applied for a loan or credit card — can lower your score slightly and temporarily.
Why does my Bank of America credit score differ from other scores I have seen?
Different credit bureaus may have different information about you, and different scoring models weight that information differently. A score from Equifax may not match a score from Experian. Additionally, lenders sometimes use specialty scores designed for specific types of lending, like mortgage or auto scores, which differ from general credit scores.
Can I improve my credit score quickly?
Credit scores change slowly because they are based on long-term patterns. Paying down high credit card balances can help within a few months, but building a strong score takes consistent on-time payments over years. There is no quick fix, and anyone promising rapid improvement is likely selling something.
What if I do not have a Bank of America account but want to check my credit score?
You can get a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com once per year from each bureau. Many other banks and credit card companies also offer free credit scores to their customers. If you do not have any of these, services like Credit Karma provide free scores and reports.
How often should I check my credit score?
Checking your score monthly through Bank of America is reasonable if you want to track progress. Checking your full credit report once or twice per year from AnnualCreditReport.com helps you catch errors. More frequent checking is unnecessary unless you are actively working to improve your credit or suspect fraud.