Autopay lets Bank of America pay your credit card bill from your checking or savings account on a date you choose
Bank of America calls this feature AutoPay, and it works by pulling money directly from a linked bank account—yours or another bank's—on a schedule you set. You can pay your full statement balance, a fixed dollar amount, or just the minimum due. Once it is turned on, the payment happens automatically each month on the date you pick, so you do not have to log in and pay manually.
The setup takes about five minutes and can be done through the Bank of America website, the mobile app, or by phone. You will need your credit card number and the account number of the bank account you want the payment to come from.
Key Takeaways
- AutoPay can pull from a Bank of America account or an account at another bank, and you choose the payment date each month.
- You can set it to pay your full balance, a fixed amount, or the minimum due, and change the payment type or amount anytime.
- Payments typically post within one to two business days, but the money leaves your bank account on the date you select.
- If your payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, Bank of America processes it on the next business day.
Setting up AutoPay through the Bank of America website
Log into your Bank of America account at bankofamerica.com and go to the credit card you want to set up. Click on the card name or account number to open the card details page. Look for a link or button labeled "AutoPay" or "Set up AutoPay"—it is usually in the payment section near the top of the page.
Click it, and you will be asked to choose a payment type: full statement balance, a fixed dollar amount, or minimum due. Then select the date you want the payment to happen each month. If you choose a date between the 29th and 31st and a month has fewer days, Bank of America will process the payment on the last day of that month instead.
Next, choose the account the payment should come from. If you have multiple Bank of America accounts, you can pick any of them. If you want to pay from an account at another bank, select that option and enter the routing number and account number. Bank of America will verify the account, which usually takes one to two business days. Once verified, AutoPay is active.
Setting up AutoPay through the mobile app
Open the Bank of America mobile app and tap the credit card you want to set up. Scroll down to the payment section and tap "AutoPay" or "Set up AutoPay." The steps are the same as the website: choose your payment type, select the date, and pick the account to pay from.
If you are adding an account from another bank, the app will ask for the routing and account numbers. The verification process works the same way—Bank of America sends two small test deposits to confirm the account is yours, and you verify the amounts in the app within a few days. After that, AutoPay is ready to go.
Setting up AutoPay by phone
Call the customer service number on the back of your credit card. Tell the representative you want to set up AutoPay. They will ask which payment type you want (full balance, fixed amount, or minimum), what date you prefer, and which account to pay from. If you are paying from a Bank of America account, they can set it up when ready. If you are paying from another bank, they will take your routing and account number and explain that verification takes one to two business days.
The representative will confirm all the details before finishing, so make sure everything is correct before you hang up.
Changing or stopping AutoPay
You can change your payment type, payment date, or the account the payment comes from anytime through the website, app, or phone. Log in, go to your AutoPay settings, and click "Edit" or "Modify." Make your changes and save. The new settings take effect on your next scheduled payment date.
To stop AutoPay entirely, go to the same AutoPay settings page and click "Cancel AutoPay" or "Turn off AutoPay." Bank of America will ask you to confirm. Once you cancel, no more automatic payments will be made, and you will need to pay manually going forward.
What happens if there is not enough money in your account
If the payment date arrives and your linked account does not have enough money, Bank of America will attempt the payment anyway. If it fails, your credit card payment will be late, and you may be charged a late fee and see a negative impact on your credit report. Bank of America does not automatically retry the payment, so you will need to pay manually as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
To avoid this, make sure your linked account always has enough money on or before your AutoPay date. If your income is irregular, you might set AutoPay to pay only the minimum due, or choose a date later in the month when you know money will be there.
How long it takes for the payment to post
The money leaves your bank account on the date you selected for AutoPay. It typically posts to your credit card within one to two business days. If your payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, Bank of America processes it on the next business day, but the posting timeline remains the same.
This means if you set AutoPay for the 15th and the 15th is a Saturday, the payment is processed on Monday the 17th and usually posts to your card by Tuesday or Wednesday. Plan ahead if you have a tight important date—for example, if your statement closes on the 20th and you want the payment to post before then, set AutoPay for the 15th or earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up AutoPay to pay from a credit card instead of a bank account?
No. Bank of America AutoPay only pulls from a checking or savings account—either at Bank of America or another bank. You cannot set it to pay from another credit card.
What if I want to pay more than my full statement balance?
AutoPay does not allow you to pay more than your full balance automatically. If you want to pay extra, you can make a separate manual payment through the website or app after AutoPay processes.
Will AutoPay affect my credit score?
No, as long as the payment goes through. On-time payments help your credit score. If the payment fails because there is not enough money in your account, the late payment will hurt your score.
Can I have AutoPay set to different amounts each month?
No. AutoPay pays the same amount or type (full balance, fixed amount, or minimum) every month. If you need to change the amount, you have to edit AutoPay and set a new fixed amount, or switch to paying the full balance or minimum instead.
What if I close the bank account AutoPay is pulling from?
AutoPay will fail, and your credit card payment will be late. Bank of America will not automatically switch to another account. You need to update your AutoPay settings with a new account number before your next payment date.