How to tell if the Bank of America website is actually down
When you cannot reach Bank of America's website, the problem is usually on your end — your internet connection, your browser, or your device — not with Bank of America's servers. Start by opening a different website entirely (Google, CNN, your email) to confirm you have internet access. If that works, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try Bank of America again in a different browser. If it still will not load, the outage is real.
Bank of America's main website is bankofamerica.com. If you are trying to reach the mobile app instead, the steps are different: uninstall and reinstall the app, restart your phone, and check your app store for updates. A web outage does not always mean the app is down, and vice versa.
Real outages at Bank of America are rare and usually brief. The bank maintains multiple data centers and redundant systems, so a complete shutdown affecting all customers is uncommon. Partial outages — where some features work but others do not — happen more often and usually resolve within an hour.
Key Takeaways
- Test your internet connection by opening a different website before assuming Bank of America is down.
- Clear your browser cache and try a different browser to rule out local problems on your device.
- Check Bank of America's official status page or call their customer service line to confirm a real outage.
- During an outage, you can still use ATMs, call customer service, or visit a branch to handle urgent transactions.
- The Bank of America mobile app and website sometimes have separate outages, so test both if you need access.
Where to check Bank of America's official status
Bank of America does not maintain a public status page like some other companies do, so you cannot check a live dashboard. Instead, call their customer service line at 1-800-432-1000 to confirm whether an outage is happening. A representative can tell you when ready if the website or app is down and when service is expected to return.
You can also check social media — Bank of America's official Twitter account (@BankofAmerica) sometimes posts about outages, though they do not always announce them in real time. Third-party outage tracking sites like Downdetector and IsItDownRightNow aggregate user reports and can show you whether other customers are experiencing the same problem. These sites are useful for confirming an outage is widespread, but they are not official sources.
If you are locked out of your account and need to reset your password or unlock it, you may be able to do that through the mobile app even if the website is down, or vice versa. Try both before calling customer service.
What to do if the website is down and you need to access your account
If the outage is short — under an hour — waiting is usually the fastest option. Bank of America's engineers are already working on it, and most outages resolve without customer action.
If you need access urgently, use the mobile app instead. read it from the Apple App Store or Google Play if you do not have it. The app and website run on separate infrastructure, so one can be down while the other works. You can check your balance, transfer money, pay bills, and deposit checks through the app.
For transactions that require when ready attention, visit a Bank of America branch in person or call 1-800-432-1000 to speak with a representative. You can also use any Bank of America ATM to withdraw cash or check your balance, even if the website and app are both down. ATMs operate on a separate network and rarely go offline during web outages.
Why Bank of America's website goes down
Planned maintenance is the most common reason. Bank of America schedules updates and system upgrades regularly, usually during nights and weekends when fewer customers are using the site. These maintenance windows are announced in advance through email and in-app notifications, though not always prominently. If you tried to log in during a scheduled maintenance window, that is why the site was unavailable.
Unplanned outages happen when something breaks unexpectedly — a server failure, a network problem, a software bug, or a security incident. These are unpredictable and can last anywhere from minutes to several hours. During major incidents, Bank of America's communications team posts updates on their social media accounts and may send email notifications to customers.
Distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS attacks) occasionally target large banks, including Bank of America. These attacks flood the website with fake traffic to overwhelm the servers. Bank of America has defenses against these attacks, but a large one can still cause slowdowns or temporary unavailability.
Why your device might not reach the site even if it is working
Your internet service provider (ISP) can block or slow access to certain websites, though this is rare. If you are on a work or school network, the network administrator may have blocked bankofamerica.com. Try accessing the site on a different network (your phone's mobile data, a friend's WiFi) to test this.
Your browser's cache can serve you an old, broken version of the page. Clear your cache by going to your browser's settings, finding the "Clear browsing data" or "Clear cache" option, selecting "All time" or "Everything", and restarting the browser. Then try Bank of America again.
Browser extensions — especially security tools, ad blockers, and VPNs — can interfere with loading the site. Try disabling them one at a time and reloading the page. If the site loads after you disable one extension, that extension is the problem.
Your device's DNS settings might be pointing to the wrong server. Restart your router and your device. If that does not work, try changing your DNS to Google's public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) in your network settings. This is a technical step, but it solves DNS problems that prevent websites from loading.
How long outages usually last
Planned maintenance typically lasts 30 minutes to 2 hours. Bank of America usually schedules these during off-peak times and completes them quickly.
Unplanned outages vary widely. A minor bug might be fixed in 15 minutes. A server failure might take 1 to 3 hours to resolve. A major incident affecting multiple systems can last 4 to 8 hours or longer. During the outage, Bank of America's team prioritizes restoring service over communicating updates, so information may be sparse.
If an outage lasts more than a few hours, check Bank of America's social media accounts for updates. You can also call customer service to ask for an estimated time to resolution, though representatives may not have precise information during active incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use my debit card if the website is down?
Yes. Your debit card works independently of the website. You can use it at stores, ATMs, and online retailers without any problem. The website outage does not affect the card itself or the payment network.
Will I be charged fees if I cannot pay my bill because the website is down?
Bank of America typically does not charge late fees for payments missed during a confirmed outage affecting the website or app. Call customer service at 1-800-432-1000 to report the outage and ask them to note it on your account. Keep records of when you tried to pay and when the outage occurred.
How do I know if the problem is my internet or the Bank of America website?
Open a different website — Google, your email, or any news site — in the same browser. If that loads, your internet works and the problem is with Bank of America or your device. If nothing loads, your internet is down. Restart your router and try again.
What should I do if I see a suspicious message when I try to log in?
Do not enter your password or personal information. Close the browser and call Bank of America at 1-800-432-1000 to confirm whether the message is real. Phishing sites sometimes impersonate Bank of America during outages when customers are frustrated and less cautious.
Can I deposit a check through the app if the website is down?
Usually yes. The mobile app and website use separate systems, so a website outage does not affect the app's check deposit feature. Open the app and look for the deposit option. If the app is also down, you can deposit the check at an ATM or visit a branch.