What freezing your Bank of America checking account actually does
Freezing your Bank of America checking account stops new transactions from going through — deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and bill payments all get blocked. The account itself stays open and your money stays in it. You can unfreeze it later if you change your mind. Bank of America calls this feature a temporary freeze, and it's different from closing the account, which is permanent.
The freeze applies only to the account you select. If you have multiple checking accounts with Bank of America, you can freeze one and leave the others active. The freeze takes effect when ready when you set it up through the app or online banking, though any transactions already in progress may still complete.
A freeze is useful if you've lost your debit card, suspect fraud, or want to prevent spending while you're away. It's not the same as a credit freeze, which affects credit reports and new credit applications — this is just about stopping activity on one bank account.
Key Takeaways
- You can freeze a Bank of America checking account through the mobile app, online banking, or by calling customer service, and the freeze takes effect when ready.
- A frozen account blocks all new transactions but keeps your money in place and the account open.
- You can unfreeze the account at any time through the same method you used to freeze it.
- Transactions already submitted before the freeze may still process, so check your account after freezing to confirm nothing unexpected went through.
- If you lose access to your phone or online banking, calling Bank of America directly is the fastest way to freeze or unfreeze.
Freezing through the Bank of America mobile app
Open the Bank of America mobile app and sign in. Go to the account you want to freeze — tap on the checking account tile. Look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) or a settings option on that account's screen. You should see a "Freeze Card" or "Lock Card" option; tap it.
The app will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the freeze is active. You'll see a notification that the account is frozen, and the app will show a lock icon next to the account name. The freeze takes effect right away, though any pending transactions submitted before you froze it may still clear.
To unfreeze, go back to the same account, tap the menu, and select "Unfreeze Card" or "Unlock Card." It's the same process in reverse and takes effect when ready.
Freezing through online banking on a computer
Log into your Bank of America account at bankofamerica.com. Click on the checking account you want to freeze. Look for account settings or a menu option — this is often labeled "Account Services" or found under a gear icon. Select the option to freeze or lock the account.
Bank of America will ask you to confirm the freeze. Once you do, the account is frozen and you'll see confirmation on the screen. The freeze is when ready. To unfreeze later, return to the same menu and select the unfreeze option.
Online banking sometimes has a slight delay in updating the freeze status across all devices, so if you're checking the app right after freezing online, you may see the old status for a minute or two. Refresh the app to see the current status.
Freezing by phone with Bank of America customer service
Call Bank of America's customer service number on the back of your debit card or at 1-800-432-1000. Tell the representative you want to freeze your checking account. They'll verify your identity by asking for your Social Security number, date of birth, or other security questions.
Once verified, the representative will freeze the account when ready. They'll give you a confirmation number — write it down. Ask them to confirm the freeze is active before you hang up. If you need to unfreeze later and can't access the app or online banking, you can call the same number and the representative will unfreeze it for you.
Phone freezes are useful if you've lost your phone or don't have internet access. The process usually takes five to ten minutes total.
What happens to pending transactions and automatic payments
Transactions you submitted before freezing the account may still go through. If you paid a bill online yesterday and froze your account today, that payment will likely still process. The freeze blocks new transactions from being initiated, not ones already in the system.
Automatic payments set up before the freeze — like a monthly insurance payment or gym membership — will be blocked once the freeze is active. If you need those payments to continue, you'll need to unfreeze the account. Bank of America won't charge you overdraft fees for blocked automatic payments while the account is frozen.
Check your account a few hours after freezing to see what cleared and what was blocked. If a payment you needed to make got blocked, unfreeze the account, let the payment process, then freeze it again.
Unfreezing your account when you're ready
Unfreeze through the same method you used to freeze: the mobile app, online banking, or by phone. In the app or online, go to the account, find the menu, and select "Unfreeze" or "Unlock." By phone, call customer service and tell them you want to unfreeze the account. They'll verify your identity and unfreeze it when ready.
The unfreeze takes effect right away. You can start making transactions, withdrawals, and bill payments as soon as the freeze is lifted. There's no waiting period and no additional steps required.
If you unfreeze and then want to freeze again, you can do so at any time. There's no limit to how many times you can freeze and unfreeze the same account.
When freezing doesn't solve the problem
If you've lost your debit card and frozen the account, you'll still need to order a replacement card. The freeze stops transactions, but it doesn't replace the card itself. Contact Bank of America to request a new card — you can do this through the app, online, or by phone. The new card usually arrives in five to seven business days.
If you suspect fraud or unauthorized transactions, freezing stops future damage, but you'll also need to report the fraudulent transactions to Bank of America. Call the fraud department at the number on the back of your card or go to a branch in person. Bank of America will investigate and may reverse fraudulent charges, but you need to report them separately from freezing the account.
If you want to prevent access to the account entirely — not just freeze it temporarily — you may want to close the account instead. Closing is permanent and requires a separate request. A freeze is reversible; a closure is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does freezing my Bank of America checking account affect my credit score?
No. Freezing a checking account has no effect on your credit score or credit report. It only stops transactions on that one account. Your credit is tied to borrowing and payment history, not to bank account freezes.
Can I still deposit money into a frozen checking account?
No. A frozen account blocks all transactions, including deposits. If you need to deposit money, you'll have to unfreeze the account first, deposit the funds, then freeze it again if you want.
What if I forget my password and can't unfreeze the account online?
Call Bank of America customer service at 1-800-432-1000. They'll verify your identity and unfreeze the account for you over the phone. You don't need to log in to unfreeze by phone.
Will Bank of America charge me a fee to freeze or unfreeze my account?
No. Freezing and unfreezing are free features. Bank of America does not charge for using the freeze function.
If I freeze my account, can the bank still take money out for overdraft fees or service charges?
Bank of America typically will not charge overdraft or service fees while an account is frozen, since the freeze prevents the transactions that would trigger those fees. However, if you have questions about a specific fee, call customer service to confirm.