The main ways to pay your Bank of America credit card

You can pay your Bank of America credit card through their website, mobile app, by phone, or by mail. The fastest route is online or through the app — both process payments the same day if you submit before the cutoff time, usually around 8 p.m. Eastern. Phone payments take the same day. Mail takes 5 to 7 business days from when Bank of America receives it, so send it early if your due date is close.

Bank of America also lets you set up automatic payments from a checking or savings account, which removes the need to remember your due date. You can choose to pay your full balance, a fixed amount, or just the minimum due each month.

Key Takeaways

  • Online and mobile app payments process the same day if submitted before 8 p.m. Eastern, while mailed payments take 5 to 7 business days.
  • You can pay from any bank account, not just a Bank of America account, using the routing and account number from your checking or savings account.
  • Automatic payments let you choose whether to pay the full balance, a fixed dollar amount, or the minimum due each month.
  • Payments made after your due date will be reported as late to credit bureaus, even if you pay within the grace period.

Paying online or through the mobile app

Log into your Bank of America account at bankofamerica.com or open the mobile app, then select your credit card and choose "Make a Payment." You'll enter the amount you want to pay and confirm the payment method — this can be a Bank of America account or an account at another bank. If you use another bank's account, you'll need the routing number and account number.

The payment posts the same business day if you submit before the cutoff time. Bank of America shows you the exact cutoff time in your account. If you submit after the cutoff, it will post the next business day. Weekends and holidays don't count as business days, so a payment submitted on Friday evening won't post until Monday.

Setting up automatic payments

Automatic payments remove the risk of forgetting your due date. In your Bank of America account, go to "Manage Automatic Payments" under your credit card settings. You'll choose a payment date each month and decide whether to pay the full balance, a set dollar amount, or the minimum due.

If you choose to pay the full balance automatically, Bank of America will pay whatever you owe on the date you select — useful if your balance changes month to month. If you set a fixed dollar amount, make sure it's at least the minimum due, or you'll still be late. You can change or cancel automatic payments anytime, and you can set up multiple automatic payments if you want to pay more than once a month.

Paying by phone

Call the number on the back of your credit card to pay by phone. You'll need your card number and the account you're paying from. A representative will walk you through the payment and confirm the amount and posting date. Phone payments process the same day if you call before the cutoff time, usually around 8 p.m. Eastern.

Phone payments are useful if you have questions about your account or need to discuss a late payment, but they take longer than online or app payments because you're speaking to a person. If you're in a hurry, the app or website is faster.

Paying by mail

Write a check or money order, include your account number on the payment, and mail it to the address shown on your statement. Do not send cash. Mail takes 5 to 7 business days from when Bank of America receives it, so send it at least a week before your due date to be safe.

The postmark date doesn't matter — only the date Bank of America receives the payment counts. If your payment arrives after your due date, it will be reported as late even if you mailed it on time. For this reason, mailed payments are the riskiest option if your due date is soon.

What happens if you pay late

A payment is late if it arrives after your due date, regardless of when you submitted it. Bank of America will report the late payment to credit bureaus, which damages your credit score. You'll also owe a late fee — the amount depends on your card terms, but it's usually $25 to $40 for the first late payment and more for repeat lates.

If you're more than 30 days late, Bank of America may freeze your account and raise your interest rate. If you know you'll be late, call the number on your card and explain your situation — some representatives can waive a single late fee or work out a payment plan, though they're not required to.

Paying from another bank's account

You don't need a Bank of America checking account to pay your credit card. You can pay from any bank's account by providing the routing number and account number. Bank of America will debit the payment from that account on the date you specify.

If you enter the wrong routing or account number, the payment will fail and may bounce, which can trigger overdraft fees at your bank. Double-check both numbers before you submit. You can find your routing number on your bank's website or by calling customer service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my Bank of America credit card with a debit card?

No, you can't pay with a debit card directly through Bank of America's payment system. You can only pay from a checking or savings account. If you want to use a debit card, you'd need to transfer money to a checking account first, then pay from that account.

What time does Bank of America stop accepting payments each day?

The cutoff time is usually around 8 p.m. Eastern, but it varies by payment method and can change. Log into your account and look at the payment screen — Bank of America shows the exact cutoff time before you submit. Payments submitted after the cutoff post the next business day.

If I pay online, how do I know the payment went through?

Bank of America sends a confirmation number immediately after you submit the payment, and you can see the pending payment in your account right away. The payment will show as posted once it clears, usually within hours. You can also check your payment history in your account anytime.

Can I cancel a payment after I've submitted it?

If the payment hasn't posted yet, you can cancel it through your account or by calling the number on your card. Once it's posted, you can't cancel it — you'd need to contact Bank of America to discuss a refund or credit. Act quickly if you need to cancel, because same-day payments post fast.

What's the difference between the due date and the grace period?

Your due date is when payment is due. If you pay after that date, you're late and will owe a late fee and interest, even if you're still within the grace period. The grace period is the time before interest starts charging on new purchases — it's separate from the due date for paying your balance.