Bank of America lets you set up autopay through their website, mobile app, or by phone — and you can choose to pay your full balance, a fixed amount, or just the minimum each month
The fastest way is through the Bank of America website or mobile app. Log in to your account, find the credit card you want to set up autopay for, and look for a "Payments" or "Make a Payment" section. From there, you can schedule automatic payments to happen on a date you choose each month. Bank of America will deduct the payment from a checking or savings account you link — either at Bank of America or at another bank.
You can also call Bank of America's customer service at the number on the back of your card and ask them to set it up over the phone. They will need the account you want the payment to come from and the date you want it to happen each month. If you prefer to set it up in person, you can visit a Bank of America branch with your card and a form of ID.
Key Takeaways
- You can set up autopay through the Bank of America website, mobile app, or by calling the number on your card — all three methods take less than 10 minutes.
- Choose your payment amount: full balance, a fixed dollar amount, or minimum payment, and pick the date each month you want it to happen.
- The payment will come from a checking or savings account at Bank of America or any other U.S. bank you link to your account.
- You can change or cancel autopay at any time through the same website or app section where you set it up.
Setting Up Autopay Through the Bank of America Website
Go to bankofamerica.com and sign in with your username and password. If you do not have online banking set up yet, you will need to register first — you can do this with your card number, Social Security number, and date of birth.
Once you are logged in, click on the credit card account you want to set up autopay for. Look for a tab or link that says "Payments," "Pay My Bill," or "Manage Payments." Click into that section. You should see an option to "Set Up Automatic Payments" or "Schedule a Payment." Click that option.
The system will ask you to choose which account the payment should come from. If you have a Bank of America checking account, it will likely be listed already. If you want to use an account at a different bank, select "Add External Account" and enter the routing number and account number. Bank of America will verify the account — this usually takes one business day, but you can set up autopay while verification is pending.
Next, choose your payment amount. You have three options: pay the full statement balance each month, pay a fixed amount (like $200), or pay the minimum payment due. Then pick the date each month you want the payment to happen — for example, the 15th or the last day of the month. Review the details and confirm.
Setting Up Autopay Through the Mobile App
Open the Bank of America mobile app and log in. Tap on the credit card account you want to set up autopay for. You should see a "Pay" button or a "Payments" section near the top of the screen.
Tap "Pay" or "Payments," then look for an option that says "Set Up Automatic Payments" or "Recurring Payment." Tap that. The app will walk you through the same steps as the website: choose the account to pay from, pick your payment amount, and select the date each month.
The mobile app is often faster than the website if you already have Bank of America accounts linked. You can also see your autopay schedule right from the app — just go back to the Payments section and look for "Scheduled Payments" or "Automatic Payments."
What Happens After You Set Up Autopay
Once autopay is active, Bank of America will pull the payment from your linked account on the date you chose each month. The payment usually posts to your credit card within one to two business days. You will still receive your monthly statement, and it will show the autopay payment you made.
If your payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, Bank of America will process it on the next business day. If you do not have enough money in the account on the payment date, the payment may fail — Bank of America does not automatically retry, so you would need to make a manual payment to avoid a late fee.
You can check the status of your autopay at any time by logging into your account online or through the app. Look for "Scheduled Payments" or "Automatic Payments" in the Payments section. You will see the next payment date and amount.
Changing or Canceling Your Autopay
If you need to change the payment amount or date, go back to the Payments section where you set it up. You should see your active autopay listed under "Scheduled Payments" or "Automatic Payments." Click on it and select "Edit" or "Modify." You can change the amount, the date, or the account it comes from. Save your changes.
To cancel autopay entirely, find the scheduled payment in the same section and select "Cancel" or "Delete." The cancellation takes effect immediately, so no more automatic payments will be pulled from your account. If you cancel autopay, you will need to make manual payments to avoid missing a due date.
If you cancel autopay and later want to set it up again, you can follow the same steps as the first time — there is no waiting period or penalty for turning it on and off.
Autopay Payment Timing and Your Credit Report
The date you choose for autopay is when the payment is processed, not when it arrives at Bank of America. Processing usually takes one to two business days, so if you want the payment to count toward your statement due date, set autopay for at least two business days before that date.
For example, if your statement is due on the 20th, set autopay for the 18th or earlier. This gives the payment time to post before the due date. If you set autopay for the 20th itself, it may not post until the 21st or 22nd, which could result in a late payment being reported to credit bureaus.
Bank of America reports on-time payments to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Autopay payments count the same as manual payments — as long as the payment posts by your due date, it will show as on-time on your credit report.
Troubleshooting Common Autopay Issues
If your autopay payment fails, Bank of America will send you a notification (usually by email or text, depending on your preferences). The most common reason for failure is insufficient funds in the account the payment is supposed to come from. Check your account balance and make sure there is enough money on the payment date.
If the account you linked is at another bank, make sure that bank has not frozen or closed the account. If you recently changed banks or closed an account, update your autopay to use a different account. You can do this through the Payments section by editing the scheduled payment and selecting a new account to pay from.
If you set up autopay but do not see it listed under "Scheduled Payments," log out and log back in. Sometimes the system takes a few minutes to update. If it still does not appear after an hour, call Bank of America customer service at the number on your card to confirm the setup went through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up autopay to pay from an account at a different bank?
Yes. When you set up autopay, select "Add External Account" and enter the routing number and account number from the other bank. Bank of America will verify the account, which usually takes one business day. You can set up autopay while verification is pending, and it will start on your chosen date.
What if I want to pay more than the autopay amount in a given month?
You can make an additional manual payment at any time without affecting your autopay. Log into your account, go to Payments, and select "Make a One-Time Payment." Enter the extra amount and the date you want it processed. Your autopay will still happen on its regular schedule.
Does autopay work if I have multiple Bank of America credit cards?
Yes, but you set up autopay separately for each card. Log in, select the first card, set up autopay for that one, then go back and repeat the process for the next card. You can use the same bank account to pay all of them, or link different accounts to different cards.
Will autopay stop if I close my Bank of America checking account?
Yes. If you close the account that autopay is pulling from, the payment will fail on the next scheduled date. You will receive a notification from Bank of America. Update your autopay to use a different account before closing the original one, or cancel autopay and set up a new schedule with a different account.
Can I set autopay to happen on different dates for different cards?
Yes. Each card's autopay schedule is independent. You can set one card to pay on the 10th, another on the 20th, and a third on the last day of the month. This can help you spread out payments if you have multiple cards and want to manage cash flow.