Set up autopay through your Bank of America online account in three steps

Bank of America lets you set up automatic payments directly through your online banking portal or mobile app. You choose a payment amount — minimum payment, statement balance, or a fixed dollar amount — and a due date, and the bank pulls that money from a linked checking or savings account each month. Once it is running, you do not have to remember to pay your bill.

The process takes about five minutes and you can change or stop autopay at any time. You will still receive your monthly statement and can see the scheduled payment in your account before it goes through.

Key Takeaways

  • Autopay pulls money from a linked Bank of America checking or savings account on a date you choose each month.
  • You can set autopay to pay your minimum balance, full statement balance, or a specific dollar amount.
  • The setup happens in your online account or mobile app under the Payments section, with no phone call required.
  • You can pause or change your autopay settings anytime, and the payment will not go through if your linked account does not have enough funds.

Log into your Bank of America account online or on the app

Go to bankofamerica.com and sign in with your username and password. If you use the mobile app, open it and log in the same way. You will land on your account dashboard, which shows your accounts and recent activity.

If you do not yet have online banking set up, you will need to create a username and password first. You can do this on the Bank of America homepage by clicking "Register" or by calling 1-800-933-6262.

Find the Payments section and select your credit card

In the online portal, look for "Payments" in the main menu at the top of the page. On the mobile app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select "Payments." You will see a list of your Bank of America accounts.

Find your credit card in the list and click or tap on it. The system will show you your current balance, minimum payment due, and statement balance. This is where you will set up the automatic payment.

Choose your payment amount and schedule

Click "Set up autopay" or "Enroll in autopay" — the exact wording depends on whether you already have a payment scheduled. You will see three options for how much to pay each month:

  • Minimum payment: The bank pays only the minimum amount due, which means you carry a balance and pay interest.
  • Statement balance: The bank pays your full balance each month, which avoids interest charges if you pay in full.
  • Fixed amount: You enter a specific dollar amount, useful if you want to pay more than the minimum but less than the full balance.

Next, choose the date the payment should go through each month. You can pick any day from the 1st to the 28th. If you choose the 29th or later, the bank will process it on the last day of months with fewer days. Pick a date after you usually receive your paycheck so your linked account has the funds.

Link a checking or savings account for the payment to come from

Bank of America will ask which account the payment should pull from. This must be a Bank of America checking or savings account in your name. If you have multiple accounts, select the one you want to use.

The system will confirm the account number and routing number. You do not need to enter these yourself — the bank already has them on file. Review the information and click "Confirm" or "Next."

Review and confirm your autopay settings

The system will show you a summary of what you just set up: the credit card, the payment amount, the payment date, and the account it will pull from. Read through this carefully to make sure everything is correct.

If something is wrong, click "Edit" or "Back" to change it. If everything looks right, click "Confirm" or "Submit." You will see a confirmation message with a reference number. Write this down or take a screenshot for your records.

Manage or stop autopay anytime

Once autopay is running, you can change the payment amount, the payment date, or the linked account by going back to the Payments section and selecting your credit card. Click "Manage autopay" or "Edit autopay" and make your changes.

To stop autopay entirely, select "Cancel autopay" or "Turn off autopay" from the same menu. The payment will not go through after you cancel, but you will still owe your balance. You can restart autopay at any time by following the same steps.

What happens if your linked account does not have enough money

If the payment date arrives and your linked checking or savings account does not have enough funds, the payment will not go through. Bank of America will not overdraft your account to cover the credit card payment. Instead, you will receive a notice that the payment failed, and your credit card payment will be late.

Make a manual payment as soon as you can to avoid late fees and damage to your credit. You can also pause autopay temporarily, add funds to your linked account, and restart it the next month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up autopay to pay a different amount each month?

No. Autopay is set to one fixed option: minimum payment, statement balance, or a specific dollar amount. If you want to pay different amounts, you will need to make manual payments or change your autopay settings each month before the payment date.

What if I want to pay from an account at a different bank?

Bank of America autopay only pulls from Bank of America checking or savings accounts. If you want to pay from another bank, you can set up a bill pay transfer through your other bank's online portal, or make a manual payment to Bank of America each month.

How long does it take for the autopay payment to show up?

The payment usually posts to your credit card within one business day of the scheduled date. If you schedule it for a weekend or holiday, it will process on the next business day. You can see the pending payment in your account before it fully posts.

Will autopay hurt my credit score?

No. Autopay does not hurt your credit. In fact, paying on time every month helps your credit score. Your payment history is the largest factor in your credit score, so autopay can help by making sure you never miss a due date.

Can I use autopay if I have a joint credit card account?

Yes, but only the primary cardholder can set up or manage autopay through online banking. If you are an authorized user, you will need the primary cardholder to set it up for you.