Call Bank of America's automated payment line to pay your card balance over the phone
Bank of America lets you pay your credit card bill by phone without logging into your account online. You call their automated system, enter your card number and payment amount, and the payment processes when ready. The system accepts payments from a checking or savings account at any U.S. bank — you do not need to be a Bank of America customer to pay this way.
The phone number for card payments is 1-800-435-7000. The system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will need your Bank of America card number, the bank account you want to pay from, and the routing number for that account (a nine-digit code your bank can give you in seconds).
Payments made before 8 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day typically post to your account the same day. Payments made after 8 p.m. or on weekends post the next business day. There is no fee to use this service.
Key Takeaways
- Call 1-800-435-7000 to reach Bank of America's automated payment system, which works around the clock.
- You will need your card number, the routing number of the bank account you are paying from, and the amount you want to send.
- Payments posted before 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays reach your account the same day; after that time or on weekends, they post the next business day.
- You can pay from any U.S. bank account, not just a Bank of America account, and there is no charge for phone payments.
What information to have ready before you call
Gather these details before you dial so the call takes less than five minutes. Have your Bank of America card in front of you — you will enter the 16-digit number into the phone keypad. You will also need the routing number for the bank account you want to pay from. If you do not know it, call that bank's customer service line or log into your account online; the routing number is usually printed on the bottom left of a check.
Know the exact amount you want to pay. You can pay your full balance, the minimum payment, or any amount in between. The system will confirm the amount before you complete the transaction, so you have a chance to correct it if you make a mistake.
How the phone payment process works step by step
When you call 1-800-435-7000, an automated voice will greet you and ask what you want to do. Press the button or say the number for "make a payment." The system will then ask you to enter your 16-digit card number using the phone keypad.
Next, you will enter the routing number and account number of the bank account you are paying from. The system will ask you to confirm the account type — checking or savings — and then the payment amount. Read the confirmation carefully. If everything is correct, press to confirm. If you made an error, the system will let you go back and fix it.
Once you confirm, the system will give you a confirmation number. Write it down or take a photo of your phone screen. This number proves you made the payment if there is ever a question about it later.
When your payment will show up in your account
Bank of America processes phone payments in batches throughout the day. If you call before 8 p.m. Eastern Time on a Monday through Friday, your payment will post to your account that same day. If you call after 8 p.m. Eastern or at any time on Saturday or Sunday, the payment posts the next business day.
This means a payment made on Friday at 7 p.m. posts Friday night. A payment made on Friday at 9 p.m. does not post until Monday. A payment made on Sunday posts on Monday. Keep this timing in mind if your payment is due soon — if the due date is tomorrow and it is already evening, your payment may not post in time to avoid a late fee.
Paying from a non-Bank of America account
You do not have to have a Bank of America checking or savings account to pay your credit card by phone. The system accepts payments from any U.S. bank. You will need the routing number (nine digits) and the account number (usually 10 to 12 digits) from the account you want to pay from.
The routing number identifies the bank itself; the account number identifies your specific account at that bank. Both appear on the bottom of a check if you have one. If you do not have a check, call your bank's customer service line and ask for the routing number and your account number. Most banks give this information out freely over the phone.
What to do if the payment does not post
In rare cases, a payment you made by phone does not reach your account on the expected day. Check your confirmation number first — if you did not get one, the payment may not have gone through at all. Call Bank of America at 1-800-435-7000 again and ask to speak to a representative (the automated system will offer this option) to find out what happened.
If you have the confirmation number but the payment still has not posted after the expected time, call Bank of America's customer service line at 1-800-435-7000 and explain the situation. Have your confirmation number ready. The bank can trace the payment and tell you whether it is still processing or if there was an error. If the payment was lost due to a bank error, Bank of America will credit your account.
Alternatives to phone payment
If you prefer not to call, Bank of America offers other ways to pay your card. You can log into your online account at bankofamerica.com and set up a one-time payment or a recurring automatic payment. You can also use the Bank of America mobile app to pay from your phone without calling. Both methods work the same way as the phone system — you choose the amount and the account to pay from, and the payment posts on the same schedule.
You can also mail a check to the address on your statement, though this takes 7 to 10 days to post. Some people set up automatic payments so they never have to remember to pay at all — the bank pulls the payment from your account on the same day each month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fee to pay by phone?
No. Bank of America does not charge a fee for phone payments made to a credit card. The service is free whether you pay from a Bank of America account or from another bank.
Can I pay my Bank of America credit card from a credit card instead of a bank account?
No. The phone payment system only accepts payments from checking or savings accounts. If you try to use a credit card number, the system will reject it. You would need to use a third-party payment service, though this usually comes with a fee.
What if I call after hours or on a holiday?
The automated payment system is available 24 hours a day, every day, including holidays. You can make a payment at 2 a.m. on Christmas if you need to. However, payments made on holidays or after 8 p.m. Eastern Time will not post until the next business day.
Can I cancel a payment after I have made it?
Once you receive a confirmation number, the payment has been submitted and cannot be cancelled through the phone system. If you need to stop it, call Bank of America's customer service line right away with your confirmation number. They may be able to reverse it if it has not yet posted, but this depends on timing and is not may provide.
Do I need to be a Bank of America customer to pay this way?
You need to have a Bank of America credit card, but you do not need to have a Bank of America checking or savings account. You can pay from any U.S. bank account. The system only requires the routing number and account number of the account you are paying from.