What you need before you start a Bank of America balance transfer
Bank of America offers balance transfer options on several of its credit cards, but you cannot transfer a balance until you have been approved for a card and received it in the mail. The process itself — moving debt from another card to your Bank of America card — happens through Bank of America's online banking portal or by phone, not during the process stage.
Before you begin, gather three pieces of information: the account number of the card you want to transfer from, the current balance on that card, and the name of the card issuer (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express). You will also need to know your Bank of America card number, which arrives with your physical card.
Check whether your Bank of America card actually offers balance transfers. Not all Bank of America cards do — primarily their rewards and cash-back cards offer this feature. If you are unsure, log into your account or call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask whether balance transfers are available on your specific card.
Key Takeaways
- You must have your physical Bank of America card in hand before you can request a balance transfer; you cannot do it during the process process.
- Balance transfers typically carry a fee of 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred, charged to your Bank of America account.
- The transfer itself takes 5 to 14 business days to complete, and during that time the balance sits on both cards until the old card issuer receives the payment.
- Bank of America balance transfer offers usually include a promotional period with a lower interest rate, but that rate expires after a set number of months.
- You can request a transfer online through your Bank of America account, by phone, or by mail, but online is fastest.
How to request a balance transfer through your Bank of America online account
Log into your Bank of America account at bankofamerica.com using your username and password. From the main dashboard, select the credit card account you want to transfer the balance to. Look for a section labeled "Transfers" or "Balance Transfers" — the exact wording varies by card type, but it will be in the account menu or under "Services."
Click on the balance transfer option. You will be asked to enter the account number of the card you are transferring from, the amount you want to transfer, and the name of that card's issuer. Bank of America will show you the transfer fee (calculated as a percentage of the amount) and the promotional interest rate that applies to the transferred balance. Review these numbers carefully — the fee is added to your balance when ready.
Once you confirm the transfer request, Bank of America sends the payment to your old card issuer. This takes 5 to 14 business days. You will see the transferred amount appear as a pending transaction on your Bank of America card, and it will post as a completed transfer once the old issuer receives and processes the payment. During the waiting period, continue making at least the minimum payment on your old card to avoid late fees.
Requesting a balance transfer by phone or mail
If you prefer not to use online banking, call the customer service number on the back of your Bank of America credit card. Tell the representative you want to request a balance transfer. Have your old card account number and the card issuer's name ready. The representative will walk you through the same information you would enter online: the amount to transfer, the fee, and the promotional rate.
Balance transfers by phone are processed the same day you call, so this method is not slower than online — it straightforward requires speaking to a person. The representative will confirm the transfer fee and promotional terms before finalizing the request.
Mailing in a balance transfer request is possible but rarely necessary. If you choose this route, contact Bank of America to request a balance transfer form, complete it with the required information, and mail it back. This method takes longer because of postal delays and adds 5 to 10 business days to the overall timeline.
Understanding the balance transfer fee and promotional rate
Bank of America charges a balance transfer fee on most transfers, typically between 3 and 5 percent of the amount you transfer. This fee is not a separate charge — it is added directly to your new balance on your Bank of America card. If you transfer $5,000 with a 3 percent fee, you owe $5,150 on your Bank of America card.
The promotional interest rate is the main reason people request balance transfers. Bank of America's promotional periods vary by card and by the current offer, but they typically range from 6 to 21 months at 0 percent interest. After the promotional period ends, the regular purchase and balance transfer interest rate applies to any remaining balance. This rate is listed in your card's terms and conditions.
The promotional rate applies only to the transferred balance, not to new purchases you make on the card. Purchases made after the transfer usually carry the regular purchase interest rate when ready, even during the promotional period. To avoid confusion, do not use the card for new purchases while you are paying down the transferred balance.
What happens if your balance transfer is declined
Bank of America may decline a balance transfer request if the amount exceeds your available credit limit, if the card you are transferring from is not may be able to access (for example, if it is another Bank of America card), or if there is a problem with the account information you provided. If your request is declined, you will receive a notice explaining the reason.
If the decline is due to insufficient credit limit, you can request a credit limit increase on your Bank of America card and then resubmit the balance transfer request. If the decline is because you cannot transfer from another Bank of America card, you will need to use a different card issuer's card for the transfer.
Double-check the account number and card issuer name if your request is declined for account information reasons. A single digit error in the account number will cause the request to fail. Contact your old card issuer directly if you are unsure of the exact account number.
Tracking your balance transfer after you request it
After you submit a balance transfer request, log back into your Bank of America account within a few hours to confirm the request was received. You should see the transfer listed in your account activity or transaction history, usually marked as "pending" or "in progress."
The transfer typically completes within 5 to 14 business days. During this time, the amount will show as a pending charge on your Bank of America card. Once the old card issuer receives and processes the payment, the transfer status will change to "completed" and the balance will be fully posted to your Bank of America account.
If more than 14 business days pass and the transfer still shows as pending, contact Bank of America customer service. Delays occasionally happen if the old card issuer is slow to process the incoming payment, but Bank of America can investigate on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a balance from another Bank of America card to a different Bank of America card?
No. Bank of America does not allow balance transfers between its own cards. You can only transfer a balance from a card issued by another bank or credit card company. If you have multiple Bank of America cards, you will need to pay down the balance on one card using payments from another source.
Does the balance transfer fee get charged right away or added to my bill?
The fee is added to your balance when ready when the transfer is processed. It is not a separate charge — it becomes part of the total amount you owe on your Bank of America card. If you transfer $3,000 with a 4 percent fee, your new balance is $3,120.
What happens to my old card after the balance is transferred?
Your old card remains open and active unless you close it yourself. The balance on that card drops to zero once Bank of America's payment is received and processed. You can continue using the old card for new purchases if you choose, but closing it after the transfer is complete is common practice to avoid accidentally carrying a balance on multiple cards.
Can I transfer a balance if I just got approved for the card but haven't received it yet?
No. You must have your physical card in hand and activated before you can request a balance transfer. You cannot initiate a transfer during the process process or while waiting for the card to arrive in the mail. Once you receive and set up the card, you can request the transfer when ready.
What if I want to transfer a balance but my credit limit is too low?
Contact Bank of America and request a credit limit increase. Once your limit is raised high enough to cover the balance transfer amount plus the fee, you can submit your transfer request. Credit limit increases are usually decided within one business day.