Bank of America is the second-largest bank in the U.S. with 3,800+ branches and 16,000+ ATMs. Its loyalty program — renamed BofA Rewards in May 2026 (formerly Preferred Rewards) — makes it significantly more valuable for customers who keep $30,000 or more with BofA or Merrill, unlocking fee waivers, higher deposit limits, and credit card reward bonuses of up to 75% for customers who reach the $1,000,000+ Premier tier. This guide covers every account, fee, limit, and service BofA offers, with detailed articles on each topic.
Bank of America Account Options
| Account | Monthly Fee | Fee Waiver | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage SafePass | $4.95 | None | Budget-conscious, no overdraft risk |
| Advantage Plus | $12 | $1,500 balance or $250+ direct deposit | Most customers |
| Advantage Relationship | $25 | $20,000 combined BofA/Merrill balance | BofA Rewards members |
| Savings | $8 | $500 balance, linked checking, or auto-transfer | Basic savings |
| Business Fundamentals | $16 | $5,000 balance or $250+ deposits | Small business |
The minimum balance requirements for each account are closely tied to BofA’s Rewards tiers — qualifying balances that waive your monthly fee overlap with (but are not identical to) the thresholds that unlock better rates and credit card bonuses. Understanding which balance level you can realistically maintain determines which account is actually cheapest for you.
Bank of America Checking Accounts
BofA offers three personal checking options. Advantage SafePass (marketed as Advantage SafeBalance Banking; $4.95/month) can be waived if an account owner is under 25, you maintain a $500 daily balance, or you qualify for a BofA Rewards Preferred Plus, Preferred Honors, or Premier tier — it blocks overdrafts by declining transactions you can’t cover, useful if overdraft fees have been a problem. Advantage Plus ($12/month) is the standard account and waives its fee with either a $1,500 daily balance or a $250+ direct deposit. Advantage Relationship ($25/month) waives with a $20,000 combined balance and provides added benefits including a waived incoming domestic wire fee.
For a side-by-side breakdown of features, minimum opening deposits, and overdraft options, see the Bank of America checking account guide.
Bank of America Savings Accounts
The standard BofA Advantage Savings account earns a base APY that is well below what high-yield savings accounts offer at online banks. The fee is $8/month, waived by maintaining a $500 minimum balance, linking a BofA checking account, or setting up an automatic monthly transfer.
BofA savings works best as a companion to a checking account within the BofA Rewards ecosystem — the rate improvements at higher tiers are modest, but the fee waivers and combined balance counting toward BofA Rewards status make it convenient. For customers who want the best available savings rate, a separate HYSA at an online bank is worth considering alongside a BofA checking account. See the full Bank of America savings account guide for current rates and tier-by-tier details.
Bank of America Fees
Bank of America cut overdraft fees from $35 to $10 in 2022 — a 71% reduction that makes them the most overdraft-friendly of the four major traditional banks. That said, the full Bank of America fee schedule includes monthly maintenance fees, wire transfer costs, cashier’s check fees, and non-BofA ATM charges that add up quickly if you’re not aware of them.
| Fee | Amount | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly checking fee | $4.95–$25 | Balance or direct deposit requirements |
| Overdraft fee | $10 per item | SafePass account (no overdraft), balance alerts |
| Non-BofA ATM | $2.50 | Use BofA’s 16,000+ ATMs |
| Wire (domestic outgoing) | $30 | Preferred Rewards Premier tier ($0) |
| Wire (international outgoing) | $45 (USD) | No fee if sent in foreign currency (exchange rate markup applies) |
| Cashier’s check | $10 (non-relationship, over $50) | Free for Bank of America relationship customers |
| Stop payment | $30 | Only when necessary |
The complete Bank of America fees guide breaks down every charge across checking, savings, and business accounts — including which fees disappear entirely at each BofA Rewards tier.
Bank of America Limits
One of the most practical things to understand about any bank is its daily transaction limits — what you can withdraw, deposit by phone, and send to others. BofA’s limits can scale with BofA Rewards status, though exact higher limits are assigned individually rather than published.
ATM Withdrawal Limits
The standard Bank of America ATM withdrawal limit is $1,000 per day for most checking accounts. BofA Rewards members and Advantage Relationship customers may have higher limits, assigned individually. If you need more cash urgently, you can call the number on the back of your card to request a one-time temporary increase — BofA approves these routinely for established accounts.
Mobile Deposit Limits
The Bank of America mobile deposit limit is $5,000 per day and $10,000 per month for standard accounts, with a cutoff at 8:00 PM local time. Accounts under 90 days old are capped at $2,500/day. The first $225 of any mobile deposit is available the same business day; the rest clears within 1–2 business days. For larger checks, you’ll need to visit a branch or ATM, or call to request a temporary limit increase.
Transfer Limits
Bank of America transfer limits differ substantially by transfer type:
| Transfer Method | Standard Daily Limit | BofA Rewards (higher tiers) |
|---|---|---|
| Zelle | $3,500/day | Up to $10,000/day |
| ACH (external) | $3,500/day | $10,000+/day |
| Wire (online) | $1,000/day | Higher |
| Wire (branch) | $100,000–$250,000/day | Higher |
Zelle is built directly into the BofA app and is the fastest option for sending money to individuals. Wire transfers are appropriate for large real estate or business transactions — the online cap is low but branch wires have much higher limits.
Bank of America Routing Numbers
Bank of America uses different routing numbers by state — a result of absorbing dozens of regional banks over the decades. Using the wrong routing number will delay or reject your direct deposit or ACH payment.
| State | Routing Number |
|---|---|
| California | 121000358 |
| New York | 021200339 |
| Texas | 111000025 |
| Florida | 063100277 |
| Georgia | 061000052 |
| Illinois | 071000505 |
| Virginia | 051000017 |
| New Jersey | 021200339 |
The Bank of America routing number guide lists all 50 states and explains how to confirm yours — you can also find it on a check (bottom-left number), in the BofA mobile app under account details, or by calling customer service.
Bank of America Hours
Bank of America financial center hours are typically Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM at most locations, though these vary by branch. Branches are closed Sundays and all 11 federal bank holidays. ATMs and online banking are available 24/7 regardless of branch hours.
If you need to visit a branch for a service that requires in-person handling — like a notarized document, a large wire transfer, or opening a new account — checking the branch locator before you go is worth 30 seconds. Hours vary more than you’d expect within the same city.
BofA Rewards Program (Formerly Preferred Rewards)
Bank of America renamed its loyalty program from Preferred Rewards to BofA Rewards around May 26, 2026, and restructured the tiers. It’s a loyalty tier system based on combined balances across your Bank of America deposit accounts and Merrill investment accounts.
| Tier | Balance Required | Credit Card Bonus | Fee Waivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | No minimum | +10% rewards boost | Some fee waivers |
| Preferred Plus | $30,000+ | +25% rewards boost | Monthly checking/savings fee waiver, some ATM fees |
| Preferred Honors | $100,000+ | +50% rewards boost | Free domestic incoming wires, most fees waived |
| Premier | $1,000,000+ | +75% rewards boost | All fees waived, mortgage discount |
As of September 2026. Verify current tier thresholds and benefits at bankofamerica.com, as the program restructured in 2026 and the previous Gold ($20,000), Platinum ($50,000), and Platinum Honors ($100,000) tier names and thresholds no longer apply — the 75% top credit card bonus now requires a $1,000,000 combined balance (Premier tier) rather than the former $100,000 (Platinum Honors) threshold.
Why BofA Rewards changes the math: A BofA Premium Rewards card earns 2% on travel/dining normally. At the Premier tier, the 75% boost makes that 3.5% — competitive with the best travel cards on the market — but reaching Premier now requires $1,000,000 in combined balances, a much higher bar than under the former Preferred Rewards program. At the more attainable Preferred Honors tier ($100,000+), the boost is 50%, making that 2% card worth 3%.
The minimum balance guide explains exactly which balances count toward each tier, how Merrill Lynch accounts factor in, and how to get credit for balances you already have spread across accounts.
Bank of America Customer Service
| Department | Phone Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Personal banking | 1-800-432-1000 | 24/7 |
| Credit cards | 1-800-732-9194 | 24/7 |
| Small business | 1-800-688-6086 | Mon–Fri 8AM–11PM ET |
| Mortgage | 1-800-669-6607 | Mon–Fri 8AM–10PM ET |
| Fraud | 1-800-432-1000 | 24/7 |
The Bank of America customer service guide covers every department number, the best times to call to avoid hold times, how to reach a human quickly, and when it’s faster to use the mobile app or chat instead of calling. For routine issues like ATM limit increases or mobile deposit limit bumps, the app handles most requests without a wait.
BofA vs Other Major Banks
Bank of America sits in an interesting position: better branch coverage than Chase in many markets, more competitive fees than Wells Fargo, and a loyalty program that actually rewards staying. But for customers without $20,000+ to maintain, online banks will offer better savings rates with no monthly fees.
For head-to-head comparisons:
- BofA vs Chase — Chase has a larger ATM network and stronger credit card ecosystem; BofA wins on overdraft fees and BofA Rewards for high-balance customers
- BofA vs Wells Fargo — BofA’s $10 overdraft fee vs Wells Fargo’s $35; both have comparable branch footprints
The decision usually comes down to whether BofA Rewards status is realistic for you. If you already have or plan to have $30,000+ in combined accounts (the Preferred Plus threshold), BofA becomes a more rewarding banking relationship. Below that threshold, you’re paying more than you need to for the same services.
All Bank of America Guides
- Bank of America Review 2026
- Bank of America Checking Account 2026
- Bank of America Savings Account 2026
- Bank of America Fees 2026: Complete Schedule for All Accounts
- Bank of America ATM Withdrawal Limit 2026
- Bank of America Mobile Deposit Limit 2026
- Bank of America Transfer Limits 2026: Zelle, ACH, and Wire
- Bank of America Routing Number by State 2026
- Bank of America Minimum Balance Requirements 2026
- Bank of America Hours 2026: Branch Schedule and Holidays
- Bank of America Customer Service 2026: Every Number and Contact Method
- Bank of America vs Chase 2026
- Bank of America vs Wells Fargo 2026
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