Bank of America shows your credit score free in Online Banking and the mobile app
Bank of America displays your credit score at no cost if you have a checking or savings account and log into Online Banking or the mobile app. The score appears in your account dashboard — you do not need to request it or take extra steps. Bank of America pulls this score from Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus, and updates it monthly.
The score you see is your FICO Score 8, which is the version most lenders use when you apply for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or other credit product. Seeing this number regularly helps you track whether your credit is improving or declining, and it costs nothing.
Not all Bank of America accounts include credit score access. You must have an active personal checking or savings account. If you have only a credit card with Bank of America, you will not see the score in that account's dashboard, though some credit card issuers do offer score tracking through their own tools.
Key Takeaways
- Your Bank of America credit score updates once per month and appears free in Online Banking or the mobile app if you have a checking or savings account.
- The score comes from Equifax and is your FICO Score 8, the version most lenders use to make lending decisions.
- You can also request free credit reports from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official government site.
- Bank of America's score is one data point; checking your full credit report helps you spot errors or fraud that might not show in the score alone.
Where to find your score in Online Banking
Log into Bank of America Online Banking on a computer or open the mobile app. On the dashboard or home screen, look for a section labeled "Credit Score" or "Credit Insights." The score and a brief explanation of what it means appear there. If you do not see it immediately, scroll down — the placement varies slightly depending on your account type and device.
Tap or click on the score itself to see more detail. Bank of America usually shows you a breakdown of what factors are affecting your score: payment history, credit utilization (how much of your available credit you are using), length of credit history, credit mix (different types of credit), and recent inquiries. This detail helps you understand what to focus on if you want to improve.
The score refreshes once per month, typically on the same day each month. If you checked it last week and want to see an updated version, you will need to wait until the next refresh cycle. Bank of America does not let you force an update.
What the score does and does not tell you
Your FICO Score 8 is a number between 300 and 850 that summarizes your credit risk. A higher score means lenders see you as lower risk. Most lenders consider scores of 670 and above "good," though the exact threshold varies by lender and loan type. Mortgage lenders often want 620 or higher, while credit card issuers may want 700 or higher.
The score does not include all the information in your credit report. It reflects payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit inquiries, and credit mix — but it does not show every account you have, every late payment, or every collection attempt. Your full credit report contains details the score does not, including accounts in collections, tax liens, or fraud flags.
Bank of America's score is also based only on Equifax data. The other two bureaus — Experian and TransUnion — may have different information about you, which means your score could be different at each bureau. Some lenders pull from all three; others pull from just one. Checking your full report from each bureau once per year helps you catch errors or fraud that the score alone might miss.
Getting your full credit report for free
The federal government requires each of the three credit bureaus to give you a free copy of your credit report once per year. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official site run by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion together. You can order reports from all three bureaus at once or spread them out over the year.
You will need to answer security questions to verify your identity — typically questions about accounts, addresses, or loans in your name. Once verified, you can view, download, or print your report immediately. The report itself does not include a credit score, but it shows every account, payment history, inquiries, and any negative marks like late payments or collections.
If you find errors on your report — a late payment you do not recognize, an account you did not open, or incorrect account details — you can dispute it directly with the bureau through AnnualCreditReport.com or by mail. The bureau must investigate within 30 days and remove the error if it cannot verify it.
Other ways to monitor your credit outside Bank of America
Many credit card issuers, including American Express, Chase, and Discover, offer free credit score tracking to cardholders. If you have a card from another bank, log into that card's account to see if score monitoring is available. These scores may come from different bureaus and use different scoring models, so they might not match your Bank of America score exactly.
Credit monitoring services like Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, and NerdMoney also offer free credit scores and reports. These services make money by showing you credit card and loan offers, not by charging you. They typically pull from Equifax or TransUnion and update scores weekly or monthly. Using one of these alongside Bank of America gives you a more complete picture of how your credit looks across different bureaus.
If you are concerned about identity theft or fraud, you can place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the bureaus. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name. A credit freeze blocks lenders from accessing your report entirely unless you temporarily lift it. Both are free and take a few minutes to set up online at each bureau's website.
What to do if your score drops unexpectedly
A sudden drop usually comes from one of a few causes: a late payment reported to the bureaus, a hard inquiry from a lender (which can lower your score by a few points), a spike in credit card balances, or a new collection account. Check your Bank of America dashboard to see which factor changed. Then review your full credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to see if there are accounts or payments you do not recognize.
If you made a late payment, your score will begin to recover over time as the payment gets older. A 30-day late payment hurts more than a 60-day late payment hurts less than a 90-day late payment, but all of them fade in impact as months pass. Paying on time from now forward is the fastest way to rebuild.
If you see an account or payment you did not authorize, dispute it with the bureau immediately. Write to the bureau's dispute address (listed on your credit report) or file a dispute online through AnnualCreditReport.com. Include a copy of any documentation that proves the account is not yours — a police report if you suspect fraud, or a letter from the creditor confirming the account was opened fraudulently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit score through Bank of America hurt my score?
No. Checking your own score is a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your credit at all. Only hard inquiries — when a lender pulls your report because you applied for credit — can lower your score slightly. Bank of America checking your score monthly on your behalf is not a hard inquiry.
Why is my Bank of America score different from the score I see elsewhere?
Bank of America pulls from Equifax only, while other lenders or monitoring services may pull from Experian or TransUnion. Each bureau may have slightly different information about you, so your score can vary. Also, different scoring models (FICO Score 8, FICO Score 10T, VantageScore) produce different numbers even from the same bureau.
Can I improve my credit score quickly?
No single action produces a fast jump. Paying down credit card balances can help within a month or two, and catching up on late payments stops further damage. But building credit takes time — payment history is 35% of your FICO score, so consistent on-time payments over months and years matter most.
What if I do not have a Bank of America checking or savings account?
You can still get a free credit score from other sources: Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, or the credit card issuer you use. You can also order your free annual credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com, though that report does not include a score.
Should I freeze my credit if I am not applying for new credit soon?
A credit freeze is optional and free. It prevents lenders from accessing your report, which stops most identity theft. The downside is you have to temporarily lift it if you apply for credit yourself. If you are not planning to apply for credit, a freeze adds a layer of protection with no real downside.