The simplest way to avoid the fee is to keep a minimum balance or set up direct deposit

Bank of America charges a monthly maintenance fee (currently $12 for most checking accounts) unless you meet one of their waiver conditions. You do not have to pay it—the fee only hits your account if you fail to meet the bank's requirements, which vary by account type.

The most common ways to waive the fee are: maintain a minimum daily balance (usually $1,500 for a standard checking account), set up a direct deposit of any amount, or link your account to a Bank of America savings or money market account with a minimum balance. Which option works best depends on your income and how much cash you typically keep in the account.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank of America's $12 monthly maintenance fee applies to most checking accounts unless you meet at least one waiver condition.
  • Direct deposit of any amount—even $1 per paycheck—waives the fee for most account types, and you can set it up through your employer's payroll system.
  • A minimum daily balance of $1,500 waives the fee, but the bank calculates this as an average across the month, not a single-day snapshot.
  • Linking a savings account with $2,500 or more to your checking account can waive the fee without requiring direct deposit or a high checking balance.
  • The fee structure differs for specialty accounts like eChecking and student accounts, so confirm your specific account type before relying on any single waiver method.

Direct deposit is the easiest waiver for most people

If your employer or benefits provider sends money to your account electronically, you already have direct deposit set up. Bank of America counts any recurring electronic deposit as a may have access to direct deposit—paycheck, Social Security, pension, unemployment, or tax refund. The amount does not matter; even $1 per pay period waives the fee.

To confirm direct deposit is active on your account, log into your Bank of America online banking or mobile app, go to Settings, and look for Direct Deposits. You should see at least one deposit listed. If you do not see it there but receive deposits regularly, contact your employer's payroll department to verify the account number they have on file matches your Bank of America account.

If you do not currently receive direct deposit, you can ask your employer to set it up. Provide them with your routing number (026009593 for most Bank of America accounts) and your account number, both visible on the bottom left of your checks or in your online banking profile.

Maintaining a $1,500 minimum balance works if you keep steady cash on hand

Bank of America waives the fee if your account maintains an average daily balance of $1,500 or higher during the month. This is not a single-day requirement—the bank adds up your balance at the end of each day and divides by the number of days in the month. So if you have $3,000 on day one and $0 on day thirty, your average is roughly $100, which does not meet the threshold.

This method works best if you receive a paycheck or regular income that keeps your balance naturally above $1,500 most days. If your balance dips below $1,500 for part of the month, the fee may still apply depending on how many days you fall short. Bank of America does not publish the exact calculation, so if you are close to the threshold, check your account statement to see whether the fee was charged.

If you struggle to maintain $1,500 in checking, this waiver is not practical for you. Direct deposit or a linked savings account is a better choice.

Linking a savings account with $2,500 can waive the fee without direct deposit

Bank of America allows you to link a savings or money market account to your checking account. If the linked account maintains a minimum balance of $2,500, the checking account fee is waived—regardless of the checking balance or direct deposit status.

To set this up, log into your online banking, navigate to Accounts, and select Link Accounts. Choose an existing savings account or open a new one. Once linked, the $2,500 minimum applies to the savings account only, not the checking account. You can keep your checking balance at $0 and still avoid the fee.

This option is useful if you have savings you want to keep separate from your spending money. The savings account earns interest (though Bank of America's rates are typically low), and you avoid the checking fee without needing direct deposit or a high checking balance.

eChecking and student accounts have different fee structures

Bank of America offers eChecking, a no-fee checking account with limited features. There is no monthly maintenance fee, but you cannot order checks, and the account is designed for customers who primarily bank online. If you want to avoid the fee on a standard checking account but do not mind these restrictions, eChecking is an option.

Student accounts (for customers under 25) also have no monthly maintenance fee. If you are a student, you can open a student checking account at no cost. Once you turn 25, the account converts to a standard checking account, and the fee applies unless you meet a waiver condition.

Check your account type in your online banking profile under Account Details. If you have a standard checking account and want to switch to eChecking or a student account, visit a branch or call Bank of America to discuss the change.

What happens if the fee is charged to your account

If the $12 fee appears on your statement and you believe you met a waiver condition, contact Bank of America immediately. Call the number on the back of your debit card or visit a branch with your account statement. Explain which waiver condition you met—direct deposit, minimum balance, or linked account—and ask them to review the charge.

Bank of America sometimes reverses a single fee if you can show proof of the waiver condition. If direct deposit is the issue, provide a recent pay stub or statement showing the deposit. If it is a balance issue, show your statement history. If it is a linked account, confirm the account is still linked and has the required balance.

If the fee is reversed once, make sure the waiver condition stays active going forward. If you lose direct deposit or your balance drops, the fee will apply again the next month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a one-time deposit count as direct deposit?

No. Bank of America requires recurring electronic deposits to waive the fee. A single transfer or deposit does not may have access to. The deposit must come from an employer, government agency, or benefits provider on a regular schedule—weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

Can I move money between my own accounts to meet the $1,500 minimum?

Yes, but it counts toward your average daily balance. If you transfer $1,500 in on the first day of the month and transfer it out on the second day, your average balance is much lower. The bank looks at the balance at the end of each day across the entire month, so transfers in and out affect the calculation.

What if I have multiple Bank of America accounts?

Each account has its own fee structure and waiver conditions. A direct deposit to one account does not waive the fee on another account. You must meet the waiver condition for each account separately, or close accounts you do not use.

Does Bank of America waive the fee if I keep a linked savings account with less than $2,500?

No. The linked account must maintain at least $2,500 to waive the checking fee. If the balance drops below $2,500, the checking fee applies the following month unless another waiver condition is met.

Can I switch to eChecking if I need to order checks?

eChecking does not allow check orders through Bank of America. If you need checks, you can order them from a third-party vendor, but they will not be official Bank of America checks. If you regularly need checks, keep a standard checking account and meet one of the fee waiver conditions instead.