How to Avoid Bank of America Checking Account Fees

The main fees Bank of America charges and how to stop them

Bank of America charges several recurring fees on checking accounts, but most can be eliminated by meeting one of three conditions: keeping a minimum balance, setting up direct deposit, or maintaining a linked savings account with a minimum balance. The most common fee is the monthly maintenance fee, which runs $12 on most accounts unless you meet one of those conditions. Other fees—overdraft fees, out-of-network ATM fees, and transfer fees—each have their own triggers and workarounds.

The path to a fee-free account depends on which account type you hold and what you're willing to do. Some people find it easier to switch banks entirely; others prefer to stay and adjust their banking habits. This guide walks through what each fee is, when it hits, and the specific steps to avoid it.

Key Takeaways

• The $12 monthly maintenance fee on most Bank of America checking accounts disappears if you keep $1,500 in the account, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $2,500 in it.
• Overdraft fees of $35 per transaction can be prevented by turning off overdraft protection or by keeping enough balance that you never go negative.
• Out-of-network ATM fees ($2.50 per withdrawal) only apply when you use an ATM that is not owned by Bank of America or its partner networks.
• Bank of America's Advantage SafePass account has no monthly maintenance fee and no overdraft fees, but requires you to use a debit card or online banking at least once per month.
• If you cannot meet the balance or direct deposit requirements, closing the account and moving to a bank with no monthly fees may cost less over a year than paying the recurring charge.

How the $12 monthly maintenance fee works and three ways to avoid it

Bank of America charges $12 per month on its Checking and SafePass accounts unless you meet at least one waiver condition. The three conditions are: maintain an average daily balance of $1,500 in the checking account itself, set up direct deposit of any amount to the account, or link a savings account and keep $2,500 in it. You do not need to meet all three—one is enough.

Direct deposit is the easiest route for most people. If your employer, government agency, or pension provider already sends your paycheck or benefits electronically, you are already meeting the condition. You can confirm this by logging into your Bank of America account online and checking the account details; if direct deposit is listed as active, the fee is waived. If you receive a paper check, you can ask your employer's payroll department to switch you to direct deposit, which usually takes one pay cycle to activate.

The $1,500 balance requirement is straightforward but ties up money. If you keep that amount in the account at all times, the fee is waived. The balance is calculated as a daily average over the month, so a single day below $1,500 does not trigger the fee—the account looks at the total balance across all days and divides by the number of days. The $2,500 savings account option works similarly: link a Bank of America savings account to your checking account and maintain $2,500 in the savings account. The savings account earns minimal interest (rates vary and are currently very low), so this is mainly a fee-avoidance tactic, not a savings strategy.

Overdraft fees and how to prevent them

Bank of America charges $35 per transaction when your account goes negative and the bank covers the shortfall. This is called an overdraft fee. A single mistake—forgetting a large bill or a delayed paycheck—can result in multiple $35 charges if several transactions post while your account is overdrawn. The bank processes transactions in a specific order (largest to smallest, not the order you made them), which can cause more overdrafts than you expect.

The simplest way to avoid overdraft fees is to turn off overdraft protection. Log into your Bank of America account online, go to Account Settings, and disable "Overdraft Protection." Once it is off, transactions that would overdraw your account are simply declined instead. Your debit card will not work, and checks will bounce, but you will not be charged the $35 fee. This is the safest option if you tend to spend without checking your balance.

Alternatively, you can keep enough buffer in your account that you never go negative. Many people set a personal rule to never let their balance drop below $200 or $500, depending on their spending patterns. This requires discipline and regular balance checks, but it works. You can also set up low-balance alerts through your Bank of America app so you get a notification when your balance falls below a threshold you choose.

Out-of-network ATM fees and when they apply

Bank of America charges $2.50 each time you withdraw cash from an ATM that is not owned by Bank of America or its partner networks. The partner networks include Allpoint, MoneyPass, and CO-OP, which together cover hundreds of thousands of ATMs nationwide. Before you use an unfamiliar ATM, you can check whether it is in a partner network by searching the ATM locator on the Bank of America website or app.

The easiest way to avoid this fee is to use only Bank of America ATMs or partner network ATMs. Bank of America has branches and ATMs in most cities, and the partner networks cover rural areas and smaller towns. If you travel frequently or live far from a Bank of America branch, the partner network ATMs are usually nearby. You can also withdraw cash back at grocery stores or pharmacies when you make a purchase with your debit card, which costs nothing.

If you regularly need cash and cannot access a Bank of America or partner ATM, the $2.50 fee adds up quickly—$30 per month if you withdraw cash 12 times. In that case, switching to a bank with a larger ATM network or no out-of-network fees may save money over time.

Wire transfer fees and other transaction charges

Bank of America charges $15 for outgoing domestic wire transfers and $45 for outgoing international wire transfers. These are one-time charges, not recurring fees, but they apply every time you send a wire. Incoming wires are free. If you send wires regularly—for example, to pay a contractor or send money to family abroad—these fees can add up.

To avoid wire transfer fees, use alternatives like ACH transfers (free and take one to three business days), peer-to-peer payment apps like Zelle (free and instant for most users), or services like Wise or OFX for international transfers (these charge less than Bank of America's $45 rate). ACH transfers are the slowest but cost nothing. Zelle is instant and free if both people have accounts at participating banks. For international transfers, Wise typically charges 1 to 2 percent of the amount, which is far less than Bank of America's flat $45 fee.

Bank of America also charges $5 for each stop-payment request on a check and $10 for each returned check (if a check you deposit bounces). These are rare charges for most people, but they exist. You can avoid them by not writing checks to unreliable sources and by verifying that checks you deposit are legitimate before they clear.

The SafePass account: lower fees but with a catch

Bank of America offers a checking account called Advantage SafePass that has no monthly maintenance fee and no overdraft fees. The catch is that you must use your debit card or log into online banking at least once per month, or the account converts to a regular checking account and the $12 monthly fee kicks in. If you use your debit card regularly or check your balance online, this requirement is automatic and costs you nothing.

SafePass also has no overdraft protection by default, which means transactions that would overdraw your account are declined rather than covered. This is actually a benefit if you want to avoid overdraft fees entirely. The account still charges $2.50 for out-of-network ATM withdrawals and $15 for wire transfers, so it is not fee-free across the board—it just eliminates the two biggest recurring charges for most people.

SafePass is worth considering if you use your debit card regularly and do not need overdraft protection. If you rarely use your card or prefer to keep your account dormant, the monthly activity requirement will be a problem, and you will end up paying the $12 fee anyway.

When to close your Bank of America account and switch banks

If you cannot meet the direct deposit or balance requirements, and you do not want to use SafePass, staying at Bank of America costs $144 per year in maintenance fees alone. Many online banks and credit unions offer checking accounts with no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and no overdraft fees. Examples include Ally Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Discover Bank, and most local credit unions. These banks do not charge out-of-network ATM fees either, which saves an additional $2.50 per withdrawal.

Switching banks takes about two weeks. You will need to update your direct deposit information with your employer, change any automatic bill payments to your new account number, and notify anyone who sends you checks. The process is straightforward but requires attention to detail so you do not miss a payment. Most online banks provide step-by-step guidance when you open an account.

The decision to switch depends on your situation. If you have a Bank of America mortgage, credit card, or investment account, staying with the bank may offer convenience or discounts. If Bank of America is your only account and you cannot avoid the fees, switching to a no-fee bank will save you money. Calculate your annual fees—maintenance, overdraft, ATM, and wire transfer—and compare that to the fees you would pay at another bank. If the difference is more than $50 per year, switching is worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does direct deposit have to be from my employer, or can it be from anywhere?

Direct deposit can come from any source: your employer, Social Security, a pension, unemployment benefits, or a government refund. Bank of America counts any recurring electronic deposit as direct deposit for the purpose of waiving the monthly fee. A one-time transfer from another bank does not count.

If I link a savings account to waive the checking fee, can I use the savings account money for anything?

Yes. The $2,500 in the linked savings account is yours to use. The bank only requires that the balance stay at $2,500 or above; it does not restrict what you do with the money. However, if the balance drops below $2,500, the checking account fee kicks in the next month. Savings accounts also have withdrawal limits (typically six per month), so using the savings account for frequent transactions is not practical.

Can I get overdraft fees refunded if I call the bank and ask?

Bank of America may refund one or two overdraft fees if you call and ask, especially if you have been a customer for a long time and have no history of overdrafts. There is no may provide, and the bank is not required to refund the fee. If you are charged an overdraft fee, it is worth calling to ask, but do not count on it. The better strategy is to prevent overdrafts by turning off overdraft protection or keeping a buffer balance.

What happens if I do not meet the SafePass activity requirement?

If you do not use your debit card or log into online banking for a full month, your SafePass account converts to a regular checking account and the $12 monthly maintenance fee starts. You can convert back to SafePass by using your debit card or logging in once, but you will have already paid the fee for that month. If you know you will not use the account regularly, SafePass is not the right choice.

Are there any Bank of America accounts with no fees at all?

Bank of America's SafePass has no monthly maintenance fee and no overdraft fees, but it still charges for out-of-network ATM withdrawals and wire transfers. No Bank of America checking account is completely free of all fees. If you want a truly fee-free account with no conditions, you will need to switch to another bank.