Call Bank of America's stop payment line before the check clears
To cancel a check at Bank of America, call 1-800-432-1000 and ask to place a stop payment order. You need to do this before the check is presented to the bank for payment — once it clears, the money is gone and you cannot reverse it through a stop payment. Have your account number, the check number, the amount, and the date you wrote it ready when you call.
Bank of America charges a fee for stop payments, typically $30 to $35 per check, though the exact amount depends on your account type. The fee posts to your account within a few business days. If you have multiple checks to stop, you can place all the orders in one call, but you will pay the fee for each one.
The stop payment order lasts for six months. If the check has not been cashed by then and you want to keep the order active, you must renew it before the six months end or the bank will stop blocking it.
Key Takeaways
- Call 1-800-432-1000 to place a stop payment order; you must act before the check clears.
- Bank of America charges $30 to $35 per check stopped, depending on your account type.
- Stop payment orders last six months and must be renewed if you need protection beyond that period.
- If the check has already cleared, a stop payment will not work and you will need to contact the recipient or dispute the transaction instead.
- You can also place a stop payment online through your Bank of America account if you prefer not to call.
What happens when you place a stop payment
When Bank of America receives your stop payment order, the bank enters the check number, amount, and payee information into its system. If someone tries to deposit or cash that check, the bank's processing system flags it and rejects the transaction. The check bounces back to whoever tried to cash it, and they receive a notice that payment was stopped.
The person who received the check will know that you stopped it — there is no way to hide a stop payment. If the check was for a legitimate debt or obligation, stopping it may damage your relationship with that person or trigger a collection action. Use a stop payment only when the check was lost, stolen, or sent by mistake.
If the check was already cashed before you placed the stop payment order, the stop payment does nothing. The money has already moved out of your account. In that case, you will need to contact the recipient directly, file a dispute with the bank, or pursue other recovery options.
Placing a stop payment online or in person
You can place a stop payment through your Bank of America online banking account without calling. Log in, go to the Transfers section, and look for the Stop Payment option. You will enter the same information: check number, amount, and date. The online process takes a few minutes and the order is usually active within one business day.
If you prefer to handle it in person, visit a Bank of America branch with your account information and the check details. A teller can process the stop payment immediately, though the fee still applies. Branches are useful if you need to stop multiple checks or if you are not comfortable with phone or online banking.
Email and fax are not secure ways to request a stop payment, and Bank of America does not accept stop payment orders through those channels. Stick to phone, online, or in-person to ensure the order is recorded correctly and legally binding.
When a stop payment does not work
A stop payment fails if the check has already cleared before you place the order. Banks process checks in batches, and once a check has been presented and paid, reversing it requires a different process — usually a dispute or a claim of unauthorized payment. This takes longer and is not may provide to succeed.
Stop payments also fail if you provide incorrect information. If you give the wrong check number or amount, the bank cannot match it to the actual check and the stop payment will not block it. Double-check all details before you call or submit the order online.
If the check was altered — for example, if someone changed the amount or the payee name — a stop payment may not catch it. Altered checks are handled as fraud or forgery claims instead. Contact Bank of America's fraud department immediately if you suspect the check was tampered with.
Alternatives if you cannot stop the check in time
If the check has already cleared or if you missed the window to stop it, contact the person or business that cashed it and ask them to return the money. Explain the situation honestly — whether it was sent by mistake, was a duplicate payment, or was unauthorized. Many recipients will cooperate, especially if you contact them quickly.
If the recipient refuses or cannot be reached, file a dispute with Bank of America. Call the number on the back of your debit card or the customer service line and explain that the check should not have been paid. The bank will investigate, though success depends on whether you can prove the check was unauthorized or fraudulent. This process can take 30 to 60 days.
For checks sent to a business or government agency, ask whether they have a refund process. Many will reissue a credit or process a refund if you explain the error. Provide documentation — a copy of the cancelled check, a statement showing the payment, or an email confirming the mistake.
How to avoid needing to stop a check
Record every check you write in your check register or banking app immediately. Include the date, payee, amount, and what it was for. This makes it easy to spot duplicates or mistakes before the check clears. Many people stop checks because they forgot they already sent one.
Use electronic payments — ACH transfers, bill pay through your bank, or digital wallets — whenever possible. These can be cancelled or reversed more easily than paper checks, and they process faster so you know sooner if something went wrong. Bank of America's bill pay service lets you schedule payments and cancel them before they are sent.
If you write a check and then change your mind, stop it immediately. Do not wait to see if it clears. The sooner you act, the more likely the stop payment will work. If you are unsure whether a check has been cashed, call the bank and ask — they can check the status of a specific check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop a check after it has been cashed?
No. Once a check has cleared and the money has been withdrawn, a stop payment order cannot reverse it. You would need to contact the recipient, file a dispute, or pursue a civil claim to recover the money. Act as soon as you realize the check should not have been paid.
How long does it take for a stop payment to go into effect?
A stop payment order placed by phone or in person is usually active within one business day. Online orders may take slightly longer. However, the check must not have been presented to the bank before your order is processed, or the stop payment will not work.
What if the check is deposited at a different bank?
Bank of America's stop payment order applies to any bank that tries to cash or deposit the check. When the other bank sends the check through the clearing system, Bank of America's system will flag it and reject it. The check will bounce back to the depositing bank.
Do I have to pay the stop payment fee if the check never clears?
Yes. Bank of America charges the fee when you place the stop payment order, not based on whether the check actually clears. You pay for the service of monitoring and blocking the check, regardless of the outcome.
Can I stop a check that someone else wrote to me?
No. Only the person who wrote the check can place a stop payment order. If you received a check you do not want to cash, you can simply not deposit it. If you want to return it, contact the writer and ask them to issue a new check or refund.