You can easily check if Bank of America will pre-qualify you for a credit card online. All you have to do is provide your name, birth date and Social Security number, and Bank of America’s pre-qualify tool will show you any BofA credit cards for which you have good approval odds. You might also receive a pre-qualified offer in the mail, which will only be for a single card.

Pre-qualification doesn’t guarantee you approval. But pre-qualified applicants end up being approved in the vast majority of cases. Pre-qualification doesn’t affect your credit at all since it uses a soft inquiry. But if you want to apply for a card, Bank of America will do a hard inquiry, which will cause a temporary score dip. This decrease is easily fixed with a few months of responsible card use, though. If you’d like to check for pre-qualification, you can do it in minutes.

If you already have a Bank of America account, all you have to do is log in on the pre-qualification page and you’ll be able to see your offers right away without inputting any extra information. If you don’t have an account, you just need to follow five simple steps.

Here’s how to get Bank of America to pre-qualify you for a credit card:

1. Go to Bank of America’s pre-qualification page. 
2. Click “Continue without signing in.”
3. Enter your full name, birth date and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Click “Continue.”
4. Enter your address and select what type of credit card you’re interested in (you can also select that you don’t have a preference). 
5. Click “Show me my offers.”

You’ll now be able to see any cards that Bank of America thinks you’d be a good candidate for. If you got a pre-qualification letter in the mail, you can either fill out the enclosed application, or use the special code provided when you apply online to flag your application as pre-qualified.

The benefits of Bank of America credit cards include several types of travel insurance, purchase protection, and up to $200 in travel credits. These benefits are mostly found on the top-tier Bank of America credit cards, though many more Bank of America credit cards have contactless chip technology and zero liability fraud protection. To know which perks are included on a specific card, you’ll need to call customer service at 1-800-732-9197 or check the Bank of America website.

Bank of America Credit Card Benefits

• Purchase protection
• Up to $200 in travel credits
• Contactless chip technology
• Zero liability fraud protection
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation / interruption insurance
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Return protection
• Extended warranty

In addition to having some or all of these card perks, it’s important to remember that many Bank of America credit cards also give rewards. Rewards aren’t generally considered card benefits, but having a credit card that earns great rewards can be a big asset to cardholders. As long as you use your card responsibly and maximize the various benefits that Bank of America offers, you should come out well ahead of any annual fees that Bank of America cards may charge.

The Bank of America credit card customer service phone number is (800) 732-9194. To speak with a live Bank of America credit card customer service representative, enter the last four digits of your SSN or account number, then press 0 to skip the intro menu, and say “Service” when asked to describe your reason for calling. Say “Service” again if asked twice, then press “4,” and you’ll get to a live person.  

The standard menu options when calling Bank of America credit card customer service are 1 for fee-related questions, 2 for disputing charges, 3 for reporting suspicious account activity, and 4 for all other inquiries. If you don’t press anything after entering your account info, the automated system will list the most recent payment received, balance activity, available credit for purchases and cash advances, and rewards balance. Offers for new credit cards or balance transfers will be listed as well. Press 0 at any time to skip this info.

Live customer service is available 24/7 for lost or stolen credit cards. Automated customer service is available 24/7 for existing Bank of America credit card accounts.

1. Live Customer Service: (800) 732-9194. After entering your account info, press 0 and say “Service” when prompted to describe your reason for calling. You might be asked a second time—just say “Service” again and another menu will be prompted. Press 4 for “all other inquiries.”
2. Automated Customer Service: (800) 732-9194. Enter last 4 digits of SSN or account number. The menu will automatically list recent payment info, balance, available credit, rewards balance and more. Press 0 at any time to skip.​​​​​​​
3. In-Person Credit Card Support: Schedule an in-person appointment online by logging into your account and selecting “Schedule an appointment” on the right side under “Activity Center.” Choose the bank branch, date, time, and discussion topic. ​​​​​​​
4. Secure Message Center: Log in to your account online and select “Help & Support.” Then click “Contact Us” and select the topic you wish to discuss. If email is an option, you can select the “Email” button and receive a response within 2 days.​​​​​​​
5. Lost or Stolen Credit Card: (800) 732-9194. Say “lost or stolen credit card” when prompted to describe your reason for calling. The most recent charges will be listed so you can confirm which are valid. You’ll be transferred to a live representative to reissue your card or close the account.​​​​​​​
6. Fraudulent Charges on Credit Card: (800) 432-1000. Call if you suspect fraudulent activity on your credit card account.​​​​​​​
7. Customer Service on Social Media: You can send them a direct message using @BofA_Help on Twitter. Or, select the “Send Message” button on their FB page. Hours are 8am-9pm M-F, 8am-8pm Sat, and 8am-5pm Sun (ET). Just don’t include your SSN or account number.​​​​​​​
8. Credit Card Activation: (800) 276-9939. You’ll be asked to say or enter your account number, SSN, zip code, or the phone number connected with your account.

As you can see, there are several ways to get in touch with Bank of America for credit card customer service. You can also access FAQs through BofA’s mobile app. And BofA tends to score high in customer satisfaction, so it’s likely you’ll have a positive experience.  

You can check your Bank of America credit card status online. Unfortunately, there is no Bank of America credit card status phone number. But if you have trouble checking online, you could try to call customer service at (800) 732-9194.

In order to see whether your application is approved, denied or still pending, you’ll need to give some basic personal information like your zip code and the last four digits of your Social Security number. This ensures that Bank of America can match you to your application. You can check your application status as often as you like, as it’s free and quick.

1. Go to Bank of America’s application status page.
2. Enter your last name, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security number and zip code.
3. Click “Submit.”

You’ll now be able to see any applications you’ve submitted and whether they have been approved or denied yet. If your application is still pending, don’t worry. It may take up to 30 days from when you submitted your application to receive a decision. If you are approved, you can expect your card in 7-10 business days. But if you’re denied and think you can justify why you should be approved, you can call customer service and ask for reconsideration. 

You can make a Bank of America credit card payment online, by phone, through the Bank of America mobile app, by mail or at a branch. To pay a Bank of America credit card bill online, log in to your online account and click on “Bill Pay.” Then, choose how much to pay, when to pay it, and where the payment is coming from. Bank of America does allow cardholders to set up automatic payments, too.

Ways to Make a Bank of America Credit Card Payment

• By phone: Call 1-800-236-6497 and enter your card information when prompted.
• Online: Log in to your online account and click on “Bill Pay.”
• Through the mobile app: Log in to your account and select your card, then tap “Make a payment.”
• By mail: Send a check or money order (but not cash) to Consumer card payments / PO Box 15019/ Wilmington, DE 19850-5019. Make sure to send it early enough that it will arrive by the due date. Write your credit card number on the check, too.
• At a branch: You can make a payment at any Bank of America branch during normal business hours.

The Bank of America foreign transaction fee is 3% or 0% of all international transactions, depending on the BofA card. There are 9 Bank of America credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, including the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.

Those no foreign fee BofA cards clearly are a better choice for international spending than the ones with a 3% surcharge for everything you buy abroad. That’s actually one of the highest foreign fees on the market. So international shoppers need to be careful when picking a Bank of America credit card and perhaps consider cards from other issuers too.

• Some Bank of America credit cards have a 3% foreign transaction fee.
• Other Bank of America credit cards have no foreign transaction fee.
• Foreign transaction fees can apply when you travel abroad or make online purchases from foreign merchants.

At 3%, the Bank of America foreign transaction fee is too steep for anyone planning to make international purchases. But the cards that charge it are meant more for everyday spending than travel. The good news is there are a handful of foreign fee-less alternatives.

1. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Biggest Bonus
2. Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: No Annual Fee
3. Alaska Airlines Credit Card: Best Airline Rewards
4. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: Best Student Card

Plus, more and more cards from other issuers are shedding their foreign fees. So you can shop around for the best deal.

The best Bank of America balance transfer offer is 0% for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days after getting the BankAmericard credit card and paying a balance transfer fee of 3% (min $10). There is no annual fee.

Bank of America balance transfers work with several types of debt, including balances from credit cards, auto loans, student loans, mortgages, and more. You just can’t transfer debt between BofA products.

Best Bank of America Balance Transfer Offers

• BankAmericard® credit card: Intro APR of 0% for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. 3% (min $10) balance transfer fee.
• Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card: Intro APR of 0% for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. 3% (min $10) balance transfer fee.
• Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students: Intro APR of 0% for 15 months on balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening. 3% (min $10) balance transfer fee.
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Intro APR of 0% for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. 3% (min $10) balance transfer fee.
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: 0% for 15 months intro APR on balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening. 3% (min $10) balance transfer fee.
• BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students: Intro APR of 0% for 18 months on balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening. 3% (min $10) balance transfer fee.

Balance transfers take at least 14 days to complete. Initiate your transfer as soon as possible because the intro APR period starts as soon as you open your account. When the intro period ends, any remaining balance will accrue interest at the card’s regular APR.

Keep in mind that you will need good or excellent credit to qualify for most of these cards, and you need to be a student to get the limited version.

You can submit a Bank of America credit card application online, by calling 866-751-1257, or by visiting a Bank of America branch. With any method, Bank of America credit card applicants need to provide their name, address, phone number, email, citizenship status, SSN or ITIN, country of residence and date of birth. Bank of America will also ask for financial information including the applicant’s employment status, annual income, source of income, and monthly housing payment. It’s important to note that people who are applying with an ITIN will have to do so in person or over the phone.

When you complete a Bank of America credit card application, there are two additional options you can choose. The first is to transfer a balance to the card if you are approved. If you choose this option, you will need to provide the details for the account you are transferring a balance from and how much you want to transfer. You also have the option to add an authorized user to the card. You will need to provide the user’s name, relationship to you, address, phone number and date of birth. Giving the user’s SSN is optional, but it’s a good idea to fill it in, as that may speed up the process of reporting the user to the credit bureaus.

After you submit a Bank of America credit card application, you may receive an instant decision, but it could take up to 30 days to find out if you’re approved or denied in some cases. If you are approved for the card, it should arrive in 7 to 10 business days. You can call customer service and ask for expedited delivery (1 to 3 business days), but there may be a fee.

Finally, keep in mind that by submitting your application, you give Bank of America permission to do a hard pull of your credit report, which will temporarily drop your credit score by a few points.

You can get a Bank of America credit line increase by requesting it online or by calling customer service at (800) 732-9194. For the best chances of receiving a Bank of America credit line increase, you should have at least six consecutive months of on-time payments under your belt. Having more income and/or less debt than you did when you got your Bank of America credit card will help, too.

When you request a Bank of America credit limit increase, Bank of America will do a soft pull of your credit. If you get a higher limit, that can help your score long-term.

Bank of America may offer you a credit limit increase without you asking. They’ll periodically review your account to see if you are eligible. A credit line increase from this type of review always uses a soft pull.

Here’s how to get a Bank of America credit limit increase:

1. Sign in to your Bank of America online account. You’ll need to enroll in online banking if you haven’t already.
2. Go to the “Account details” page.
3. Click the “Information and Services” tab.
4. Look to see if there is a button for increasing your credit limit. It will only appear if your account is eligible.
5. Enter your total annual income, the amount of the increase you want, and click “Submit Request.”

You will receive your Bank of America credit line increase decision either on the site or by email.

If you would like to request a Bank of America credit line increase by phone, call (800) 732-9194 and enter your card number. When connected to a representative, tell them you’d like a higher limit. They will ask for information like your income and desired increase amount.

To report a lost Bank of America card, log into your online account on Bank of America’s lost or stolen cards page, which works for both credit cards and debit cards. Another way to report a lost Bank of America card is to call customer service at 800-732-9194 for credit cards or 800-432-1000 for debit cards. Enter your account number, Social Security number or telephone access ID when prompted, then listen for the menu option to report your card as lost.

After you report your card as lost or stolen, Bank of America will immediately cancel your card so that it can’t be used (though your account will remain open), and they will send you a replacement. Once you receive the replacement for your lost Bank of America card by mail, you will need to activate it before you can use it. You should get your replacement card within 10 business days normally, but you can also call customer service and ask to have it expedited. Expedited cards come in 1 to 3 business days, though there may be a fee.

Luckily, you won’t be held liable for fraudulent purchases made by anyone who may have picked up or stolen your card. Bank of America credit cards and debit cards have $0 liability guarantees for fraudulent transactions. You should make sure to report unauthorized transactions as soon as you notice them, though.