Fee refund · US
How to get a Bank of America fee refunded
The short answer
Bank of America’s schedule lists a $10 Overdraft Item Fee (no more than 2 overdraft items per day), but no fee on everyday non-recurring debit card purchases or ATM transactions. Advantage Plus Banking has a $12 monthly maintenance fee with several ways to avoid it.
To ask for a fee back, contact Bank of America soon after it posts, name the fee, its date and amount, and ask for a one-time courtesy refund. Bank of America decides — it isn’t guaranteed.
By Meet PandyaChecked Source: Bank of America Personal Schedule of Fees
Bank of America’s common fees
From Bank of America’s official fee schedule, in US dollars. Fees below are for Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking, Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking.
| Fee | Amount | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Overdraft item fee | $10.00 each item; not charged on more than 2 overdraft items per day[1] | No fee on everyday non-recurring debit card or ATM transactions, on items authorized when your account had sufficient available funds, on any item of $1 or less, or on any item that overdraws your account by $1 or less. Advantage SafeBalance Banking has no Overdraft Item Fees. BofA Rewards Premier tier members receive a waiver of all Overdraft Item Fees. |
| Returned item (declined for insufficient funds) | No Overdraft Item Fee when Bank of America declines or returns an item unpaid due to insufficient funds; the payee may charge its own fee[1] | — |
| Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage Plus Banking | $12.00[1] | Waived each statement cycle if you have at least one qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more, OR maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500 or more, OR an account owner is in BofA Rewards at the Preferred Plus, Preferred Honors or Premier tier. |
| Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage SafeBalance Banking | $4.95[1] | Waived each statement cycle if an owner of the account is under age 25, OR you maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 or more, OR an account owner is in BofA Rewards at the Preferred Plus, Preferred Honors or Premier tier. |
| Non-Bank of America ATM fee | $2.50 each withdrawal or transfer at a non-Bank of America ATM in the U.S.; $5.00 each in a foreign country. The ATM operator may also charge a fee.[1] | Use a Bank of America ATM (no ATM fee). BofA Rewards Preferred Plus members get one withdrawal and one transfer per statement cycle waived (with an ATM operator fee refund); Preferred Honors and Premier members get U.S. non-BofA ATM fees waived with an operator fee refund. |
| International transaction fee (debit or ATM card) | 3% of the U.S. dollar amount for a transaction in a foreign currency; $0 for an international transaction in U.S. dollars[1] | Waived for BofA Rewards clients at the Premier tier. |
Bank of America’s overdraft rules
- Bank of America says it does not charge an Overdraft Item Fee on everyday non-recurring debit card transactions or ATM transactions, on items authorized when your account had sufficient available funds, or on any item that is $1 or less or that overdraws your account by $1 or less.
- When Bank of America declines or returns an item unpaid due to insufficient funds, it does not charge an Overdraft Item Fee, though the payee may charge a fee.
- Advantage SafeBalance Banking has no Overdraft Item Fees and is automatically set to the Decline All Overdraft Setting.
- Balance Connect is an optional overdraft protection service that links your checking account to up to 5 eligible Bank of America or Merrill accounts. There’s no transfer fee, but advances from a linked credit card, line of credit (such as a HELOC), Loan Management Account or Merrill CMA enrolled in margin lending may bring interest or fees. It isn’t available on Advantage SafeBalance Banking.
How to ask for a courtesy refund
General tips — not bank policy. What works is being specific, honest and brief.
- Ask soon after the fee posts, and name it exactly: the fee, its date and the amount.
- Say briefly what happened — a deposit that hadn’t cleared yet, a timing mix-up, a first slip in years. Keep it honest.
- Ask for a one-time courtesy refund of that fee. If you’ve banked there a long time or rarely pay fees, it’s fair to mention it.
- Be polite and brief. If the answer is no, ask whether there’s a way to avoid the fee next time — low-balance alerts, overdraft settings, or a different account.
- Banks decide case by case. A refund once doesn’t mean you’ll get one again, and nothing guarantees one.
What Bank of America says: Bank of America does not charge an Overdraft Item Fee on ACH submissions labeled ‘RETRY PYMT’ or ‘REDEPCHECK’. If you believe a resubmitted electronic transfer was mislabeled and you were improperly charged an Overdraft Item Fee, the schedule says you must notify the bank within the timeframes in the Deposit Agreement and Disclosures and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.
How to contact Bank of America
As listed on Bank of America’s own website.
- Phone (checking and savings): 800.432.1000 (general account information); Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11 p.m. ET, Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET. Relay calls accepted by dialing 711. Spanish: 800.688.6086.[3]
- Appointment: Schedule an appointment to discuss your financial concerns, as listed on the contact page.[3]
- Social media: Message Bank of America privately through its Facebook or Instagram pages, or direct message @BofA_Help on X; the bank asks you not to include account numbers or Social Security numbers.[3]
Wally, your AI money agent
Let Wally ask for you
Wally spots bank fees and can ask your bank’s chat or secure messages for a one-time courtesy refund. Not guaranteed.
Bank of America decides case by case.
Read-only — Wally never moves your money.
Bank of America fee FAQ
How much is Bank of America’s overdraft fee?
The Personal Schedule of Fees (effective August 7, 2026) lists an Overdraft Item Fee of $10.00 each item, and says Bank of America will not charge this fee for more than 2 overdraft items per day.
Does Bank of America charge an overdraft fee on debit card purchases?
Not on everyday non-recurring debit card transactions or ATM transactions, according to the fee schedule. It also does not charge the fee on items authorized when your account had sufficient available funds, or on items of $1 or less or that overdraw your account by $1 or less.
Does Bank of America charge a fee when a payment is declined for insufficient funds?
The fee schedule says it does not charge an Overdraft Item Fee when it declines or returns an item unpaid due to insufficient funds. The business you were paying may still charge you a fee.
How do I avoid the Advantage Plus Banking monthly maintenance fee?
The fee is $12.00. It is waived in a statement cycle if you have at least one qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more, maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500 or more, or are enrolled in BofA Rewards at the Preferred Plus, Preferred Honors or Premier tier.
Sources
- 1.Bank of America Personal Schedule of Fees (PDF) · August 7, 2026
- 2.Bank of America Advantage Banking · October 14, 2026
- 3.Bank of America Checking & Savings customer service and contact numbers · October 14, 2026
- 4.Bank of America Deposit Agreement and Disclosures (PDF) · May 15, 2026
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