Bank of America charges a $12 monthly maintenance fee on most checking accounts, but you can waive it by meeting one of several conditions
Bank of America's monthly maintenance fee is $12 per month on its standard checking account, called the Advantage SafePass checking account. This fee posts automatically unless you take a specific action to prevent it. The fee does not appear on all Bank of America accounts — savings accounts, money market accounts, and certain checking products have different fee structures — but it is the default cost for the most common checking option.
You do not have to pay this fee. Bank of America offers several ways to waive it, and the easiest routes require no special income or balance. The catch is that you have to actively meet one of the waiver conditions; the bank will not waive the fee automatically just because you ask.
Key Takeaways
- Bank of America's standard checking account carries a $12 monthly maintenance fee unless you meet one waiver condition.
- The simplest waiver is setting up a direct deposit of any amount — even a single paycheck per month qualifies.
- You can also waive the fee by maintaining a $1,500 minimum daily balance in the checking account or a $2,500 combined balance across linked accounts.
- If you do not meet any waiver condition, the $12 fee will post to your account every month automatically.
- Bank of America offers a separate checking product with no monthly fee if you prefer to avoid the maintenance charge entirely.
How the $12 monthly fee works
The fee posts on the same day each month, usually around the first business day. It appears as a line item on your statement labeled "Monthly Maintenance Fee" or similar language. If your account balance is lower than $12 when the fee posts, your account will go negative — Bank of America will not block the fee to protect your balance.
The fee applies to the Advantage SafePass checking account, which is what most people open when they walk into a Bank of America branch or sign up online without specifying a different product. If you opened your account more than a few years ago, you may have a different checking product with a different fee structure; you can confirm which account you hold by logging into your online banking or calling 1-800-432-1000.
Four ways to waive the monthly fee
Bank of America offers four separate conditions, and you only need to meet one of them each month to avoid the $12 charge:
- Set up a direct deposit. Any direct deposit counts — a paycheck, a government benefit, a pension, or a transfer from another account. The amount does not matter; even a $1 direct deposit per month will waive the fee. This is the easiest route for most people because it requires no minimum balance and no ongoing action once it is set up.
- Maintain a $1,500 minimum daily balance. Your checking account balance must stay at or above $1,500 every single day of the month. If it dips below $1,500 even once, you do not meet the condition that month and the fee will post. This option works if you keep a steady paycheck or savings in the account, but it ties up money that you might otherwise spend or invest.
- Maintain a $2,500 combined balance. Instead of keeping $1,500 in checking alone, you can hold $2,500 across your checking account plus any linked Bank of America savings, money market, or investment accounts combined. The balance is measured daily, so it must stay at or above $2,500 every day of the month.
- Link a Bank of America credit card and make a purchase. If you have a Bank of America credit card linked to your checking account and you use it for at least one purchase during the month, the fee is waived. The purchase amount does not matter.
You do not need to do anything to activate these waivers — Bank of America checks automatically whether you meet one of the conditions. If you do, the fee simply will not post that month. If you do not meet any condition, the $12 charge will appear on your statement.
What happens if you do not meet a waiver condition
The $12 fee will post to your account every month you do not meet at least one of the four conditions above. There is no grace period, no warning, and no way to dispute the fee after it posts if you did not meet a waiver condition. The fee is part of Bank of America's standard terms for that account.
If the fee causes your account to go negative, you may also face an overdraft fee on top of the maintenance fee. Bank of America charges $35 per overdraft transaction, so a $12 maintenance fee that pushes you below zero can cost you $47 total that month.
Bank of America checking accounts with no monthly fee
If you want to avoid the maintenance fee entirely without meeting any waiver condition, Bank of America offers the Advantage Plus checking account, which has no monthly maintenance fee. This account has fewer features than the Advantage SafePass account — for example, it does not include the same overdraft protection — but it costs nothing to hold.
You can switch from Advantage SafePass to Advantage Plus by contacting Bank of America online, by phone at 1-800-432-1000, or in person at a branch. The switch is free and takes a few minutes. If you already have an Advantage Plus account, you will not see a monthly maintenance fee on your statement.
How to confirm which account you have and whether the fee is waiving
Log into your Bank of America online banking portal and look at your account details. The account type will be listed near your account number. If it says "Advantage SafePass," you are subject to the $12 monthly fee unless you meet a waiver condition.
To see whether the fee waived this month, check your most recent statement. If you do not see a "Monthly Maintenance Fee" line item, the fee did not post — which means you met one of the waiver conditions. If you see the $12 charge, you did not meet any condition that month.
You can also call Bank of America at 1-800-432-1000 and ask a representative to confirm your account type and whether you are currently meeting a waiver condition. They can also help you set up a direct deposit or switch to a different account type if you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the monthly fee refunded if it already posted?
Bank of America does not automatically refund the fee after it posts. However, if this is your first time incurring the fee or if you have a long history with the bank, you can call 1-800-432-1000 and ask a representative to reverse one charge as a courtesy. There is no may provide they will agree, but it is worth asking if the fee was unexpected.
Does a transfer from my savings account count as a direct deposit?
No. Bank of America counts only external direct deposits — money coming into your account from an employer, government agency, or another financial institution. A transfer from your own Bank of America savings account does not count as a direct deposit and will not waive the fee.
What if my balance drops below $1,500 for just one day?
The waiver does not apply that month. Bank of America measures the balance daily, so if it falls below $1,500 even once during the month, you do not meet the condition and the $12 fee will post. You would need to keep the balance at or above $1,500 every single day to waive the fee under this option.
Do I need to do anything to keep the direct deposit waiver active?
No. Once the direct deposit is set up, it will continue to waive the fee every month as long as at least one direct deposit posts to your account during that month. If direct deposits stop coming in, the fee will resume the first month with no deposit.
Is the $12 fee the same for all Bank of America checking accounts?
No. The $12 fee applies to the Advantage SafePass checking account. Other Bank of America checking products, such as the Advantage Plus account, have different fee structures or no monthly fee at all. The fee you pay depends on which account type you hold.