Bank of America Complaints: How to Fight Back
Step-by-step guide to filing effective complaints about Bank of America and getting resolution.
Get investigative stories delivered daily. Free, no spam.
What People Complain About
Fees & Pricing
- •Overdraft, maintenance, and other fees that customers say are charged unexpectedly or in confusing sequences.
- •Fees applied even when an account met the stated conditions for a waiver.
- •Difficulty understanding which transactions trigger charges and in what order they post.
- •Concerns about repeated or stacked fees on the same low balance.
Account Management & Access
- •Accounts frozen, restricted, or closed with little explanation and slow restoration of access to funds.
- •Holds placed on deposits that leave customers unable to reach their own money.
- •Errors in posting, transfers, or balances that take significant effort to correct.
- •Closures or changes that customers feel were applied without adequate notice.
Disputes & Fraud Resolution
- •Unauthorized-transaction and fraud disputes that are denied or take a long time to resolve.
- •Provisional credits reversed without a clear explanation.
- •Difficulty getting a fair review of a chargeback or billing-error claim.
- •Customers feeling penalized or retaliated against after raising a dispute.
Digital Banking & App
- •Mobile app and online banking outages or glitches that block access to accounts and payments.
- •Login lockouts and failed two-factor verification that strand customers.
- •Bill-pay or transfer features that fail or post incorrectly.
- •Inconsistent functionality across the app, website, and in-branch systems.
Customer Support
- •Long hold times and circular transfers when trying to resolve a fee, hold, or dispute.
- •Difficulty reaching someone empowered to reverse a charge or release funds.
- •Inconsistent answers between phone, branch, and chat support.
- •Unresolved issues requiring repeated calls and re-explanation.
Step 1: Document Everything
Before filing any complaint, gather evidence: screenshots, emails, bills, chat transcripts, dates, and the names of any representatives you spoke with. Build a timeline of events. The stronger your documentation, the more seriously regulators treat your complaint.
Step 2: File with the FTC
Report Bank of America to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov for scams, identity-theft-related issues, or deceptive practices. The FTC tracks patterns to support enforcement, but for a banking dispute the CFPB is usually the more powerful channel.
Step 3: File with the CFPB
Because Bank of America is a financial institution, the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint is the most effective venue. Submit your complaint there and the CFPB will forward it to the bank, which is generally required to respond, typically within about 15 days. Include dates, amounts, and account details.
Step 4: File with the BBB
File at bbb.org against Bank of America to create a documented record and request a response. A BBB complaint can supplement a CFPB filing and sometimes prompts faster resolution, though participation is voluntary.
Step 5: Contact Your State Attorney General
Contact your state attorney general's consumer-protection division for unfair fees, wrongful account actions, or retaliation concerns. State AGs can investigate banking practices and coordinate with federal regulators.
Frequently asked questions
How do I file a complaint about Bank of America?
Start by documenting everything: screenshots, emails, bills, and chat transcripts. Then file a formal written complaint through Bank of America's official channels. If unresolved, escalate to the FTC, your state attorney general, or industry-specific agencies.
What are my legal options if Bank of America won't resolve my complaint?
For significant financial harm, consult a consumer rights attorney (many work on contingency). Small claims court handles disputes under $5,000-10,000 in most states. Class action lawsuits may be available for widespread issues.
BliniBot is an AI assistant that automates repetitive browser tasks and workflows. Try it free →
Make your voice heard
Free to get started. No credit card required.
Join Open Public Voice