Credit Card Security & Features FAQs

To report a lost or stolen credit card: Log in to Online Banking to report your lost or stolen credit card. You can also call 800.732.9194 (outside the continental U.S. call international collect 1.757.677.4701) 24/7. You won't be liable for any fraudulent charges. We'll cancel your card and send you a replacement immediately.

If your card is lost or stolen, your account will be credited promptly, often as soon as the end of the next day, for fraudulent transactions. Please note—Claims may only be filed by accountholder against posted and settled transactions subject to dollar limits and verification, including providing requested information supporting fraudulent use claim. Credit card claims reported and received during weekdays after 6:00 p.m. CST, on weekends or holidays, after 60 days of the date of the statement on which the transaction appears or online will not be eligible for next-day credit.

One of the best ways you can help avoid problems using your credit card when you're traveling is to make sure your email address and mobile number are up to date. We monitor your account activity regularly and will send automatic alerts to your phone or email address if we detect suspicious activity. Update your contact info

Some foreign terminals may ask for a PIN when you use a credit card so be sure to memorize your PIN. You can request your credit card PIN in Online Banking, in the Mobile Banking app or by calling us at the number listed on the back of your card.

If your card is lost or stolen while traveling, be sure to report your lost or stolen card immediately.

If you need to contact us when you're traveling, you can call anytime using the number on the back of your card.

The encrypted information stored in the microchip embedded in your card or the magnetic stripe on your card is used to authenticate, authorize and process credit card transactions. The information is designed to communicate to the terminal reading the card that the card is authentic and legitimate. No personal information about you or your account is stored on the chip or the stripe.

A CVV (which stands for card verification value) is a 3- or 4-digit number that appears on your credit card. The CVV is a security feature of credit cards, and is typically used when you make purchases over the phone or online. The CVV is sometimes referred to as a CSC (card security code).

No. Unless you provide your login information to others, only you and any joint account holders can access your account online. Avoid giving your login information to anyone, and change your Bank of America Mobile and Online Banking Password regularly to better protect your accounts. You should also enable two-factor authentication, adding another layer of protection to your account.

Regularly monitoring your account activity is the best way to help detect if you have been a victim of fraud. Bank of America's Online Banking service allows you to access and review your account activity at your convenience, and signing up for electronic statements may also help reduce your risk of mail fraud.

Download the Bank of America Mobile Banking app and allow push alerts for more secure communication about your accounts. Keep your contact information, especially cell and email, current. Review and respond to alerts promptly. Turn on location services when making a purchase or signing in and allow location-based anti-fraud and security permissions.

At Bank of America, we take your security seriously. That's why our accounts come with security features that help protect your information.

Please view the What you need to do tab of our Account & Card Security page for ways you can help protect your account information.

Yes, you can set up an alert that notifies you via email, text message or mobile push that a credit card payment is due, that a charge has been made, that your credit card balance is within a specified amount of your credit limit and much more. To set up alerts or find out more about the alerts available on your Bank of America account(s), log in to Online Banking or the Mobile Banking app.

Not an Online Banking customer? Enroll in Online Banking today

Balance Connect ® for overdraft protection is an optional service which allows you to link your eligible checking account to up to 5 other Bank of America eligible accounts and automatically transfers available funds from your linked backup account(s) to cover transactions that exceed the available balance in your checking account. This can help you avoid declined transactions, returned checks and overdrafts.

If you've linked multiple backup accounts, we'll automatically transfer available funds from those accounts in the order you established. Only one transfer will be made from each linked backup account to your checking account, even when multiple transactions are covered. An overdraft protection transfer won't be made unless it can cover at least one transaction. Please refer to the Deposit Agreement and Disclosures for more details.

Overdraft protection transfers from your credit card are Bank Cash Advances under your Credit Card Agreement and will accrue interest at the APR stated in your Credit Card Agreement. Please refer to your Credit Card Agreement for additional details.

You can learn more about Balance Connect ® and overdrafts by reviewing these FAQs.

A digital wallet securely stores information about your physical credit card so you can conveniently make purchases at participating merchants. Certain digital wallets use virtual cards. adatext

Your Bank of America credit cards can be added to your digital wallets for Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, PayPal and Samsung Pay. Learn more about digital wallets

A virtual card is the digital form of your physical credit card and has a unique card number that's stored within a digital wallet.

Your Bank of America credit cards can be added to your digital wallets for Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, PayPal and Samsung Pay. Learn more about digital wallets

A virtual card is the digital form of your physical credit card; it has a unique card number stored within a digital wallet that's different from the physical card number, so it can't be accessed from your digital wallet if your mobile device is lost or stolen. You can use your virtual card with your digital wallet to conveniently make purchases, just like with your physical credit cards. You still get all the rewards, benefits and protections your physical card provides.

Please note that the last 4 digits of your virtual card will be different than the last 4 digits of your physical card (something to keep in mind if you need to return an item purchased with your virtual card; the receipt for that purchase should display the last 4 digits of your virtual card). You can find your virtual card number in your digital wallet, which stores information about your physical debit and credit cards so you can easily make purchases at participating merchants.

Your Bank of America credit cards can be added to your digital wallets for Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, PayPal and Samsung Pay. Learn more about digital wallets

A FICO® Score adatext is a 3-digit credit score number that summarizes your credit risk based on your credit file at one of the three major consumer bureaus at a particular point in time. FICO® Scores are used in 90% of lending decisions. FICO® Scores help lenders evaluate credit risk and can influence the credit that's available and the terms, such as interest rate, that lenders offer.

You're entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the 3 major credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can access these credit reports by going to AnnualCreditReport.com. Remember, your credit report won't show your credit score.