It's fantastic that you're looking to leverage the convenience of Zelle with your Bank of America account! Sending money to friends, family, or even trusted service providers has never been easier. Zelle allows you to transfer funds directly between bank accounts, often in minutes, without the need for cash or checks.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of sending money using Zelle via your Bank of America mobile app or online banking, along with important details about limits, fees, and frequently asked questions. Let's get started!
How to Send Money with Zelle Bank of America: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Get Ready to Zelle! (Enrollment)
Before you can send money, you need to make sure you're enrolled in Zelle with Bank of America.
Are you already enrolled? If you've used Zelle with Bank of America before, great! You're likely already enrolled. You can skip directly to Step 2.
New to Zelle with Bank of America? No problem! Enrolling is quick and simple. You'll need a U.S. checking or savings account with Bank of America and a U.S. mobile number or email address.
Here's how to enroll:
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Via the Mobile Banking App:
- Log in to your Bank of America Mobile Banking app.
- Tap "Pay & Transfer" (or similar, depending on your app version).
- Select "Zelle®".
- If you're not enrolled, you'll see a screen for setup. Tap "Set up Zelle®" or "Enroll Now".
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your U.S. mobile number or email address, and select the Bank of America account you want to link to Zelle for sending and receiving money. You may receive a one-time verification code to confirm your identity.
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Via Online Banking:
- Log in to your Bank of America Online Banking.
- From the Accounts Overview page, click the "Pay & Transfer" tab.
- Click "Zelle®".
- If you're not enrolled, you'll see the "Enroll" page. Click "Enroll Now" and follow the prompts to get set up. You'll verify your U.S. mobile number or email and choose your linked account.
Important Note: Once enrolled, the Zelle app (standalone) will direct you to use Zelle within your Bank of America app or online banking. Your contacts and history will seamlessly transfer.
Step 2: Accessing Zelle and Initiating a Payment
Now that you're enrolled, or confirmed you are, let's get to sending money!
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Using the Mobile Banking App:
- Log in to your Bank of America Mobile Banking app.
- Tap "Pay & Transfer" at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap "Zelle®".
- Tap "Pay" to send money.
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Using Online Banking:
- Log in to Bank of America Online Banking.
- From the Accounts Overview page, click the "Pay & Transfer" tab.
- Click "Zelle®".
- To send a payment, you'll usually see an option like "Send money" or you can proceed to select a recipient directly.
Step 3: Choosing Your Recipient
This is where you tell Zelle who gets the money!
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For an existing contact:
- Use the search bar to find and select a trusted recipient from your Zelle contact list. Look for the purple "Z" icon next to their name – this indicates they are already enrolled with Zelle.
- Quick Tip: You can also use a unique QR code to pay people back. Tap the QR code icon next to the search bar to open your mobile device camera, scan their code, confirm, and send.
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For a new contact:
- Tap "Add new person or company" (in the mobile app) or "Add recipient" (in online banking).
- You'll then choose how you want to add their information:
- Manually Enter Details: You'll enter their name and their U.S. mobile number or email address.
- Add from Contacts (Mobile App): You can select a contact directly from your phone's address book.
- Review the details carefully to ensure accuracy. This is crucial as Zelle payments are generally irreversible once sent to an enrolled user.
- Read the information regarding Zelle payments and tap "OK" to authorize adding the new contact.
Step 4: Specifying Payment Details
Almost there! Now, let's determine how much you're sending and from which account.
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Select the account you want to send money from (e.g., your checking or savings account).
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Enter the amount you wish to send.
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Optional: Recurring Payments
- If you want to make the payment recurring (e.g., for rent or a regular babysitter), look for a toggle or option to schedule recurring payments. For one-time payments, leave this off.
- Note: Scheduled and recurring payments cannot be made to recipients who are not yet enrolled in Zelle (those without the purple "Z").
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Choose a payment date:
- For an immediate payment, select today's date.
- For a scheduled payment, pick a future date.
- Helpful Tip: Transaction dates are based on Eastern Time, so keep that in mind if you're in a different time zone.
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Add an optional message for the recipient (e.g., "Thanks for dinner!" or "Rent for July"). This helps them identify the payment.
Step 5: Review and Confirm Your Payment
This is the most critical step before hitting send!
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Carefully review all the details of your payment:
- Recipient's name and contact information (mobile number or email)
- Amount
- Sending account
- Payment date (if scheduled)
- Optional message
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If anything is incorrect, tap "Edit" to make changes.
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Read the disclosures and terms related to your Zelle payment. It's crucial to understand that Zelle payments are like cash and generally cannot be canceled once sent to an enrolled recipient.
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Tap "Next" or "Pay" (for immediate payments) or "Schedule" (for scheduled payments) to proceed.
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Authorization: For new contacts or sometimes for security, you may be prompted to authorize the payment or verify your identity with a one-time authorization code sent to your phone or email, or by entering your debit card PIN. Follow the prompts.
Step 6: Payment Confirmation
You've done it!
- You will receive a confirmation screen indicating that your payment has been sent or scheduled.
- Bank of America will also send you an email alert with the transaction details.
- What happens next?
- If your recipient is already enrolled in Zelle, they will be notified and typically receive the money in their bank account within minutes.
- If your recipient is not yet enrolled in Zelle, they will receive a text or email notification with instructions on how to enroll and claim their money. They will typically have 14 days to enroll, or the payment will be returned to you.
Important Considerations for Zelle Bank of America
Zelle Transfer Limits (Bank of America)
It's important to be aware of Bank of America's Zelle limits. These can vary based on your account type and history. As of our last update (June 2025):
- Daily Limit (Consumer Accounts): Typically up to $3,500 USD.
- Monthly Limit (Consumer Accounts): Typically up to $20,000 USD.
- Daily Limit (Small Business Accounts): Can be higher, often up to $15,000 USD.
- Monthly Limit (Small Business Accounts): Can be higher, often up to $60,000 USD.
Note: These limits are subject to change by Bank of America. You can usually find your specific limits within the Zelle section of your mobile banking app or online banking, or by checking the Online Banking Service Agreement.
Zelle Fees (Bank of America)
Good news! Bank of America does not charge a fee to send or receive money with Zelle using their mobile app or Online Banking. However, regular account fees (like overdraft fees) may still apply if your account doesn't have sufficient funds.
Security and Safety with Zelle
- Send only to people you know and trust: Zelle is designed for sending money to friends, family, and trusted individuals. Once money is sent to an enrolled recipient, it's generally not possible to cancel the payment.
- Double-check recipient information: Always verify the recipient's U.S. mobile number or email address before sending. A single typo can send your money to the wrong person.
- No purchase protection: Unlike credit card transactions, Zelle payments do not offer purchase protection. This means if you use Zelle to buy an item and don't receive it, or it's not as described, you are unlikely to get your money back. Treat Zelle payments like cash.
- Beware of scams: Be cautious of requests for money from unknown individuals, especially those offering deals that seem too good to be true. Bank of America and Zelle will never call or text you asking for your authorization codes or personal information.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to Check My Zelle Activity in Bank of America?
You can view your Zelle transaction history and the status of pending payments by logging into your Bank of America mobile app or online banking, navigating to the "Pay & Transfer" section, and then selecting "Zelle." You should find an "Activity" or "History" tab there.
How to Cancel a Zelle Payment with Bank of America?
You can only cancel a Zelle payment if the recipient has not yet enrolled with Zelle. If the payment is still pending (because the recipient hasn't claimed it), go to your Zelle Activity, select the payment, and choose "Cancel Payment." Once the recipient is enrolled and the money has been sent, the payment cannot be canceled.
How to Receive Money with Zelle Bank of America?
If you're already enrolled in Zelle with Bank of America, you don't need to do anything! The money will be deposited directly into your linked Bank of America account, typically within minutes. If you're not enrolled, you'll receive a notification (text or email) with instructions on how to enroll to claim your funds.
How to Add a New Recipient for Zelle in Bank of America?
In the Bank of America mobile app, go to "Pay & Transfer," then "Zelle," and tap "Pay." Look for "Add new person or company." In online banking, go to "Pay & Transfer," then "Zelle," and look for "Add recipient." You'll then enter their U.S. mobile number or email address.
How to Find My Zelle Limits with Bank of America?
You can typically find your specific daily and monthly Zelle sending limits within the Zelle section of your Bank of America mobile app or online banking. During the payment process, when you enter an amount, the system will often show you your remaining daily limit. You can also refer to the Bank of America Online Banking Service Agreement.
How to Use Zelle QR Codes with Bank of America?
In the Bank of America mobile app, when you're in the Zelle section to send money, look for a QR code icon (usually near the search bar for recipients). Tapping this will allow you to scan someone else's Zelle QR code to initiate a payment to them quickly.
How to Report a Zelle Scam with Bank of America?
If you believe you've been a victim of a Zelle scam or fraud, contact Bank of America immediately through their official customer service channels (the number on the back of your debit card or their official website). Zelle also has a support page where you can report scams.
How to Get Help with Zelle if My Recipient Didn't Receive Money?
First, ensure your recipient has enrolled in Zelle and that the email address or U.S. mobile number you used is correct and associated with their Zelle profile. Check your Zelle Activity to see the payment status. If it's still not received, contact Bank of America customer service for assistance.
How to Enroll My Business in Zelle with Bank of America?
Bank of America offers Zelle for small business accounts. The enrollment process is similar to personal accounts, typically found within the "Pay & Transfer" section of your Bank of America Business Online Banking or Mobile Banking app. Business accounts often have higher Zelle limits.
How to Delete a Zelle Recipient in Bank of America?
The ability to delete or manage Zelle recipients is usually found within the "Settings" or "Recipients" section under Zelle in your Bank of America mobile app or online banking. You can typically remove contacts you no longer wish to send money to.
