You want a heads-up the moment money moves in your Bank of America account, whether that is a low balance creeping in before a bill posts, a direct deposit landing, or a debit card charge over a certain amount. The good news is that Bank of America lets you set these alerts in a few minutes, and once they are on, many of them reach you even when you are not logged in.
You can set everything up two ways: through Online Banking on a desktop browser, or inside the Mobile Banking app on iOS or Android. The app also offers a one-tap option that turns on the most essential alerts at once.
Below are the verified paths for every surface, ordered quickest first. Pick the one that matches the device in front of you.
Before You Start: Confirm These Basics
Alerts only work if Bank of America can reach you and knows who you are, so confirm a couple of things first.
You must be enrolled in Bank of America Online Banking or the Mobile Banking app. You log in to enroll in and manage alerts through either platform.
Your email address and mobile phone number must be up to date on your account profile, so alerts go to the right contact info.
For mobile push alerts, your device must support push notifications, and you must tap "Allow" when prompted. Mobile app alerts are not available on all devices.
One important note: mobile app push notifications work only in the installed Mobile Banking app, not in the web-based version of Mobile Banking. If you want push, use the actual app.
Use Quick Setup in the Mobile App (Fastest)
If you just want the essentials on right away, Quick Setup automatically enrolls you in essential alerts, including security alerts, credit or debit card unusual activity, and low balance, in one step. This is the quickest path of all.
- 1.Open the Mobile Banking app and log in.
- 2.Tap the "Inbox" envelope at the top of the Account Overview screen.
- 3.Select the "Bank of America inbox" (choose this if you have multiple linked accounts).
- 4.Tap "Allow" when prompted to enable app notifications.
- 5.Select "Quick Setup" (recommended) to automatically enroll in essential alerts, including security alerts, credit or debit card unusual activity, and low balance.
That is it. If you later want finer control over thresholds and additional alert types, use Custom Setup below.
Configure Each Alert Individually in the Mobile App
Custom Setup lets you pick exactly which balance and transaction alerts you want, on which account, and how you want to be notified. Use this when low balance and unusual-activity alerts are not enough.
Open the Mobile Banking app and log in.
Tap the "Inbox" envelope at the top of the Account Overview screen.
Select the "Bank of America inbox".
Tap "Allow" when prompted to enable app notifications.
Choose "Custom Setup" (or tap "Manage Alert settings"), then select the "Account Activity" category to view alert options.
Select the specific account for which you want alerts.
Choose the desired alert type (for example, available or low balance, direct deposit posted, or a debit card transaction over a set dollar amount).
Tap the toggle to turn the alert on.
Select your delivery preference: mobile app push notification, email, or text message.
Tap "Save".
Repeat the account, alert, toggle, delivery, and Save steps for each additional alert you want.
To edit an alert later, tap the Inbox envelope, choose "Bank of America inbox", expand the alerts with the caret, then tap "Manage Alert settings".
Set Up Alerts in Online Banking on Desktop
If you prefer a full browser, the desktop path lives under your profile. The flow mirrors the app but gives you a wider view of every account and category at once.
Log in to Online Banking at bankofamerica.com.
From the Account Overview screen, click "Profile & Settings" and select "Alert settings".
Under the Alert settings tab, choose the account or category you want to set alerts for.
Move the toggle switch for the desired alert to turn it on (for example, available balance, low balance, direct deposits credited, a debit card payment over a certain dollar amount, or a credit card balance within a specified amount of the credit limit).
Choose your delivery preference, email or text.
Click "Save".
To customize further, set alert preferences such as frequency, check number, and/or threshold limits, choose how you want the alert delivered, and click "Save" again.
Repeat for each additional alert you want.
Once saved, these alerts notify you about activity you decide is important, like account balances and deposits, even when you are not logged in.
Know Which Alerts You Can Turn On
Bank of America groups alerts so you can match them to what you care about. Here is the verified menu of what is available across the platform.
Balance and deposit alerts: available balance, low balance, deposits, and direct deposits credited.
Transaction and card alerts: a charge has been made, a debit card payment or transaction over a specified dollar amount, and a credit card balance within a specified amount of the credit limit.
Payment alerts: credit card payment due dates and payment posted.
Security alerts: unusual account activity and change of address.
Each alert is configured per account and per alert type, with its own delivery preference and, where applicable, its own threshold or frequency. That is why you repeat the setup flow for every additional alert.
Choose How Each Alert Reaches You
You have three delivery methods, and you can mix them per alert. Pick based on how urgently you need to know.
Mobile app push notification: available in the app only, requires a push-capable device, and requires being logged in to receive.
SMS text message: sent to your current mobile phone number.
Email: sent to your current email address.
On cost, Bank of America does not charge customers to receive alerts; however, you may be charged by your mobile carrier for text messages sent to your device.
Watch for These Gotchas
A few behaviors trip people up, so keep them in mind before you assume an alert is broken.
Some security alerts are automatic and cannot be turned off. Bank of America automatically sends security alerts, like unusual account activity and change of address, to your email address.
If you have multiple linked accounts in the app, you must specifically choose the "Bank of America inbox" (not a combined or other-institution inbox) to reach alert settings.
If you stop receiving email alerts, check your Junk or Spam folder and any inbox filters (such as a focused-inbox feature), and add Bank of America's sending address to your safe-senders list.
Delivery reliability depends on factors outside the bank, including your email provider's filtering, your mobile carrier's coverage, and your device's notification settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be logged in to get balance and transaction alerts?
Not for everything. Account activity alerts can reach you on the go without logging in. The exception is mobile app push notifications, which require you to be logged in to the app to receive them.
Does Bank of America charge for alerts?
No. Bank of America does not charge customers to receive alerts. However, your mobile carrier may charge you for text messages sent to your device.
Can I turn off the security alerts I do not want?
No. Certain security alerts, like unusual account activity and change of address, are automatic and cannot be turned off. They are sent to your email address so you are notified of suspicious activity.
Why am I not receiving my email alerts?
Email alerts can be silently filtered. Check your Junk or Spam folder, review any inbox filters or focused-inbox settings, and add Bank of America's sending address to your safe-senders or allow list.
Can I get push notifications using the website?
No. Mobile app push notifications are available only in the installed Mobile Banking app, not in the web-based version of Mobile Banking. Use the app if you want push alerts.
How do I set a custom dollar amount for a transaction alert?
When you turn on an alert like a debit card payment over a certain dollar amount, you set its threshold during setup. On desktop, after saving you can set preferences such as frequency, check number, and/or threshold limits, then save again. In the app, choose the alert type, set your preference, and tap Save.