To cancel a check at Bank of America, you need to place a stop payment order before the check is presented for payment. You can do this through Online Banking or by calling customer service at 1-800-432-1000. The fee is $30 per request, though some account types qualify for a waiver.
How to Place a Stop Payment Online
Log in to your Bank of America Online Banking account, select the checking account the check was written from, and click “Stop payment on a check” under the Services menu. You’ll need to provide four pieces of information: the check number, the date the check was written, the exact dollar amount, and the payee’s name.
Accuracy matters here. If the check number or amount you enter doesn’t match exactly, Bank of America may still pay the check. Double-check those figures before submitting.
Placing a Stop Payment by Phone
If you don’t have access to Online Banking or prefer to speak with someone, call Bank of America customer service at 1-800-432-1000. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., local time. You can also call the number printed on your bank statement. Have the same details ready: check number, date, exact amount, and payee.
What It Costs
Bank of America charges $30 for each stop payment request. If you later need to renew the order, that renewal counts as a new request with another $30 fee.
You won’t pay this fee if you have an Advantage Relationship Banking, Advantage with Tiered Interest Checking, or Advantage Regular Checking account and are enrolled in the bank’s rewards program at an eligible tier. Starting around May 26, 2026, the Preferred Rewards program transitions to BofA Rewards, and you’ll need to qualify for the Preferred Plus, Preferred Honors, or Premier tier to keep the waiver.
One useful distinction: there is no charge to place a stop payment on debit card or Bill Pay transactions. The $30 fee applies specifically to personal checks.
How Long a Stop Payment Lasts
Bank of America’s online FAQ states that a stop payment on a personal check is effective for six months. However, the bank’s full deposit agreement says a stop payment order generally expires after twelve months. Either way, the order is not permanent. If the check still hasn’t been cashed when the stop payment expires, you’ll need to contact Bank of America to renew it. Each renewal is treated as a brand-new stop payment request, which means another $30 fee.
If you’re concerned about a check resurfacing months later, mark your calendar to check whether the order is still active before it lapses.
When a Stop Payment Won’t Work
A stop payment can only be placed on a check that hasn’t already been cashed or deposited. Once the check has been presented to the bank and processed, canceling it is no longer an option. If you suspect a check was recently deposited, act quickly. Processing can happen within a day or two of the recipient depositing it.
Cashier’s checks are a different situation entirely. Because a cashier’s check is drawn on the bank itself rather than on your personal account, you generally cannot place a stop payment on one. If a cashier’s check is lost, stolen, or destroyed, contact Bank of America immediately to report it. The bank may be able to issue a replacement, but the process involves a waiting period and different procedures than a standard stop payment.
What to Do After the Stop Payment
Once your stop payment is confirmed, keep the confirmation number or any reference details Bank of America provides. If the payee attempts to cash the check and it’s rejected, they’ll likely contact you. Be prepared to issue a new check or arrange an alternative payment method if you still owe the money. A stop payment cancels the check itself, but it doesn’t cancel any underlying obligation you may have to the payee.
If the reason for canceling was a lost or stolen checkbook, placing a stop payment on individual checks may not be enough. Contact Bank of America about closing the compromised account or ordering new checks with different check numbers to prevent unauthorized use.