Common reasons Bank of America blocks transfers between your own accounts

If you cannot transfer money between your own Bank of America accounts, the most common causes are a frozen account, insufficient funds in the sending account, a daily transfer limit you have already hit, or a temporary system hold on a recent deposit. Less often, the account is new and has not yet been fully activated, or there is a security flag on your profile that requires you to verify your identity first.

The good news is that most of these blocks are temporary or fixable without calling customer service. Start by checking your account status in the Bank of America app or online banking — if either account shows a warning or alert, that is usually the culprit. If you see no warning, the next step depends on which reason applies to you.

Key Takeaways

  • A frozen account, security hold, or uncleared deposit in the sending account will block all transfers, even between your own accounts.
  • Bank of America limits the number of transfers you can make from savings accounts each month, and hitting that limit stops transfers until the next month begins.
  • New accounts sometimes require a waiting period or additional verification before transfers are allowed.
  • Calling Bank of America at the number on the back of your card is the fastest way to find out which block is in place and how long it will last.

Account frozen or restricted

A frozen account means Bank of America has locked it and you cannot move money in or out. This usually happens because of suspected fraud, a security concern, or a legal hold. You will see a message in the app or online banking if this is the case — it typically says "Account Restricted" or "Account Frozen" near the account name.

If your account is frozen, you cannot transfer money from it or to it until the freeze is lifted. Bank of America will contact you by phone or email to explain why and what you need to do. Usually this means verifying your identity by answering security questions, confirming recent transactions, or providing documents. Once you complete that step, the freeze is removed within a few hours.

Daily or monthly transfer limits

Bank of America limits how many transfers you can make from a savings account in a single month. The limit is typically six transfers per month, though this can vary depending on your account type. Transfers to a savings account do not count against this limit — only transfers out of it.

If you have already made six transfers from your savings account this month (including transfers to your checking account, external transfers, and bill payments), the next transfer will be blocked until the calendar month resets. The month runs from the first to the last day of the calendar month, not from your account opening date. If you hit the limit, you can still withdraw cash at an ATM or in a branch, or you can wait until the first day of the next month to transfer again.

Uncleared deposits or holds on funds

When you deposit a check or receive a transfer from outside Bank of America, the bank sometimes places a hold on that money. During the hold period, the funds show in your account but you cannot transfer them. This is a safety measure to make sure the deposit actually clears — if the check bounces or the transfer is reversed, the bank needs to be able to take the money back.

Holds typically last one to five business days depending on the type of deposit and the amount. You can see how long a hold will last by opening the deposit details in the app or online banking — it will show an estimated release date. If you need the money before the hold lifts, you can call Bank of America and ask them to release it early, though they may decline if the deposit is very recent or very large.

New account waiting period

If you opened one of your Bank of America accounts within the last few days, the bank may not allow transfers from or to that account until it has been fully activated. This is another fraud prevention measure. The waiting period is usually one to three business days.

You can check whether your account is fully activated by looking at the account details in the app or online banking. If it shows "Pending set up" or a similar message, you will need to wait until that status changes to "Active" before you can transfer. If the account has been open longer than three business days and still shows as pending, contact Bank of America to complete the set up manually.

Security verification required

Bank of America sometimes flags an account for additional security checks if it detects unusual activity or if you have not logged in for a long time. When this happens, you may not be able to transfer money until you verify your identity. The app or online banking will usually show a message asking you to confirm your identity or answer security questions.

Complete the verification process as soon as you see the prompt — it usually takes just a few minutes and involves answering questions about your personal information or confirming recent transactions. Once you finish, transfers should work when ready. If the prompt does not appear but transfers are still blocked, log out completely and log back in, as this sometimes refreshes the security status.

What to do if the block persists

If you have checked for all of the above and transfers are still blocked, contact Bank of America directly. Call the number on the back of your debit card or the back of your account statement — this routes you to the correct department for your account type. Have your account numbers ready and be prepared to describe exactly what happens when you try to transfer (for example, "I see an error message that says…" or "the transfer button is grayed out").

Bank of America customer service can see flags on your account that do not always show in the app, such as a pending fraud review or a system maintenance window. They can also manually release certain holds or temporarily increase your transfer limit if there is a legitimate reason. Most blocks are resolved within the same call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer money between checking and savings if I just opened the savings account?

Not when ready. New accounts usually need one to three business days to fully set up before transfers are allowed. If your savings account is still showing as "Pending" or "Pending set up" in the app, wait until that status changes to "Active." If it has been longer than three days, call Bank of America to complete the set up.

Why does the transfer button disappear when I try to move money from my savings account?

You have likely hit the six-transfer limit for the month. Bank of America restricts transfers out of savings accounts to six per month. The limit resets on the first day of the next calendar month. You can still withdraw cash at an ATM or visit a branch to move money if you need it before then.

Does a deposit hold prevent me from transferring money I already had in the account?

No. A hold only affects the specific deposit that is on hold. If you deposit a check and it is on hold, you can still transfer money that was already in your account before the deposit arrived. The hold only blocks the new funds.

What if Bank of America froze my account by mistake?

Call the number on the back of your card and explain the situation. Bank of America will review the freeze and ask you to verify your identity. If it was a mistake or if you can confirm the transactions are legitimate, they will lift the freeze within a few hours. Have recent transaction details ready to help speed up the process.

Can I transfer money if my account is overdrawn?

Not from the overdrawn account. If your checking account has a negative balance, you cannot transfer money out of it. You can only transfer money into it to bring the balance positive. If you need to move money from a different account to cover the overdraft, transfer into the overdrawn account first.