How to Fill Out and Submit a Bank of America Application Form

You can submit a Bank of America application form online, through the mobile app, or in person at any of its roughly 3,700 branches. Every application — checking, savings, credit card, or business — starts with the same four pieces of personal information required by federal banking law, then adds documents based on the product. Most personal applications take under ten minutes online, and deposit accounts can be approved the same day once you fund them with the $25 or $100 minimum opening deposit.

Pick the Product Before You Start

Which Bank of America account you’re opening changes what the application asks and what you’ll need to deposit. The bank offers four personal checking accounts with different fee-waiver rules and minimum balances, plus savings accounts, credit cards, and business accounts. Choosing first prevents an abandoned application halfway through.

Age matters as well. You can be the sole owner of an Advantage SafeBalance account at 16, but Advantage Plus and Advantage Relationship checking accounts require you to be at least 18. Anyone under those thresholds needs an adult co-owner.1Bank of America. Bank of America Advantage Banking – Open a Checking Account

Information Every Application Requires

Federal law sets the floor. Under the Customer Identification Program rule, Bank of America must collect four items before any account becomes active:

  • Your full legal name
  • Your date of birth
  • A residential or business street address (a P.O. Box alone won’t work for individuals, though APO and FPO boxes are accepted for military members)
  • A taxpayer identification number — your Social Security Number if you’re a U.S. person, or a passport number, alien identification card number, or foreign tax identification number if you’re not

These requirements come from the USA PATRIOT Act’s anti-money-laundering framework.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks Beyond those four fields, every application also asks for your email and phone number. Credit products add gross annual income and employment details, so have your employer’s name and years at the job ready before you start.

Documents to Have Ready

A government-issued photo ID is the standard identity document. A driver’s license or state ID works for most applicants; a valid passport works for non-citizens. If your current address doesn’t match the one on your ID, expect a request for a secondary document such as a recent utility bill or lease showing your name at the right address.

For credit cards and loans, you may also need proof of income. Employed applicants should have a recent pay stub or a W-2 from a recent tax year. Self-employed applicants can show income through their federal tax return, specifically the Schedule C that reports profit or loss from a sole proprietorship.3Internal Revenue Service. About Schedule C (Form 1040) – Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship) Scan or photograph these in advance so you aren’t stuck searching for them mid-application.

Submitting a Checking or Savings Application

The online flow has four steps:

  1. Select the account on Bank of America’s banking page and click “Open now” to launch the application.
  2. Enter and verify your personal information — name, date of birth, address, and Social Security Number.
  3. Choose optional features such as a debit card.
  4. Once approved, fund the account with the minimum opening deposit: $25 for SafeBalance accounts or $100 for Advantage Plus and Advantage Relationship accounts.1Bank of America. Bank of America Advantage Banking – Open a Checking Account

Before you submit, the application presents an electronic communications disclosure. Federal law requires the bank to get your consent before delivering account documents electronically instead of on paper, and that screen outlines your right to receive paper copies and how to withdraw consent later.4FDIC. The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-Sign Act) If you’d rather not apply online, you can walk into any branch with your ID and the same personal details and open the account in person.

Submitting a Credit Card Application

Check for Pre-Qualified Offers First

Before filing a formal application, use Bank of America’s pre-qualification tool. It checks for personalized card offers using a soft credit inquiry that does not affect your credit score, and you don’t need to be an existing customer — a guest option lets you check without logging in.5Bank of America. Credit Card Offers Customized for You Pre-qualification isn’t a guarantee of approval, but it narrows the field to cards where your odds are strongest.

The Full Application

A credit card application asks for more financial detail than a deposit account does. Expect to provide your total annual income, your monthly housing payment, and whether you rent or own. The bank uses that data to calculate your debt-to-income ratio and evaluate repayment ability.

Submitting the application triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. The inquiry stays visible to other lenders for up to two years, though its effect on your score fades after a few months. If you’re planning to apply for a mortgage or auto loan soon, space out your credit applications.

Applying as a Non-Citizen

You do not need a Social Security Number to open a Bank of America deposit account. The bank accepts a foreign tax identification number in place of an SSN or ITIN, so recently arrived international professionals and students can open accounts before obtaining U.S. tax documents.6Bank of America. How to Open a Bank Account as an International Professional If you already have an ITIN, provide it — but it isn’t required.

International applicants need two forms of ID: a primary and a secondary. A valid foreign passport typically serves as the primary. For the secondary, Bank of America accepts any one of the following:

  • A foreign or U.S. driver’s license with a photo
  • A U.S. student ID validated for the current term, with photo
  • A debit card or major credit card bearing a Visa or Mastercard logo
  • A major retail credit card from a nationally recognized company
  • A U.S. Department of State diplomat ID
  • A Mexican Voter Registration Card with photo

Only one document from each category is required.7Bank of America. Banking Essentials for International Students in the U.S. Credit card applications for non-citizens follow a different underwriting path and generally do require an SSN or ITIN plus established U.S. credit history.

Business Account Applications

Opening a business account requires documents a personal account doesn’t. The specifics depend on your business structure, but generally bring:

  • Your federal tax ID number (EIN). Most business types need one. Sole proprietors without employees can use their personal SSN instead.
  • Personal photo ID for each person who will be listed as an account owner.
  • Formation documents proving the business legally exists — articles of incorporation for a corporation, articles of organization for an LLC, or a partnership agreement.
  • Business contact information, including the company’s address and phone number.

You’ll also need to meet the bank’s minimum deposit to keep the account from being closed as unfunded.8Bank of America. How to Open a Business Bank Account

Checking Your Application Status

Bank of America provides an online Application Status Center where you can see whether your submission is under review, approved, or needs more information. You’ll enter identifying details from your original application to pull up your file.9Bank of America. Application Status Center You can also call customer service and use the automated system for a status update by phone.

Deposit account applications are often approved instantly or within one business day. Credit card decisions can take longer — if additional verification is needed, allow 7 to 10 business days before a decision arrives.

If Your Application Is Denied

A denial comes with an explanation. Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a creditor must notify you within 30 days of receiving your completed application if it takes adverse action. The notice must be in writing and either list the specific reasons or tell you that you have the right to request those reasons within 60 days.10Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 12 CFR 1002.9 – Notifications Common reasons include insufficient credit history, a high debt-to-income ratio, or derogatory marks on your credit report.

The reasons on the adverse action notice are the exact factors to address before reapplying. If you believe the denial was based on incorrect information, you can request reconsideration. Bank of America accepts reconsideration requests by phone at 800-732-9194 or by mail at PO Box 2493, Norfolk, VA 23501-2493. Have your application reference number and any supporting documents ready when you call. The representative may be able to approve you on that call if the original denial hinged on something easily clarified, such as an income figure that didn’t match your records.

If a deposit account is denied because of negative banking history, the adverse action notice will say so and point to ChexSystems rather than the credit bureaus. Request a free copy of your ChexSystems report, dispute any inaccurate entries, and reapply once the record is clean.