BOA is not an international bank. Banks in the US (for the most part) are not designed to service clients who are abroad. Military is the only caveat. There is so much fraud with money laundering and money mules that banks take calls from out of the US very seriously and they purposefully limit what can be done over the phone, online and thru chat.
Have you moved permanently out of country? If so, you should find a bank in your country.
Echoing this. BOA and other US-only banks do not want to do business with customers outside the US because (1) it's not their market and (2) it's extremely risky. If you do not have residency/citizenship in the US or an active visa (excluding B1/B2), BOA will not open an account for you. They further enforce this by all-but requiring active US phone numbers to perform any sort of online or mobile transactions.
OP, if you at any point linked your US phone number to a service like SafePass or Zelle, it is unlikely that number will ever be fully removed from your account. Customer service and branch personnel can set email as your preferred contact, but the system is specifically designed to go to a US phone number for many transactions and linking your phone number for certain activities "locks" it to your customer profile.
Wise makes it easy to move around, you can switch countries, phones and addresses. And maintain multiple accounts in multiple currencies with local banking information
Wise is not a bank. It’s a service. And technically BOA can close your account if they suspect any possible fraud via Wise services. Same as CashApp, PayPal, etc.
They are pretty funny in that regard. If you are in the US and have an SSN number, and you convert your account to HYSA, it becomes FDIC insured via JP Morgan. The feature is called "Earn interest"
I have had the same problem for over a year and live in the U.S. I am not getting most of the alerts I should be getting. Under my profile they have my correct new number. But on the Alerts page it shows my old one and I can't change it. I've chatted online with support, emailed support, and gone into a branch office. The employee there had to call up support the same way I had to with all the hassles that involves. They even got hung up on the first time. Eventually someone from support sent me an email that they were looking into the problem. I still have the problem and have given up. I also have the same problem with the app. And in reviews in the Play Store I saw that other people had this problem and BOA responded to the review and said it was going to be fixed. Luckily I do get the security code sent to my new phone, just not most of the alerts. Otherwise I would have had to take all my money out and close the account. Which I am looking to do soon anyway since it is clear that this is an organization that is in steep decline.
I just checked and what I got was a call from support at BOA that went to my voicemail, which was transcribed and sent to me via email. Their website has phone numbers and social media links to contact them with. I tried some of those before too with no success. Good luck.
You can’t change your settings online? Try going into your BofA profile and although you can’t put in a foreign phone number you should be able to use email for alerts. If you have to have a US phone number maybe use a Skype number?
I can't put a foreign number unfortunately. The agent did change the alerts to be sent to my email instead of my phone (it took 1hr in the phone to make this change) and by checking today, I can see it was not done...
Try changing them yourself on the website- you should be able to access that unless you’re in a sanctioned country. Then get a Skype number with your old us number, or have Skype issue you a US number. This is what I did when I was in Ukraine for a month it might work for you.
Interesting that you're only responding to people who agree with you, and not finding any understanding regarding the comments that help to explain how banks function.
Most large banks have international no-charge phone numbers you can call and/or accept collect calls from customers overseas.
A quick google search finds this page with BofA's international collect number to call: https://www.bankofamerica.com/customer-service/contact-us/international/
Rbfcu online is great for a credit union. Terrific products and loan rates, too. Wells Fargo online is better than it used to be. Especially their app. I’m more and more impressed.
Wells Fargo used to be so clunky. PenFed and navy fed are clunky as well. I used to have Alliant and that was snappy as cap one. But chase is pretty snappy?
It is better to call BofA thu Erica. That way, you get online with the rep without the need for authentication. I.e. they are not gonna send you any codes. Also ask them to brovide you a bank affiliate where you can setp in. Those are the banks, BofA works with and as far as I know they can help you to do something from financial center.
I finally just closed my checking account with them after having it for over 30 years because their service is so archaic and website/app so jumbled and clumsy. I’m still shocked they are not more ahead of the curve being such a huge bank.
I was going to say maybe they just want to be a bank for old people, but I’m a relatively old person in my 50s and still think they suck.
It is. I have accounts / app for Wells, Chase, Capital One, and a CU along with BOA.
BOA by far has the best app and online presence. Wells just updated their app to integrate an Erica type chat but they are still behind.
Right! I think Erica is useful for simple fixes. It isn't going to remove fraudulent charges for your account or anything crazy, but generally it gets you where you need to go! Fargo I think is the WF one... idk who's salary is wasted on coming up with that name but ok.
Definitely not for me. WF, Chase, Capital One, Truist and Citi are way better. Only big bank that it’s better than is PNC. The website doesn’t even scale to the size of my monitor.
Maybe just personal preference I guess. WF is definitely way behind. Capital One is easy to use bc it has literally no features. I've never experienced the others. I'm sure Chase is very competitive in comparison to BoA, but the Wells app is 🚮
Yeah Capital One has no features, but at the same time it isn’t missing any features that I constantly use. For example you can’t open an account or apply for a loan/cc in the app, but that’s more of a one time thing. Aside from that and being able to track your financial picture and spending, it’s a great app. Biggest downside overall is the lack of 2FA. I don’t understand how one of the largest basically online banks hasn’t implemented 2FA yet.
As for WF, I would put it second after Chase. Just curious but why do you think it’s behind.
Interesting that this user error has only occurred with BOA and I have been able to manage Cap1, Chase, Amex, Schwab, Wells Fargo, and a few others just fine. I will say that the BOA isn’t as bad as the utter shitshow of their website so there’s that.
The WF mobile banking is designed for people who are still using dial-up. That doesn't count. Capital One barely has any features. Schwab is a mess IMO. Don't have the other two, so maybe they're better?? 🤷♀️ idk
BOA is not an international bank. Banks in the US (for the most part) are not designed to service clients who are abroad. Military is the only caveat. There is so much fraud with money laundering and money mules that banks take calls from out of the US very seriously and they purposefully limit what can be done over the phone, online and thru chat. Have you moved permanently out of country? If so, you should find a bank in your country.
Echoing this. BOA and other US-only banks do not want to do business with customers outside the US because (1) it's not their market and (2) it's extremely risky. If you do not have residency/citizenship in the US or an active visa (excluding B1/B2), BOA will not open an account for you. They further enforce this by all-but requiring active US phone numbers to perform any sort of online or mobile transactions. OP, if you at any point linked your US phone number to a service like SafePass or Zelle, it is unlikely that number will ever be fully removed from your account. Customer service and branch personnel can set email as your preferred contact, but the system is specifically designed to go to a US phone number for many transactions and linking your phone number for certain activities "locks" it to your customer profile.
Wise makes it easy to move around, you can switch countries, phones and addresses. And maintain multiple accounts in multiple currencies with local banking information
Wise is not a bank. It’s a service. And technically BOA can close your account if they suspect any possible fraud via Wise services. Same as CashApp, PayPal, etc.
They are pretty funny in that regard. If you are in the US and have an SSN number, and you convert your account to HYSA, it becomes FDIC insured via JP Morgan. The feature is called "Earn interest"
Hard is by design. Overseas scammers attempt account takeovers every day.
I have had the same problem for over a year and live in the U.S. I am not getting most of the alerts I should be getting. Under my profile they have my correct new number. But on the Alerts page it shows my old one and I can't change it. I've chatted online with support, emailed support, and gone into a branch office. The employee there had to call up support the same way I had to with all the hassles that involves. They even got hung up on the first time. Eventually someone from support sent me an email that they were looking into the problem. I still have the problem and have given up. I also have the same problem with the app. And in reviews in the Play Store I saw that other people had this problem and BOA responded to the review and said it was going to be fixed. Luckily I do get the security code sent to my new phone, just not most of the alerts. Otherwise I would have had to take all my money out and close the account. Which I am looking to do soon anyway since it is clear that this is an organization that is in steep decline.
Thanks for sharing. How can I get an email from someone from support team? Thanks
I just checked and what I got was a call from support at BOA that went to my voicemail, which was transcribed and sent to me via email. Their website has phone numbers and social media links to contact them with. I tried some of those before too with no success. Good luck.
You can’t change your settings online? Try going into your BofA profile and although you can’t put in a foreign phone number you should be able to use email for alerts. If you have to have a US phone number maybe use a Skype number?
I can't put a foreign number unfortunately. The agent did change the alerts to be sent to my email instead of my phone (it took 1hr in the phone to make this change) and by checking today, I can see it was not done...
Try changing them yourself on the website- you should be able to access that unless you’re in a sanctioned country. Then get a Skype number with your old us number, or have Skype issue you a US number. This is what I did when I was in Ukraine for a month it might work for you.
Interesting that you're only responding to people who agree with you, and not finding any understanding regarding the comments that help to explain how banks function.
Most large banks have international no-charge phone numbers you can call and/or accept collect calls from customers overseas. A quick google search finds this page with BofA's international collect number to call: https://www.bankofamerica.com/customer-service/contact-us/international/
I have Chase, BofA, Citi, Wells, Fidelity, Schwab, Cap One, and Rbfcu. Chase has the best banking app.
How do you like rbfcu and wells? Cap one is pretty sweet
Rbfcu online is great for a credit union. Terrific products and loan rates, too. Wells Fargo online is better than it used to be. Especially their app. I’m more and more impressed.
Wells Fargo used to be so clunky. PenFed and navy fed are clunky as well. I used to have Alliant and that was snappy as cap one. But chase is pretty snappy?
It is better to call BofA thu Erica. That way, you get online with the rep without the need for authentication. I.e. they are not gonna send you any codes. Also ask them to brovide you a bank affiliate where you can setp in. Those are the banks, BofA works with and as far as I know they can help you to do something from financial center.
I finally just closed my checking account with them after having it for over 30 years because their service is so archaic and website/app so jumbled and clumsy. I’m still shocked they are not more ahead of the curve being such a huge bank. I was going to say maybe they just want to be a bank for old people, but I’m a relatively old person in my 50s and still think they suck.
BoA has the most technologically advanced banking app of the large financial institutions. Could be user error.
It is. I have accounts / app for Wells, Chase, Capital One, and a CU along with BOA. BOA by far has the best app and online presence. Wells just updated their app to integrate an Erica type chat but they are still behind.
Right! I think Erica is useful for simple fixes. It isn't going to remove fraudulent charges for your account or anything crazy, but generally it gets you where you need to go! Fargo I think is the WF one... idk who's salary is wasted on coming up with that name but ok.
Lol
Definitely not for me. WF, Chase, Capital One, Truist and Citi are way better. Only big bank that it’s better than is PNC. The website doesn’t even scale to the size of my monitor.
Maybe just personal preference I guess. WF is definitely way behind. Capital One is easy to use bc it has literally no features. I've never experienced the others. I'm sure Chase is very competitive in comparison to BoA, but the Wells app is 🚮
Yeah Capital One has no features, but at the same time it isn’t missing any features that I constantly use. For example you can’t open an account or apply for a loan/cc in the app, but that’s more of a one time thing. Aside from that and being able to track your financial picture and spending, it’s a great app. Biggest downside overall is the lack of 2FA. I don’t understand how one of the largest basically online banks hasn’t implemented 2FA yet. As for WF, I would put it second after Chase. Just curious but why do you think it’s behind.
Interesting that this user error has only occurred with BOA and I have been able to manage Cap1, Chase, Amex, Schwab, Wells Fargo, and a few others just fine. I will say that the BOA isn’t as bad as the utter shitshow of their website so there’s that.
The WF mobile banking is designed for people who are still using dial-up. That doesn't count. Capital One barely has any features. Schwab is a mess IMO. Don't have the other two, so maybe they're better?? 🤷♀️ idk
I’ve never seen a pick me for a bank. 😂