Bank Of America Merchant Services has undergone many welcome changes in the past two years, including no more long-term contracts and predictable flat-rate pricing.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Frank Kehl
Senior Staff Writer
Last updated onUpdated
REVIEWED BY
Jason Vissers
Senior Staff Writer
Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.
Bank Of America Merchant Services
See Top Picks
Total Rating | 4.0 |
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4.1 | |
3.8 | |
Contract4.6 | |
3.8 | |
Customer Service3.5 | |
User Reviews3.0 |
Bank Of America Merchant Services At A Glance
- Requires Bank of America business checking account
- Offers full-service merchant accounts with no long-term contracts or early termination fees
- Flat-rate or customized pricing options available
Pros
- Predictable flat-rate pricing offered
- Custom pricing available
- No long-term contracts or early termination fees
- Next-day funding available to all users
Cons
- Requires Bank of America business checking account
- Reports of poor customer support
Table of Contents
- What Is Bank Of America Merchant Services?
- User Reviews
- Final Verdict
What Is Bank Of America Merchant Services?
Bank of America Merchant Services (BAMS) is the merchant services division of Bank of America (BofA), and one of the largest payment processors. BAMS offers an array of merchant services, including credit card processing, processing hardware, and support for eCommerce businesses.
The company now advertises merchant accounts that come without long-term contracts and no early termination fees (a vast improvement over its previous contracts through Fiserv/First Data which it recently split from).
With its completely revamped product lineup and more flexible contract terms, Bank of America Merchant Services appears to be moving in a positive direction. Is this enough to place it among the best credit card processing providers? Read on to find out.
Products & Services
Products & Services3.8 |
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Software & Services 4.3 |
Hardware & Equipment 3.2 |
Bank Of America Merchant Services earns solid scores in the Products and Services category, though these marks could be higher if BofA disclosed more information about its eCommerce services.
BAMS provides a full line of products and services for retail, eCommerce, and omnichannel businesses, including the following key features:
Credit Card Processing
- Merchant Accounts: BAMS merchant accounts are no longer underwritten by Fiserv/First Data. However, it’s unclear whether Bank of America is processing transactions directly or through an unidentified backend processor. Note that you will receive a full-service merchant account (with a unique merchant ID number for your business) whether you opt for customized pricing or the advertised flat-rate pricing plan. Also, note that BAMS does not appear to accept high-risk merchants. Most importantly, you must have a Bank of America business checking account to obtain a merchant account through BAMS.
- Security Features: BAMS uses tokenization and encryption to protect your account, and it’s available for free with all accounts. There’s also a Fraud Management tool included with the Bank of America Payment Gateway.
- Preferred Rewards Program: A unique feature offered by Bank of America Merchant Services is its Preferred Rewards program, which offers discounts on your credit card processing rates. Three tiers are available: Gold (which offers a 0.05% discount on processing rates), Platinum (which offers a 0.07% discount), and Platinum Honors Gold (which offers a 0.10% discount). Numerous fees and restrictions apply to this program, so we recommend reviewing the Terms and Conditions before signing up.
- Same-Day/Next-Day Funding: All BAMS users will have next-day funding as a feature of their accounts at no additional cost. To qualify for same-day funding, you’ll have to apply for the program and pass a credit check. Fees for this program are not disclosed, but we highly doubt that it’s free. Remember that you’ll need a Bank of America business checking account to be approved for a merchant account.
Processing Hardware & Software Subscriptions
- Mobile Payments: Reader if you need to take payments in the field or prefer a smartphone or tablet instead of a dedicated credit card terminal, BAMS offers the D135 Mobile Card Reader. This BofA-branded reader (manufactured by PAX) supports magstripe, EMV, and NFC-based payment methods (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay). It connects to your iOS or Android device via Bluetooth.
- Countertop Terminals: BAMS no longer offers Clover terminals, although you can still receive technical support for these products through Fiserv. Instead, you’ll find BofA-branded countertop and wireless terminals. The A80 Countertop Terminal is sold as a package with the S30 PIN Pad and supports magstripe, EMV, and NFC payment methods. It can operate via an AC adapter or on battery alone. For long-term wireless use, you can also choose the Portable A920 terminal, which features a 5″ color touchscreen and a high-capacity battery. Note that this device does not come with a PIN pad and requires a monthly cellular data subscription.
- Point-Of-Sale (POS) Systems: If your business needs a fully-featured POS system, BAMS offers the Smart Terminal E700 and Smart Register E800 models (both manufactured by PAX). Both models offer large color touchscreens, customer-facing displays, and built-in printers.
- Point-Of-Sale Software Subscriptions: Most of these devices require a monthly subscription to what BAMS calls a “software solution.” These include the following options:
- Basic Payment Solution: Available for the Portable A80 and Countertop A920 terminals, this plan includes support for EBT and PIN debit transactions, a virtual terminal, and basic online reporting functions
- Mobile Point-Of-Sale Solution: Available for the Mobile Card Reader D135, this plan includes all features of the Basic Payment Solution (except EBT & PIN debit support), and adds a comprehensive cloud-based reporting function that includes tax data.
- Essentials Solution: Available for the Portable A920 terminal and required for the Smart Terminal E700 and Smart Register E800 POS systems, this plan includes all features of the Mobile Point of Sale Solution. It also adds a host of extra features, including support for loyalty programs, a customer profile management feature, integration with an Online Ordering system for restaurants, and much more.
Software & eCommerce Products
- Payment Gateway: BAMS now offers the proprietary Bank of America Payment Gateway to all eCommerce users. Other payment gateways may also be supported. Integration options include a hosted payment page, checkout API, microform integration, or BofA’s Card Not Present Integration Toolkit. The Bank of America Payment Gateway uses tokenization and encryption to protect your customer’s payment data and meets Level IV PCI compliance requirements.
- Virtual Terminal: Mail-order and telephone-order businesses need a way to manually key in credit/debit card transactions, and a virtual terminal is the most affordable way to do so. BAMS includes a virtual terminal with its payment gateway, which is available for free to all merchants.
Fees & Rates
Fees & Rates4.1 |
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Pricing 5.0 |
Affordability 3.2 |
BAMS offers flat-rate credit card processing fees for small businesses, with processing rates fully disclosed on its website. Customized, quote-based pricing is also available if you ask for it. Overall, BofA’s solid score in this category disclosed rates are in line with industry averages, and we appreciate the transparency shown. The flat rates are slightly higher than those of Square, however.
Flat-Rate Pricing Option
Every traditional merchant services provider in the industry is trying to compete with Square in attracting small business clients, and BAMS is no exception. The company offers the following flat-rate pricing rates on its website:
- 2.65% + $0.10 per swiped, dipped, or tapped transaction (card-present)
- 2.99% + $0.30 per eCommerce transaction
- 3.50% + $0.15per keyed-in/virtual terminal transaction
These rates are generally a little lower than what BAMS was charging two years ago with Fiserv, and are roughly close to Square’s current rates. There don’t appear to be any other recurring fees (including a monthly account fee), but we’d still take the company’s “no hidden fees” claim with a grain of salt.
Quote-Based Custom Pricing Option
BAMS also offers a customized pricing option that will take into account your monthly processing volume, prior processing history, and any other factors that it deems relevant. The company doesn’t disclose any specific rates, but most likely offers either tiered or interchange-plus pricing plans. You’re likely to be initially offered a more expensive tiered plan, which you should reject. Insist on an interchange-plus plan, which will save you a significant amount of money over time.
BAMS states on its website that merchants pursuing a custom pricing option will be offered a written rate quote, complete with full disclosure of all applicable processing rates and account fees.
We strongly encourage you to review your quote very carefully and negotiate for a better deal rather than blindly accepting the company’s initial offer.
Hardware Pricing
BAMS now offers a full line of Bank of America-branded mobile card readers, terminals, POS systems, and accessories. Pricing is as follows:
- Mobile Card Reader D135 – $99/unit; app is free
- Countertop A80 Terminal – $359/unit
- PIN Pad SP30 – $299/unit
- Portable A920 Wireless terminal – $529/unit (requires monthly cellular data plan, cost not disclosed)
- Smart Terminal E700 POS System – $1129/unit
- Smart Register E800 POS System – $1,439/unit
Note that pricing for the three point-of-sale software subscriptions is not disclosed, but will be included in your pricing quote.
The following accessories are also available:
- Cash Drawer – $149
- Handheld Barcode Scanner – $279
- Countertop Barcode Scanner – $349
- Thermal Printer – $289
- Weight Scale – $999
- Portable A920 Charging Base – $59
- Mobile Card Reader D135 Charging Base – $54.99
Sales & Advertising Transparency
Sales & Advertising Transparency3.8 |
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Sales Practices 4.4 |
Web Presence 2.9 |
BAMS earns a respectable score in this category, as the company has been heading in the right direction regarding disclosures of fees and other aspects of its merchant account services. There’s still room for improvement, however — particularly regarding its ancillary fees and its eCommerce offerings.
Bank of America Merchant Services has recently redesigned its website from the ground up, and it’s a tremendous improvement over the old one. The new site features extensive pricing disclosures, including processing rates for merchants on a simplified pricing plan and prices for the company’s many card readers, terminals, and peripherals.
However, there’s very little information about recurring or incidental fees, other than a footnote mentioning that POS systems require a monthly subscription fee and a vague claim of “no hidden fees.”
BAMS continues to use an in-house sales team to market and set up its accounts, which should lead to a positive sales experience in most cases. The company does state on its website that you will be presented with a complete fee schedule and all relevant contract documents and that you’ll be allowed to review them before signing up for an account. We strongly encourage you to thoroughly read all of your contract documents and clarify any lingering questions with your sales agent before signing up.
While the BAMS website includes links to all of the major social media sites, these accounts are for the main Bank of America organization, and finding information relevant to merchant services on any of them is quite challenging.
Contract Length & Early Termination Fee
Contract4.6 |
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Commitment 5.0 |
ETF & Other Fees 4.2 |
BAMS prominently advertises on its website that its merchant accounts come with no long-term contracts and no early termination fees (ETFs). This is a welcome change from its previous practices when it was primarily a reseller for Fiserv, where three-year contracts and expensive cancellation penalties were the norm. Accordingly, BAMS now earns a great score in this category.
Note that there are still plenty of older online complaints from merchants who had to pay an ETF, but this appears to only apply to merchants whose accounts were underwritten by Fiserv prior to 2020.
We have yet to see any recent complaints from merchants regarding long-term contracts or early termination penalties, so we’re inclined to believe that BAMS is being honest about its contracts. Nonetheless, we strongly encourage you to read your contract documents thoroughly before signing up. BAMS doesn’t advertise any “free terminal” offers on its site, but it’s become common practice in the payments industry in recent years to pressure merchants to accept a free terminal in exchange for signing up for a long-term contract.
Customer Service & Technical Support
Customer Service3.5 |
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Personal Support 3.8 |
Self-Service 3.2 |
Like other aspects of BAMS’ services, customer support has been extensively revamped in the wake of the company’s split from being a Fiserv reseller to running an independent merchant services organization. Overall, these changes appear to be positive, leading to BAMS receiving a decent score in this category.
Bank Of America Merchant Services Support | Availability |
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Phone Support | |
Email Support | |
Support Tickets | |
Live Chat | |
Dedicated Support Representative | |
Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
Videos & Tutorials | |
Company Blog | |
Social Media |
True 24/7 phone and email support are now available, and you won’t have to contact a third-party partner to get help. At the same time, there’s still no live chat option.
Perhaps the biggest improvement is the launch of a new Merchant Help Center, an extensive online knowledgebase full of technical support discussions, product documentation, and other helpful resources. The Help Center includes a search function, which should make it easier to find the specific information you’re looking for.
The real question is how good thequality of BAMS’ customer service is, and at this point, we don’t have adequate feedback from merchants to assess this area. The company previously received many complaints from users alleging poor or ineffective customer support, but now that BAMS is handling this critical function in-house, we’re hopeful that it will lead to improvements in this area.
User Reviews
User Reviews3.0 |
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Customer Feedback 3.0 |
Review Site Aggregate 3.0 |
Merchant feedback regarding the current iteration of BAMS is quite hard to come by. At the very least, the complaint volume has dropped, but positive feedback is nearly nonexistent as well. BAMS’s user review rating reflects this ambiguity.
Negative Reviews & Complaints
Bank of America has been accredited by the BBB since 1949 and has anA- rating, despite having received thousands of complaints in just the last year alone. Unfortunately, BAMS itself doesn’t have a separate BBB profile, with complaints about merchant services being lumped in with those filed by individual consumers.
With no way to search or filter these complaints to isolate those filed by merchants, we’re unable to accurately gauge the overall complaint volume for Bank of America Merchant Services.
Nonetheless, other feedback from merchants is available on other review sites. While most of these complaints were filed before the company’s split with Fiserv, they reveal the following issues:
- Withholding Funds/Termination Of Accounts: This can happen for several reasons. Excessive chargebacks or suspicious charges can easily raise a red flag that will either get you suspended or shut down. You’re going to want to learn how to avoid account holds and minimize chargebacks if you want to be able to accept credit and debit cards. Unfortunately, this problem can occur with any merchant services provider, so it’s still a concern even though BAMS is no longer using First Data as its backend processor.
- High Fees & Hidden Charges: These complaints date back to before the 2020 split with Fiserv, and shouldn’t be as significant a problem today. BAMS no longer charges monthly or annual fees for its flat-rate pricing option, although you will still have to pay for incidentals, such as chargebacks. Merchants choosing a custom pricing plan will be presented with a quote that discloses all relevant fees that are included with your account, and we strongly encourage you to review it carefully to avoid any unpleasant surprises later.
- Expensive Terminal Lease Contracts: When BAMS was partnered with First Data, many merchants complained about not being aware that they were signing a non-cancelable terminal lease. You should no longer encounter this issue now that BAMS sells its equipment outright and fully discloses its pricing on its website.
- Reputation For Poor Customer Service: During its partnership with First Data, BAMS received a high volume of complaints alleging poor or ineffective customer support. Unfortunately, this is a common problem in the processing industry, with larger institutions usually having the worst reputation in this area. While BAMS now offers 24/7 telephone and email support, as well as a useful Merchant Help Center, be aware that you still might encounter problems with customer support.
Positive Reviews & Testimonials
The revised BAMS website doesn’t offer any testimonials from merchants at this time. While these company-controlled testimonials are always going to be one-sided, it’s at least encouraging when an actual user volunteers to participate in making one.
We were also unable to locate any positive testimonials for the company on other sites. Unfortunately, there appears to be very little feedback – positive or negative – about BAMS since its 2020 split from Fiserv.
Final Verdict
Since splitting with Fiserv/First Data in 2020, Bank of America Merchant Services has taken several positive steps to improve both the quality of its services and its reputation among merchants. It’s done away with long-term contracts, eliminated early termination fees, and introduced a flat-rate pricing plan with no monthly fees. It’s also instituted 24/7 customer support and completely revamped its hardware lineup, eliminating Clover products and replacing them with universal devices that can be reprogrammed if necessary.
Plus, while we can’t say for certain that BAMS has completely eliminated terminal leases, it’s clearly moved away from them by disclosing the prices for buying them outright.
These are all very welcome changes, especially in an industry where the biggest players tend to offer the worst services and pricing to small business owners.
While we have lingering concerns about the quality of the company’s customer service and are still waiting for more recent feedback from merchants to determine how these changes have actually improved the overall user experience, we’re comfortable with stating that BAMS has made some major improvements over the past few years.
If you’re already a Bank of America customer (or are willing to become one), it’s definitely worth your time to check out Bank of America Merchant Services and compare what it has to offer against other providers.
- Bio
- Latest Posts
Frank Kehl
Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Frank has been writing about payment processing and business services since 2015. He is a retired Air Force officer and a former practicing attorney. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Ventura College of Law, and currently resides in Paso Robles, California.
View Frank Kehl's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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Credit Card Processor Review Methodology
We evaluate and test each payment processor that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on certain key characteristics in order to generate our granular ratings for merchant accounts and credit card processors.
For payment processing reviews, we use a 24-point rubric to evaluate the provider. First, we look at pricing structure – interchange plus, subscription-based, tiered, or hybrid – giving the most points to providers that provide fair, transparent pricing and docking those that rely on tiered models. Then we examine rates, the presence and transparency of early termination fees, and any additional fees.
We also look at contract length and fairness and test out sales staff and customer service channels ourselves to ensure that the company uses reputable, above-the-board sales techniques. Finally, we take the company’s online reputation into account, reading customer reviews and comments.
Read more about how we rate payment processors.
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Sources
- Bank of America Merchant Services website (Accessed 12/14/2023)
- Bank of America BBB profile (Accessed 12/14/2023)
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To learn more about how we score our reviews, see ourCredit Card Processor Rating Criteria.
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