Bank of America Notary Service — Is It Free?

Bank of America Notary Policy

Bank of America (BofA) provides free notary services to its customers as a standard banking benefit. This applies to holders of BofA checking, savings, money market, CD, or investment accounts. With approximately 3,900 US branch locations, BofA has nationwide coverage — including all 50 states.

Two things to know before you go:

• Book an appointment. Bank of America's notary page links to an online scheduling tool and says a typical appointment takes about 30 minutes. Booking tells the branch you are coming.
• Notary service is not at every location. The bank's own materials say notary services are available at "many" or "some" financial centers, not all, so confirm with your branch before you travel.

How to Schedule BofA Notary Service

The fastest way to get a Bank of America notary appointment:

1. Open the Bank of America Mobile app or go to bankofamerica.com
2. Navigate to "Schedule an Appointment" in the branch/ATM locator
3. Select your nearest branch and choose "Notary Services" as the appointment type
4. Choose a date and time — same-day appointments are often available
5. Bring your unsigned document, photo ID, and all required signers

Alternatively, call your specific branch directly (not the BofA 800 number) to ask about notary availability and scheduling.

What to Bring

When BofA Can't Help — Alternatives

If BofA's notary is unavailable, booked, or declines your document type, these are your next best options:

• UPS Store — walk-in or online appointment, fee set by your state, 3,900+ locations offer online booking
• Chase Bank — free for Chase customers, 4,700+ locations
• Remote online notarization — $25 via Proof, 24/7, no travel required
• Public library — free, limited days per week
• Mobile notary — comes to you, $50–$150 total

What Happens at a Bank of America Notary Appointment

Bank of America says a typical notary appointment takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, so book a slot rather than squeezing it into a lunch break. The steps are set by your state, not by the bank. The notary checks that every signer and witness is there in person, looks through the whole document to make sure no pages are missing, checks photo ID for each person, asks the spoken questions the notarial act requires, completes the notarial certificate and records the act in a journal where your state requires one.

Which spoken question you get depends on the paperwork. For a jurat, the notary asks you to swear or affirm that the contents are true, and you must sign in front of the notary even if you already signed before you arrived. For an acknowledgment, the notary asks whether you signed of your own free will for the purpose stated. That is why the bank suggests you leave the signature and date blank until you are at the notary's desk: some documents must be dated the day they are notarized.

Sources: Bank of America notary services, Understanding notary services at Bank of America (PDF) (checked November 2026)

Why a Bank of America Notary Might Turn You Away

A notary can decline, and the bank's own guide lists the usual reasons. Most of them are avoidable if you check before you leave home:

• Not everyone who has to sign or witness is there in person.
• The document has missing pages, or blank spaces that change its meaning.
• A signer cannot produce ID or is not known personally to the notary. California notaries must collect ID in every case.
• The notary thinks the document could be changed after it is signed.
• There is no notarial certificate on the document and you cannot say which act you need. The notary cannot choose it for you.
• The signer and the notary cannot communicate with each other, or the notary believes the signer does not understand what signing means.
• The request is complex or unusual. The notary may send you to another notary provider or to a lawyer.

Source: Understanding notary services at Bank of America (PDF) (checked November 2026)

ID, Witnesses and Non-Customers: What to Ask When You Book

Accepted ID depends on your state. In most states the bank lists a state driver's license or ID card, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. passport, and a state, county or local government ID. Some states also accept a green card, a foreign passport, or a Mexican or Canadian driver's license, so check your state if you do not hold one of the first four.

If your document needs witnesses as well as a notary, plan to bring your own. The bank says an associate may be able to act as a witness in some cases, and that in other cases an independent witness with no tie to the bank is required, so it recommends bringing one.

Bank of America describes the service as free: its notary page says the bank does not charge a fee for notary services, and it describes the service as available at no cost to its customers. Its pages do not say whether the branch will notarize for someone who does not bank there. If you are not a customer, ask that question when you book the appointment or call the branch, before you travel.

Sources: Bank of America notary services, Financial center FAQs (checked November 2026)

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