Bank Of America Business Credit Card Team Turned Off Their Phones
Need to call Bank of America about a business credit card? Good luck with that. Here’s what I learned when trying to do a reconsideration call (thrice) lately. It looks like they’ve turned off the phones to the Bank of America business credit cards team.
The Application
I recently applied for the Alaska Airlines Visa Business Credit Card from Bank of America. Despite having prior business credit cards with them, having a checking account with more than $3,000 in it, and meeting their bank application rules, I received an instant denial. I applied using the information from the LLC my wife and I own jointly, which has all the proper paperwork. The instant denial surprised me, so I decided to call.
Recon Call Attempt #1
I consulted our list of reconsideration phone numbers. Despite being 2pm Eastern Time on a Thursday, both numbers said “we are closed”. Doctor of Credit had an additional number, but I heard the same message. I decided to call the personal reconsideration number and say that it’s for a business credit card.
The phone rep I talked to told me right off the bat, “They no longer speak directly to customers.” That’s odd, so I asked for more information. “We can’t even call them ourselves. We just send them an email and wait for a reply.” Of course, she couldn’t give me the email.
Recon Call Attempt #2
I hung up and called again, hoping to talk to someone else. “That department doesn’t speak to customers. Everything is automated now, and you get the decision you get. They won’t talk to you. They are just working on the loans and emergency funds for businesses. You can’t talk to them.”
My Letter In The Mail
My denial letter arrived in the mail, stating that I lacked deposit/banking relationships with them. I found that interesting, since I have a personal checking account with them, and it has a fair amount of money in it. I also recently opened a personal credit card. My thinking was that they aren’t considering personal relationships for business applications.
The denial letter also said I could open a secured credit card and then get the card that way. There was a number on the letter for opening this CD/secured card method, so I called that.
Recon Call Attempt #3
I spoke with a really friendly business banking specialist. He agreed that “no relationship” is odd, since I’ve had business accounts with Bank of America in the past, a good credit score, and the current personal accounts. However, he said that those don’t count for business applications these days. He told me that not even he is able to call the reconsideration department. Customers have no way to contact them either. “They’ve turned off the phones to that department.” Now, they’re only handling applications and disbursements for relief funds from the government.
Final Thoughts On Bank of America Business Credit Cards
We mentioned earlier this year that banks are tightening up their application rules. This is especially true for business applications in an uncertain time, where many businesses are folding up shop. The fact that you can’t talk to reconsideration for Bank of America business credit cards is odd, though. The decisions are all automated from what the 3 different phone reps told me. You get what you get, and good luck if you want to try to talk to someone. Looks like you really need to make sure you’re primed for an automatic approval. Sweet talking that denial into an approval on the phone isn’t going to happen with Bank of America–at least not for business cards.
Update: Sleuthing in the Travel Rewards Warrior Facebook group found a number that answered and said they work with business credit cards. It’s 888-782-7717.
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The days of sweet talking into an approval have been ending for a long time now. The banks know that savvy customers know what to say on a recon and they aren’t buying it anymore honestly. Easier to just rely on automated decisions with no human emotion involved. Many banks have been going this way. Recon was disappearing even before COVID started.
I got the denial letter of Biz Alaska card on 9/30 and was requested to submit the proof of biz ownership and two most recent tax returns. I applied it with sole pro so just wondering if I should provide those doc to continue the process. I do have the business checking with BofA since last March and this is the #2 time I got denied. The last time was back to last summer. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks.
Ozzi – it sounds like they want to see proof of the business on your tax returns, which you’d claim on Schedule C. It’s odd that you’re being denied while having a business relationship already. Do you use the account/have funds in it? What industry is the business? I’ve also seen denials for ‘current risk in your industry’ such as restaurants or stores that are likely to close. A mix of new business/low funds in the account/risky business at this time/etc. could cause a denial.
LOL. Exact same story for me last month… same card, same attempts at recon, same outcome! Usually the recon phone line says they are experiencing technical difficulties. The one time I got through it had rerouted me to the wrong department. Frustrating, what can you do!
Jon – I can just imagine. “Yes, it’s finally ringing!” “Wrong department”
Why is it shocking that card issuers are very reluctant to approve business cards now given the anticipated avalanche of chapter 11 filings.
It amazes me that so many people only look at things from a personal standpoint like somehow they are owed a card – SMH!
That’s only tangentially related to the discussion at hand, though. No one claimed to be ‘owed’ a card. The issue is that a business has completely shut down avenues for customer interaction to ask questions or provide more information. No one is claiming to be owed a card, and no one is surprised that approvals are more rare these days. The discussion is “we don’t talk to anyone” being a strange mode of operation.
Bank of America has the worst phone customer service because you can never get in touch with anyone. “Call the phone number on the back of your card?” Good luck with that. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the worst. I would rate them as -10.
I don’t think they turned off their phones. They probably never turned them on in the first place.
It’s been like this since May when I applied for a BOA Business card. Back then no one was talking about it so I had assumed they would “turn on” the phone lines again soon, but no. I haven’t been able to recon for months and it’s a wasted application.
Alex – for what it’s worth, it seems like having a current business relationship with them (checking can be free if you have a biz CC and are using it, or other ways to waive the fee) makes things more automatic.
I wish! I signed up for a consumer checking account back in March for this express purpose. No dice. I forget what the denial letter said, I think it was insufficient balances. I kept less than $1000 in there.
Fast-forward to last week and I’m approved for the Amtrak consumer card immediately and generously so it really seems like they’re just tight on the business end.
Alex – glad to hear it’s not all bad. From what the 3 different reps have told me, no biz banking=no biz CC approval. Sounds like we need checking or CD etc. to get a biz card with Bank of America now.
I’ll be darned. Now I know why I could not get anyone to respond to me. I didn’t care that much so did not make the efforts you did. BofA is one of the weirder banks I have dealt with though, I will say that.
Carl – “lights on, but nobody’s home”