Bank of America Mobile Deposit Funds on Hold: Reg CC Rules & Release Timeline

By David Sterling, Senior Financial Systems & Cybersecurity Analyst (CISA) Published: September 2026 | Technical Verification: Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFAA) & Regulation CC

You submit a check using Mobile Check Deposit in the Bank of America app, receive confirmation that the deposit was accepted, and plan your bill payments accordingly. However, when you check your account hours later, your Available Balance hasn't budged—and you notice a notice reading: "Deposit Hold: Funds will be available on [Date]".

Deposit holds are one of the most frustrating aspects of modern consumer banking, often creating severe cash-flow crunches. Yet check holds are strictly governed by federal law under Regulation CC (12 CFR Part 229), which enforces the Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFAA).

Here is an in-depth breakdown of Bank of America's funds availability schedules, why exception holds are triggered, and how to expedite the release of your money.

Basic Troubleshooting First Aid: Funds Availability Quick Matrix

Understanding Federal Regulation CC Availability Rules

Regulation CC sets the legal maximum duration a bank can withhold funds deposited by check, balancing consumer access with the time required to clear funds through the Federal Reserve check-clearing system.

[Check Submitted via BofA Mobile App Before 9:00 PM ET]
                         │
                         ▼
              [Business Day 1 (Next Day)]
              ==> $225 Legally Available for Cash/Debit
                         │
         ┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
         ▼                               ▼
[Standard Deposit <= $5,525]    [Large Deposit > $5,525 or New Account]
         │                               │
[Business Day 2: 100% Cleared]  [Business Day 2: Up to $5,525 Released]
                                         │
                                [Business Day 7: Remainder Released]

1. The Statutory $225 Rule

Under 12 CFR § 229.10(c)(1)(vii), Bank of America must legally make the first $225 of any check deposit available by the next business day following the banking day of deposit, regardless of whether the check is drawn on another bank.

2. The 9:00 PM Eastern Time Cutoff

To count as deposited on today's business day, your mobile check deposit must be completed and accepted before 9:00 PM Eastern Time (6:00 PM Pacific Time) on a standard business day (Monday through Friday, excluding federal banking holidays). Deposits submitted at 9:05 PM ET on a Monday are treated legally as if deposited on Tuesday morning, meaning your next-day $225 availability shifts to Wednesday.

3. The 2nd Business Day Standard Clearing Window

For standard checks that do not trigger fraud or exception flags, the full remaining balance above $225 becomes available on the second business day after the deposit date.

Why Bank of America Places an 'Exception Hold'

If your funds are held for longer than two business days, Bank of America has invoked an Exception Hold under 12 CFR § 229.13. Federal law requires the bank to provide you with a written or electronic Notice of Hold detailing the specific legal justification:

1. Large Deposit Exception (§ 229.13(b)): If the aggregate amount of checks deposited on any single business day exceeds $5,525, Bank of America can hold the portion exceeding $5,525 for up to 7 business days.
2. New Customer Exception (§ 229.13(a)): Accounts that have been open for 30 calendar days or fewer are classified as new accounts. Standard availability schedules do not apply, and checks can be held for up to 9 business days to protect against bust-out fraud schemes.
3. Redeposited Items (§ 229.13(c)): If you deposit a check that previously bounced or was returned unpaid by the paying bank, an extended hold is automatically applied.
4. Repeated Overdrafts (§ 229.13(d)): If your account balance was negative on six or more banking days during the preceding six months, you are subject to mandatory extended holds.
5. Reasonable Cause to Doubt Collectibility (§ 229.13(e)): If Bank of America receives confidential automated clearing information indicating that the paying account has insufficient funds or a stop-payment order, an exception hold is instituted immediately.

How to Check and Request Early Hold Removal

While automated algorithms assign hold durations, bank specialists have the administrative authority to release holds manually if you can prove verified clearing.

Step 1: Verify the Exact Status in the BofA App

1. Open the mobile app and tap on your Checking Account.
2. Tap the specific Pending Deposit entry.
3. Look for the line labeled: "Hold Details."
4. Review the Funds Release Date and note whether the hold is classified as a standard or exception hold.

Step 2: Request a Front-to-Back Verification (The Payer's Bank Confirmation)

If the check is for an urgent expense (e.g., mortgage, rent, medical bill) and the check has already cleared the payer's account:

1. Ask the person who wrote the check to inspect their own bank statement or mobile app.
2. If their account shows the funds have already been debited, ask them for a screenshot of the cleared check (showing the back with the Federal Reserve settlement stamp).
3. Call the Bank of America Deposit Operations Team at 1-800-432-1000.
4. Request to speak with a supervisor regarding an "Expedited Funds Release Under Confirmed Settlement."
5. The specialist can contact the paying bank's back-office clearing desk via official interbank channels to verify that the check has settled with zero return risk. Once verified, the supervisor can manually override and release the hold.

Avoiding Future Check Deposit Delays

• Use In-Branch Tellers for Checks Over $5,525: Branch tellers can verify funds in real-time and often place shorter hold durations than mobile deposit algorithms.
• Encourage Direct ACH or Wire Transfers: For transactions exceeding $5,000, request that senders utilize ACH direct transfer or a domestic wire (using wire routing number 026009593), which clears same-day without Reg CC check holds.