To join a class action lawsuit against Bank of America, you usually don’t have to do anything to get in: if a court has certified a class and you fit its definition, you’re a member automatically. What matters is identifying which case covers your issue, watching for the notice, and meeting any claim deadline the settlement sets. A handful of Bank of America cases are active or recently settled, and each has its own eligibility rules and filing steps.
You’re Probably Already In
Most consumer class actions, including those against banks, run on an “opt-out” basis under federal court rules. If the court certifies a class and you meet the definition, you’re in by default. You’d only need to act to leave. Do nothing and you stay in, share in whatever the case produces, and give up your right to sue Bank of America separately over the same claims.
Opt-in cases are the less common alternative, mostly seen in wage and employment disputes. Those require you to sign a consent form; silence keeps you out but preserves your right to sue on your own later.
So “joining” a class action is rarely the right word. The practical questions are whether a case exists for your problem, whether you fit it, and whether a settlement requires you to file a claim to get paid.
How to Tell If a Case Covers You
If you’re eligible for a certified class or an approved settlement, you’ll usually receive a notice by mail or email. The notice spells out what the case is about, who qualifies, your options, and any deadlines. If you think you qualify but haven’t received anything, you can check settlement-specific websites, court dockets, and legal news trackers that follow class actions.
The Bank of America cases below are either accepting claims, distributing payments automatically, or still in active litigation as of mid-2026.
Current Bank of America Class Actions
ATM Out-of-Network Fee Settlement
In Schertzer v. Bank of America, N.A. (Case No. 3:19-cv-00264-DMS-MSB, S.D. Cal.), the bank agreed to a $2.25 million settlement over allegations it charged two out-of-network balance-inquiry fees for a single inquiry at FCTI-owned ATMs inside 7-Eleven stores. Bank of America denied wrongdoing.
You may qualify if you held a U.S. Bank of America checking account and were charged more than one out-of-network balance inquiry fee during a single visit to an FCTI-owned ATM at a 7-Eleven between May 1, 2018, and November 16, 2021. Anyone already paid in the 2024 Weiss v. FCTI settlement is excluded.
Current account holders don’t need to do anything; payments will issue automatically if the court grants final approval. Former account holders must file a claim at oonfeesettlement.com by June 29, 2026. The exclusion and objection deadline is July 7, 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for August 21, 2026. The settlement line is (833) 447-8321. Individual payments aren’t fixed; the fund will be split equally among eligible claimants after attorneys’ fees (up to 30%), expenses, and administrative costs.
New York Restraint Fee Settlement
Jackson et al. v. Bank of America, N.A. (Case No. 15145/2011, N.Y.) alleged the bank charged fees to accounts restrained by creditors in violation of New York’s Exempt Income Protection Act. The $2.85 million settlement covers individual Bank of America account holders whose accounts were restrained or levied under New York law between January 1, 2009, and February 17, 2023. No claim form is required. Payments of about $35 per person are being distributed automatically after preliminary approval in December 2024.
Pennsylvania Car Repossession Notice Settlement
In Nelson et al. v. Bank of America, N.A. (Case No. 2:22-cv-04440, E.D. Pa.), plaintiffs alleged the bank failed to give borrowers the 15-day post-repossession redemption notice required by Pennsylvania’s Uniform Commercial Code. The $3.25 million settlement covers Pennsylvania borrowers who received a post-repossession notice from Bank of America between December 23, 2016, and February 16, 2024. Payments are automatic, with no claim form needed. The settlement also requires Bank of America to ask credit bureaus to delete class members’ auto loan histories from their credit reports. Final approval was scheduled for February 18, 2025. You can look up your estimated payment at NelsonClassAction.com using the Notice ID and PIN from your mailed notice.
California EDD Unemployment Benefits Litigation
In re Bank of America California Unemployment Benefits Litigation (Case No. 3:21-md-02992-GPC-MSB, S.D. Cal.) is one of the largest pending cases. Plaintiffs allege the bank mishandled California EDD unemployment debit cards during the pandemic, including shutting down legitimate unauthorized-transaction claims with an automated “Claim Fraud Filter,” failing to use chip technology, and understaffing fraud call centers. The bank denies the allegations.
In June 2025, Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel certified five classes covering people who received California EDD unemployment or other public benefits via Bank of America prepaid debit cards and reported unauthorized ATM transactions between April 1, 2020, and June 8, 2021. The opt-out window closed on December 2, 2025. If you fit the class and didn’t opt out, you’re already in and bound by what comes next. There’s no settlement and no trial date yet. Receiving compensation under the bank’s July 2022 consent orders with the CFPB and OCC doesn’t affect your eligibility.
Zelle Fraud Case
Georgian v. Bank of America, filed in North Carolina federal court by five account holders, alleges the bank failed to address fraudulent Zelle transfers initiated by scammers posing as bank employees. In August 2025, Judge Timothy Reif dismissed all state consumer protection claims and one breach of contract claim but let claims under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and a separate contract theory proceed to discovery. No class has been certified and there’s no settlement, so there’s nothing yet to join or claim.
Filing a Claim When One Is Required
If your settlement needs a claim form rather than automatic payment, the process is the same across most cases:
- Read the notice. It carries your eligibility details, any unique ID and PIN, and the dedicated settlement website.
- Gather what the form asks for. Some require account numbers or transaction records; others ask for nothing beyond basic contact information.
- File online through the settlement website or mail a paper form. Keep copies.
- Meet the deadline. Missing it generally forfeits your payment even if you qualify.
- Wait. Administrators review claims after the deadline and pay out, often months later. Status is available on the settlement site or by phone.
There’s no cost to be in a class action or file a claim. Class counsel is paid from the settlement fund with court approval, not by individual members.
The Arbitration Clause That Could Shut You Out of Future Cases
Effective May 18, 2026, Bank of America reintroduced a mandatory arbitration clause and class action waiver in its Online Banking Service Agreement. The clause pushes disputes into private arbitration and bars you from joining class actions. The bank had dropped mandatory arbitration from consumer contracts in 2009 after an antitrust case, so the 2026 change reversed about 17 years of practice.
You have 60 days from when you receive notice to opt out. You can submit the form at bankofamerica.com/arbitration-optout while logged into your account, or call 800-283-8875. The National Consumer Law Center and other advocacy groups have urged customers to opt out quickly, since the clock has already started for many account holders. The clause doesn’t retroactively block participation in class actions already filed or certified before the new terms took effect, but it can limit your options in any future dispute. If you don’t opt out in time, you’re bound.
If No Case Fits Your Situation
When no existing class action covers your issue, you can either try to start one or bring an individual claim. Starting a class action takes an attorney willing to invest in the pleadings, discovery, and certification fight, usually on contingency. You can look for consumer protection or class action attorneys through legal directories, or check whether any firms are already investigating claims like yours.
An individual claim is often the more practical path. Class actions can run for years, and per-person recoveries from settlements are frequently modest. An attorney can tell you whether your facts are better suited to an individual case or a class case before you commit either way.