Based on your financial expertise, provide your response or viewpoint on the given financial question or topic. The response format is open.

How many days does Bank of America need to clear a bill pay check
I cannot answer the original question, but since there is a good deal of discussion about whether it's credible at all, here's an answer that I got from Bank of America. Note the fine difference between "your account" and "our account", which does not seem to be a typo: The payment method is determined automatically by our system.  One of   the main factors is the method by which pay to recipients prefer to   receive payments.  If a payment can be issued electronically, we   attempt to do so because it is the most efficient method.   Payment methods include: *Electronic:  Payment is sent electronically prior to the "Deliver By" date.  The funds for the payment are deducted from your account on the   "Deliver By" date. *Corporate Check:  This is a check drawn on our account and is mailed to the pay to recipient a few days before the "Deliver By" date.  The   funds to cover the payment are deducted from your account on the   "Deliver By" date. *Laser Draft Check: This is a check drawn on your account and mailed to the pay to recipient a few days before the "Deliver By" date.  The   funds for the payment are deducted from your account when the pay to   recipient cashes the check, just as if you wrote the check yourself. To determine how your payment was sent, click the "Payments" button in   your Bill Pay service.  Select the "view payment" link next to the   payment.  Payment information is then displayed.  "Transmitted   electronically" means the payment was sent electronically.  "Payment   transaction number" means the payment was sent via a check drawn from   our account.  "Check number" means the payment was sent as a laser   draft check. Each payment request is evaluated individually and may change each   time a payment processes.   A payment may switch from one payment   method to another for a number of reasons.  The merchant may have   temporarily switched the payment method to paper, while they update   processing information.  Recent changes or re-issuance of your payee   account number could alter the payment method. In my case, the web site reads a little different: Payment check # 12345678 (8 digits) was sent to Company on 10/27/2015 and   delivered on 10/30/2015. Funds were withdrawn from your (named)   account on 10/30/2015. for one due on 10/30/2015; this must be the "corporate check". And for another, earlier one, due on 10/01/2015, this must be the laser draft check: Check # 1234 (4 digits) from your (named) account was mailed to Company on   09/28/2015. Funds for this payment are withdrawn from your account   when the Pay To account cashes the check. Both payments were made based on the same recurring bill pay payment that I set up manually (knowing little more of the company than its address).