As long as you make a payment before 8PM Mountain Time via the website or phone number, it will post before your statement closes. I did this on my BCE.
@FinStar wrote:The issue here really would depend on their batch processing for reporting the update. Chances are this information has already been submitted for reporting to the CRAs. Or, if your payment barely makes it before the posting window whether it may or may not get processed in time for it to reflect accordingly. Word of the wise, always plan any payment before the closing date to avoid any trivial results.
^ This, though not always.
I actually paid *after* my statement theoretically closed with Amex (correct date, and website was updated with the new statement balance to be paid), and it recorded the payment in what was sent to the bureaus. Wasn't happy as I was trying to set a high balance. 
Talk about needing to plan better...
From a payment perspective, if you don't want the balance to report, there's really no benefit to waiting vs. whatever marginal gains you might make over the next two weeks doing something else with the money. If you want to take the shot at $0, make the payment and go unless this leaves you with a cash shortfall in which case simply do as FinStar suggests and hammer the balance in advance next month.
