Call Bank of America to cancel, or use their online account management portal

To cancel a Bank of America credit card, you have two routes: phone or online. The phone number for credit card services is on the back of your card. When you call, have your card number ready and be prepared to state your reason for closing — Bank of America may offer retention incentives, but you are not required to accept. The call typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Alternatively, you can cancel through your Bank of America online account. Log in, navigate to your credit card account, and look for account settings or account management options. Some cards allow you to initiate closure directly; others require you to call. If the online option is not available for your specific card type, the phone route is your only choice.

Whichever method you use, ask the representative to confirm the cancellation in writing and provide a reference number. Request that they note the account as "closed by customer" rather than "closed by creditor" — this distinction matters for your credit report.

Key Takeaways

  • Call the number on the back of your card or log into your online account to request cancellation; both methods reach the same outcome.
  • Bank of America may offer you rewards, fee waivers, or rate reductions to keep the account open, but you can decline and proceed with closure.
  • Request written confirmation of the cancellation and ask that the account be marked "closed by customer" on your credit report.
  • Pay any remaining balance before or at the time of cancellation; the card will stop working immediately after closure is processed.
  • Your credit score may dip slightly after closure because your available credit decreases, but the impact is usually temporary.

What happens to your balance when you cancel

If you have an outstanding balance on the card at the time of cancellation, that balance does not disappear. You will still owe it, and Bank of America will continue to charge interest on it at your current APR until you pay it off. The card itself will no longer be usable for new purchases, but the debt remains your responsibility.

The best practice is to pay the balance in full before you call to cancel. If you cannot, pay as much as you can, then cancel. After cancellation, you can continue making payments by mail, phone, or through your online account — Bank of America will keep the account open for payment purposes even after closure.

If you have a promotional 0% APR period that has not ended, cancellation does not end the promotion. You keep that rate for the remaining term, as long as you continue making payments on time.

How cancellation affects your credit score

Closing a credit card typically causes a small, temporary dip in your credit score — usually 5 to 10 points, though this varies by individual. The dip happens because your total available credit decreases. If you had a $5,000 limit on this card and $15,000 in total limits across all cards, closing it drops your total available credit to $10,000. This changes your credit utilization ratio, which is one factor credit scoring models use.

The impact is usually short-lived. Within a few months, as you continue making on-time payments on other accounts, your score typically recovers. The account itself will remain on your credit report for seven years after closure, which actually helps your score because it shows a history of responsible credit use.

If you are planning to apply for a mortgage, auto loan, or other major credit in the next few months, consider waiting to cancel until after the application is approved. The timing of closure can matter in that narrow window.

Cancellation timelines and when the card stops working

The card stops working for new purchases immediately after you complete the cancellation request, whether by phone or online. However, the account closure itself may take 5 to 10 business days to fully process in Bank of America's system. During this window, recurring charges (subscriptions, automatic payments) may still attempt to post to the card.

Before you cancel, review your recurring charges and update any subscriptions or autopay arrangements to use a different card or payment method. This prevents declined transactions and late fees on other accounts. You can check your recent transactions in your online account to identify what is set to renew.

Once the account is fully closed, Bank of America will send you a written confirmation. Keep this confirmation for your records.

Handling authorized users and rewards points before closure

If you added authorized users to this card, those users' cards will stop working when you cancel. Notify them in advance so they can switch to a different payment method. Bank of America will not automatically issue new cards or transfer the authorized user status to another account.

Check your rewards balance before you cancel. Any unused points, miles, or cash back will be forfeited if you do not redeem them first. Log into your account, navigate to the rewards section, and review your balance. You can typically redeem points for statement credits, gift cards, travel, or other options depending on your card type. Once the account closes, unredeemed rewards are gone.

If you have a sign-up bonus that you have not yet earned, canceling before you meet the spending requirement means you forfeit the bonus. Some cards have a minimum spending threshold; if you cancel before reaching it, Bank of America will not credit the bonus.

Reasons Bank of America may ask before closing your account

When you call to cancel, the representative may ask why you are closing the account. Common reasons include high annual fees, high interest rates, better rewards elsewhere, or simply not using the card. Bank of America uses this information to decide whether to make a retention offer.

Retention offers might include a temporary APR reduction, waived annual fee for a year, bonus points, or increased cash back on certain categories. You are not obligated to accept any offer. If you have already decided to close the account, you can politely decline and proceed with cancellation. Accepting an offer does not lock you in — you can still cancel later if you change your mind.

If your reason is a high annual fee and you want to keep the card, ask if Bank of America offers a downgrade to a no-annual-fee version of the same card. This preserves your account age and credit history without the fee.

Canceling a card with a balance transfer or promotional rate

If you transferred a balance from another card onto this Bank of America card and are still within a 0% promotional period, canceling does not end the promotion. You keep the 0% rate for the remaining term as long as you make on-time payments. However, once the promotional period ends, any remaining balance will be charged interest at your regular APR.

If you have a balance transfer, it is usually better to keep the account open until the balance is paid off or the promotional period ends. Closing the account does not help you pay the balance faster, and it does reduce your available credit.

If you must cancel despite an active balance transfer, make sure you understand the terms: confirm the 0% rate will continue, confirm the payoff deadline, and set up a payment plan to clear the balance before interest kicks in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel my Bank of America credit card online, or do I have to call?

Some Bank of America cards allow cancellation through the online account portal, but not all do. Log in and check your account settings first. If the option is not available, you must call the number on the back of your card. Calling is often faster and gives you a reference number immediately.

What happens to my rewards points after I cancel?

Any unredeemed rewards points are forfeited when the account closes. Redeem your points before you cancel by logging into your account and selecting your redemption option — cash back, gift cards, travel, or statement credit. Once the account is closed, Bank of America will not restore forfeited points.

Will canceling hurt my credit score?

Canceling typically causes a small, temporary dip of 5 to 10 points because your available credit decreases. The impact is usually gone within a few months. The account remains on your credit report for seven years, which continues to help your score by showing responsible credit history.

Can I cancel if I still owe a balance?

Yes, you can cancel with an outstanding balance. The balance does not disappear — you still owe it and will continue to be charged interest at your current APR. You can keep making payments after closure through mail, phone, or your online account. It is better to pay the balance first if possible.

What should I do with recurring charges before I cancel?

Before canceling, log into your account and review recent transactions to identify subscriptions and automatic payments. Update these to use a different card or payment method. If you cancel without updating them, those charges will be declined, which may result in late fees or service interruptions on the other accounts.