Call American Express to cancel, or use your online account to request cancellation
To cancel an American Express card, you have two routes: call the customer service number on the back of your card, or log into your American Express account online and request cancellation through the account settings. The phone route is faster — you speak to a representative who confirms the cancellation immediately and can answer questions about your account balance or rewards. The online route takes longer; American Express typically processes the request within a few business days.
Before you call or submit the online request, pay your full balance. American Express will not cancel an account with an outstanding balance, and they will not waive the balance to let you close the card. If you have a balance, you must pay it down to zero first. After cancellation is complete, you remain responsible for any remaining balance, so settle it before you close the account.
Have your card number ready when you call. The representative will verify your identity, confirm your current balance, and ask why you are closing the account. You do not have to give a detailed reason — "I am no longer using this card" is sufficient. Once confirmed, the cancellation takes effect immediately, though it may take a few days to appear on your credit report.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your American Express card or log into your online account to request cancellation; phone cancellation is immediate, while online requests take a few business days.
- Pay your full balance to zero before canceling — American Express will not close an account with an outstanding balance.
- After cancellation, your card stops working immediately, but you remain responsible for any balance that existed at the time of closure.
- Cancellation appears on your credit report within a few days and may temporarily lower your credit score if this card represented a large portion of your available credit.
- If you have an American Express rewards card, any unspent rewards points are forfeited when the account closes, so redeem them before canceling.
What happens to your balance after you cancel
Closing the card does not erase what you owe. If you have a balance at the moment of cancellation, American Express will send you a final statement and continue to charge interest on that balance at your current APR until you pay it off. You will receive monthly statements and payment notices just as you did before. The only difference is that you cannot use the card to make new purchases.
If you are canceling because you want to stop using the card but still owe money, consider keeping the account open until the balance is paid. Closing an account with an active balance does not hurt your credit score more than keeping it open does — the damage comes from the balance itself, not from the account status. However, if you close the account, American Express may reduce your credit limit or close other accounts you hold with them, so weigh that risk before you cancel with a balance outstanding.
Redeem rewards points before the account closes
American Express forfeits all unspent rewards points when you close the card. There is no grace period and no way to transfer points after cancellation. If you have accumulated points through purchases, redeem them before you submit the cancellation request.
Log into your American Express account and go to the rewards section to see your current point balance and available redemption options. You can typically redeem points for statement credits, cash back, travel bookings, or merchandise. The redemption processes immediately or within a few business days, depending on the option you choose. Once redeemed, the points are no longer tied to your card, so you keep the value even after the account closes.
How cancellation affects your credit score
Closing an American Express card affects your credit score in two ways. First, it reduces your total available credit, which increases your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total credit limit that you are using across all cards. If you have other cards with balances, closing this card makes those balances represent a larger percentage of your available credit, and higher utilization lowers your score. The impact is temporary and usually recovers within a few months as you pay down other balances.
Second, the closed account remains on your credit report for seven to ten years, depending on whether it was in good standing when you closed it. During that time, it continues to show in your credit history, which can actually help your score by demonstrating a long history of on-time payments. The damage comes only from the act of closing, not from the account sitting closed on your report.
If you want to minimize the score impact, close the card after you have paid down balances on your other cards, or close a card with a low credit limit rather than a high one. The lower the limit, the smaller the reduction in available credit.
Canceling a business American Express card
Business American Express cards follow the same cancellation process as personal cards: call the number on the back of the card or log into your business account online. However, business accounts may have additional requirements. If you are an authorized user on a business card but not the account owner, you cannot cancel the card yourself — only the primary account holder can request cancellation.
If your business card is tied to a business line of credit or a charge card (such as the American Express Business Platinum, which requires full payment each month), cancellation may affect your business credit profile differently than a standard credit card. Speak to the representative when you call to understand how closing this specific card will affect your business credit and any other accounts linked to it.
What to do if American Express denies your cancellation request
American Express will not cancel an account with an outstanding balance. If you call to cancel and the representative tells you the account cannot be closed, check your balance. Even a small charge you forgot about will block cancellation. Pay that balance in full, then call back to cancel.
In rare cases, American Express may flag an account for fraud or dispute resolution and temporarily prevent cancellation while they investigate. If this happens, the representative will explain the hold and give you a timeframe for when the account can be closed. You can ask to speak to a supervisor if you believe the hold is in error, but the investigation must complete before cancellation is allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my American Express card online without calling?
Yes. Log into your American Express account, go to account settings or card management, and look for a "close account" or "cancel card" option. The request is submitted immediately, but American Express typically processes it within a few business days. You will receive a confirmation email once the cancellation is complete.
What happens to my credit score immediately after I cancel?
Your score may drop slightly within a few days because your available credit decreases. The impact is usually small and temporary — typically five to ten points — and recovers as you pay down balances on other cards. The long-term effect depends on how much of your total credit limit this card represented.
Do I need to destroy my physical card after canceling?
Yes. Cut the card in half or shred it to prevent someone from finding it and attempting to use it. The card stops working immediately after cancellation, but destroying it removes the risk of misuse. You do not need to return it to American Express.
Will canceling my American Express card affect my other credit cards?
Not directly. Canceling one card does not affect the status of your other cards or your accounts with other issuers. However, if American Express is your issuer for multiple cards, closing one account may trigger a review of your other accounts with them, and they may choose to close or reduce limits on those cards as well.
Can I reopen my American Express account after I cancel it?
American Express does not reopen closed accounts. If you want to use an American Express card again, you must apply for a new card. Depending on how long ago you closed the account and your credit history since then, you may or may not be approved for the same card or a different one.