Call Southwest's card issuer to close your account

To cancel a Southwest credit card, you call the phone number on the back of your card and ask to close the account. The card issuer is Chase Bank, not Southwest Airlines itself. You will reach a representative who will confirm your identity, ask why you're closing the account, and process the cancellation on the spot. The call takes about five minutes.

You can also mail a written request to the address listed on your statement, but calling is faster and gives you immediate confirmation. Write down the date, time, and representative's name after you hang up — you'll want this record in case a charge appears later.

Before you call, pay off any remaining balance on the card. Chase will not close an account with an outstanding balance, and you'll continue to owe interest on it even after cancellation. If you have a promotional 0% offer still running, closing the card may end that offer and trigger interest on the remaining balance retroactively, depending on the terms you agreed to.

Key Takeaways

  • Call the number on the back of your Southwest card to reach Chase, the bank that issues it, and request account closure.
  • Pay off your full balance before calling, because Chase will not close an account with money owed.
  • Closing a card with an active promotional rate may end the promotion and cause interest to accrue on the remaining balance.
  • Write down the date, time, and representative name after the call closes, and check your credit report a few weeks later to confirm the account shows as closed.

What happens to your rewards points when you cancel

Southwest Rapid Rewards points in your account do not disappear when you close the card. Points stay in your Rapid Rewards account as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Account activity includes earning points, redeeming points, or even just logging into your Rapid Rewards profile online.

If your Rapid Rewards account goes inactive for 24 months with no activity, Southwest will close the account and forfeit your points. Closing the credit card itself does not trigger this — only the Rapid Rewards account sitting unused does. So if you have points you want to keep, log into your Rapid Rewards account once a year or use your points before you close the card.

You can redeem points for Southwest flights, gift cards, or hotel stays through the Rapid Rewards website even after the credit card is closed. The card and the points account are separate, so canceling one does not lock you out of the other.

How cancellation affects your credit score

Closing a credit card can lower your credit score, usually by a small amount, because it reduces your total available credit. If you have a $5,000 limit on the Southwest card and no other cards, closing it drops your available credit from $5,000 to $0. Credit scoring models look at the ratio of credit you're using to credit available to you — closing the card makes that ratio worse even if you're not carrying a balance.

The impact is usually temporary. Your score will recover over a few months as the closed account ages. The damage is smaller if you have other credit cards open, because your total available credit stays higher. If the Southwest card is your only card, the score drop may be more noticeable.

The closed account will stay on your credit report for about 10 years, showing a zero balance and a closed status. This is normal and does not hurt your score — lenders can see you closed the account responsibly.

Timing: when to cancel before an annual fee hits

Southwest credit cards charge an annual fee, usually around $69 to $99 depending on the specific card. The fee posts on your card's anniversary date each year. If you want to avoid paying the fee, cancel before that date arrives.

Check your most recent statement or log into your Chase account online to find your anniversary date. It's the date you opened the card, not the date your statement closes. If your anniversary is March 15 and today is March 10, you have five days to cancel before the fee posts.

If the annual fee already posted this year, you can call Chase and ask for a refund within 30 days of the charge. Explain that you're closing the account and request a courtesy reversal. Chase approves these requests often, though it's not may provide. After 30 days, the fee is usually permanent.

What to do with the physical card after cancellation

After you close the account, cut up the physical card or shred it so it cannot be used. The card will stop working immediately once Chase processes the closure, but destroying it removes any risk of someone finding it and attempting to use it.

You do not need to return the card to Chase by mail. Simply destroying it at home is sufficient. If the card is lost or stolen, call Chase immediately to report it before you close the account — they can freeze it faster than the closure process.

If you want to keep the card but stop using it

You do not have to close the card to stop using it. You can simply stop charging to it and leave the account open. This keeps your available credit intact and avoids the credit score dip that comes with closure. The downside is that you'll still owe the annual fee each year unless you call and ask Chase to waive it.

Some cardholders call Chase a few weeks before the annual fee posts and ask for a waiver. Chase sometimes agrees, especially if you've been a long-term customer or have other accounts with them. If they refuse, you can close the card at that point. This approach lets you keep the option open without committing to closure.

If you leave the card open but inactive, Chase may close it on their own after a long period of non-use — typically 12 to 24 months depending on their policy. When that happens, you lose the available credit anyway, so the benefit of leaving it open diminishes over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will closing my Southwest card hurt my credit score?

Yes, but usually only slightly and temporarily. Your score may drop a few points because closing the card reduces your available credit. The impact is smaller if you have other cards open. Your score typically recovers within a few months as the closed account ages on your report.

Can I cancel over the phone or do I have to go to a branch?

You can cancel entirely over the phone by calling the number on the back of your card. You do not need to visit a Chase branch in person. Phone cancellation is the standard method and takes about five minutes.

What happens to my Southwest Rapid Rewards points when I close the card?

Your points stay in your Rapid Rewards account and do not disappear. They're tied to your Rapid Rewards membership, not the card itself. As long as your Rapid Rewards account has activity at least once every 24 months, your points remain. You can redeem them for flights or other rewards even after the card is closed.

Can I get the annual fee refunded if it already posted?

You can call Chase within 30 days of the fee posting and ask for a refund. Explain that you're closing the account. Chase often approves these requests as a courtesy, though it's not may provide. After 30 days, the fee is usually permanent.

Do I have to pay off my balance before I can close the card?

Yes. Chase will not process a closure request if you have an outstanding balance. You must pay the full amount owed first. If you have a promotional 0% rate, closing the card may end that promotion and cause interest to accrue on the remaining balance.