Call Credit One's customer service line to close your account
To close a Credit One Bank card, call their customer service number on the back of your card. Have your account number ready. Tell them you want to close the account. They will confirm your identity, review your account status, and process the closure over the phone. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Credit One does not offer online account closure through their website or mobile app, so a phone call is your only option. The customer service team is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. Calling during business hours avoids delays.
Before you call, pay off any remaining balance on the card. Credit One will not close an account with an outstanding balance. If you have a pending balance, ask the representative when you can safely close after payment posts — usually one to two business days after your payment clears.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your Credit One card and tell the representative you want to close your account; they will handle it immediately over the phone.
- Pay your full balance before closing, because Credit One will not close an account with money owed.
- After closure, your account will show as closed on your credit report, which may temporarily lower your credit score if this card represents a large portion of your available credit.
- Request written confirmation of the closure and keep it for your records in case billing issues arise later.
- Check your credit report 30 to 60 days after closure to confirm the account status updated correctly.
What happens to your credit score when you close the account
Closing a Credit One card affects your credit score in two ways. First, your credit utilization ratio — the amount of credit you use divided by your total available credit — may increase. If this card made up a large portion of your available credit, closing it shrinks your total limit and can raise your utilization percentage, which lowers your score temporarily.
Second, the account will remain on your credit report for seven years after closure, but it will be marked as closed. During those seven years, it still counts toward your credit history length, which is a positive factor. After seven years, the account falls off your report entirely.
The score impact is usually temporary and modest if you have other open accounts and low balances elsewhere. If this is your only card or your oldest account, the impact may be more noticeable. Your score typically recovers within a few months as long as you keep other balances low and make on-time payments.
Steps to take before calling to close
Review your account for any pending transactions or recurring charges. Check your recent statements to see if any subscriptions, memberships, or automatic payments are linked to this card. Cancel or update those payments to a different card before closure, or they will be declined after the account closes.
Confirm your current balance by logging into your online account or calling customer service. If you have a balance, make a payment and wait for it to post before requesting closure. Payments typically post within one to three business days, depending on how you paid.
Gather any rewards points or cash back you have earned. Credit One does not automatically cash out rewards when you close an account. Ask the representative during your closure call whether you can redeem remaining rewards before the account closes, or whether they will be forfeited. Some cards allow redemption after closure, but policies vary.
What to do after the account closes
Request written confirmation of the closure from Credit One. The representative can email or mail you a confirmation letter that states the account is closed and the date of closure. Keep this for your records. If billing problems arise later — for example, if a charge appears on the card after closure — this letter proves you closed the account on a specific date.
Stop using the card immediately, even though it may take a few days for the closure to fully process. Some merchants' systems may still accept the card for a short window after closure, which can create confusion about whether the account is actually closed.
Check your credit report 30 to 60 days after closure through a free service like AnnualCreditReport.com. Confirm that the account shows as closed and that no errors appear. If the account still shows as open or if you see unauthorized charges, contact Credit One with your confirmation letter as proof of the closure date.
Reasons to close versus reasons to keep the account open
Close the account if you are paying an annual fee and not using the card, if the interest rate is significantly higher than your other cards, or if you have paid off debt and no longer need the credit line. Credit One cards typically carry higher fees and rates than mainstream cards, so closing makes sense if you have moved to better options.
Keep the account open if it is your oldest card, because closing it shortens your average account age and can lower your score. Keep it open if you have a high credit limit relative to your other cards, because the available credit helps your utilization ratio even if you do not use the card. Keep it open if you are actively rebuilding credit, because a longer history of open accounts in good standing strengthens your profile.
If you are unsure, you can simply stop using the card without closing it. Inactive accounts do not hurt your credit as long as they remain open and in good standing. Credit One may close the account themselves after a long period of inactivity, but this happens on their timeline, not yours.
What happens if you close and then want to reopen
Credit One does not automatically reopen closed accounts. If you close your account and later decide you want it back, you would need to apply for a new card. Your new application would be reviewed as a fresh application, and approval is not may provide. Your credit score may have changed since you closed the first account, which could affect whether you are approved and what terms you receive.
Reopening also means a new hard inquiry on your credit report and a new account age starting from zero. This temporarily lowers your score further than the original closure did. For these reasons, only close the account if you are confident you will not need it again in the near future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my Credit One card online?
No. Credit One does not offer online closure through their website or app. You must call customer service at the number on your card to close the account. The call takes about 10 to 15 minutes and can be completed during business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, or Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.
What happens to my rewards points when I close?
Credit One's policy on rewards after closure varies by card type. Ask the representative during your closure call whether you can redeem points before the account closes or whether they will be forfeited. Some cards allow redemption after closure within a limited window, but this is not may provide. Redeem any rewards before closing if possible.
Will closing my Credit One card hurt my credit score?
Closing the account may temporarily lower your score because it reduces your total available credit, which can raise your credit utilization ratio. The impact is usually modest and temporary if you have other open accounts. The account remains on your report for seven years after closure, so it continues to count toward your credit history length during that time.
How long does it take for the closure to show on my credit report?
The account typically shows as closed within 30 to 60 days after you call to close it. Check your credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com to confirm the status updated correctly. If the account still shows as open after 60 days, contact Credit One with your closure confirmation letter.
Can Credit One close my account without my permission?
Yes. Credit One can close an account for inactivity, non-payment, or violation of their terms. If your account is closed by Credit One rather than by you, it will show as closed by the creditor on your credit report, which may have a larger negative impact than a voluntary closure. To avoid this, either use the card occasionally or close it yourself before Credit One does.