The basic steps to close a credit card account
Call the customer service number on the back of your card or log into your online account and look for a "close account" or "account management" option. Most issuers let you close over the phone in under five minutes. Have your account number ready, and be prepared to answer why you're closing — the issuer may offer you a retention incentive like a fee waiver or bonus points, but you're not required to accept.
Before you call, pay off any remaining balance. You can't close an account with an outstanding balance, and the issuer won't process your request until it's paid in full. After you close the account, ask the representative to confirm the closure in writing or check your account online within a few days to verify the status shows "closed."
Request written confirmation of the closure. This creates a record that you initiated the close, not the issuer — an important distinction for your credit report. Some issuers mail this automatically; others require you to ask. If you don't receive it within two weeks, call back and request it again.
Key Takeaways
- Pay off your full balance before closing; most issuers won't process a closure request on an account with an outstanding balance.
- Call the number on your card or use your online account portal to request closure, and ask for written confirmation that you initiated the close.
- Closing a card reduces your available credit and may lower your credit score temporarily, especially if you carry balances on other cards.
- Closed accounts remain on your credit report for seven to ten years, so the damage to your score decreases over time.
- If you're closing a card with an annual fee, call before the renewal date to avoid being charged for another year.
Why closing a card affects your credit score
Your credit score depends partly on your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total available credit that you're currently using. When you close a card, you lose that card's credit limit. If you carry balances on your other cards, your utilization ratio goes up, which can lower your score by 10 to 50 points depending on how much credit you lose and how much you're already using.
The impact is temporary. As you pay down balances on your remaining cards, your utilization drops and your score recovers. The closed account itself stays on your credit report for seven to ten years (longer for negative marks like late payments), but its effect on your score fades as the account ages.
If you're planning to apply for a mortgage, car loan, or other credit in the next few months, closing a card right before you apply can hurt your chances of approval or the interest rate you receive. Wait until after the loan closes if possible.
When to close a card before the annual fee hits
If your card charges an annual fee and you want to close it, call before the renewal date. Most issuers charge the fee automatically on the anniversary of your account opening. Once they charge it, you can sometimes get it refunded if you close within 30 days, but this varies by issuer — don't count on it.
Check your account statement or your issuer's website to find your renewal date. Call at least two weeks before that date to close the account. This gives the issuer time to process your request and prevents you from being charged for another year of service.
If you've already been charged the annual fee this year and you're now closing the account, ask whether the issuer offers a refund. Some do if you close within a specific window; others don't refund annual fees under any circumstance. It never hurts to ask, but be prepared to hear no.
What happens to rewards points and cash back
Rewards points and cash back you've already earned typically stay in your account after closure, though the rules vary by issuer. Some let you redeem them for 30 to 90 days after closing; others let you keep them indefinitely. Check your card's terms or call customer service to confirm the window before you close.
Points you haven't earned yet — like bonus points from a sign-up offer — are usually forfeited if you close the account before meeting the spending requirement. If you're close to earning a bonus, finish spending before you close.
Redeem your points before closing if you're unsure about the issuer's policy. Once the account is closed, accessing your rewards account may become difficult or impossible.
Closing a card versus downgrading to a no-fee version
If your card has an annual fee but you like the issuer and want to keep the account open, ask whether you can downgrade to a different card from the same issuer that has no annual fee. This keeps your account history and credit limit intact, which is better for your credit score than closing.
Downgrading usually takes a few minutes on the phone. The issuer closes your current card and opens a new one with a different product name, but the account age and credit history stay the same. Your credit score may dip slightly because a new account lowers your average account age, but the effect is much smaller than closing entirely.
Not all issuers offer downgrade options, and not all cards can be downgraded to a no-fee product. Ask the representative what options are available before you decide to close.
Authorized users and joint accounts
If you're the primary account holder and you close the card, any authorized users lose access immediately. The card stops working for them, and the account no longer appears on their credit report. If an authorized user has been building credit history with this account, closing it will remove that history from their report.
If you're a joint account holder (meaning you and another person both own the account), either of you can request closure, but both of you are responsible for any remaining balance. Closing a joint account removes it from both credit reports.
If you're an authorized user on someone else's account and you want to remove yourself, you can't close the account — only the primary holder can. Call and ask to be removed as an authorized user instead. The account will stay open, but your name and the account will no longer appear on your credit report.
What to do after you close the account
Check your credit report 30 to 60 days after closure to confirm the account status shows "closed by consumer" rather than "closed by issuer." You can view your credit report free once per year at annualcreditreport.com. If the report shows the wrong status, contact the credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to dispute it.
Keep the written confirmation of closure in your files. If a debt collector later claims you owe money on this account, or if the issuer reports the account as delinquent, you'll have proof that you closed it in good standing.
Don't close all your credit cards at once. If you have multiple cards and want to close several, space them out over a few months. Closing multiple accounts in a short period can signal financial distress to lenders and may lower your score more than closing one card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing a credit card hurt my credit score?
Yes, but usually temporarily. Closing a card reduces your available credit, which can raise your credit utilization ratio and lower your score by 10 to 50 points. The effect fades as you pay down balances on other cards and as the closed account ages on your credit report.
Can I close a credit card with a balance on it?
No. You must pay off the entire balance before the issuer will process your closure request. After you close the account, you can no longer make purchases on it, but you can still make payments if needed.
What happens to my rewards points when I close the card?
Points you've already earned usually stay in your account for 30 to 90 days after closure, though some issuers let you keep them longer. Check your card's terms or call customer service before closing to confirm how long you have to redeem them.
How long does it take to close a credit card?
The phone call usually takes five to ten minutes. The issuer processes the closure within a few business days, and it appears on your credit report within 30 to 60 days. Request written confirmation so you have proof of when you closed it.
Should I close old credit cards or keep them open?
Keeping old cards open is usually better for your credit score because they add to your available credit and show a longer credit history. If a card has no annual fee, there's no reason to close it. If it has an annual fee, ask about downgrading to a no-fee product first.