Metal credit cards need different disposal than plastic ones

Chase metal credit cards — typically made from stainless steel or a steel-aluminum blend — cannot go in a standard shredder or be snapped in half like plastic cards. The metal will jam mechanical shredders, damage the blades, and potentially injure you if you try to break it by hand. You have three practical routes: take it to a Chase branch in person, mail it to Chase using their prepaid envelope, or destroy it yourself using tools designed for metal.

The reason this matters is that a metal card still contains your account number, expiration date, and CVV printed or embossed on the surface. Even though the card is no longer active after you close the account or request a replacement, the physical card itself should not end up in a landfill or recycling bin where someone could retrieve it.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase metal cards cannot be shredded in a home document shredder and will damage the machine or jam inside it.
  • The safest option is to visit a Chase branch in person and hand the card to a teller, who will destroy it on-site.
  • If you cannot visit a branch, Chase provides a prepaid return envelope in your card materials or you can request one by calling the number on the back of your card.
  • At-home destruction requires heavy-duty tools like a drill, angle grinder, or metal file, and carries a higher risk of injury or incomplete destruction.
  • Do not throw a metal card in household recycling or trash, as the account information remains visible on the surface.

Taking your card to a Chase branch in person

This is the fastest and safest method. Walk into any Chase branch with your metal card and ask a teller to destroy it. They have industrial shredders or disposal equipment designed for metal cards and will destroy it immediately while you watch. You do not need an account at that specific branch — any Chase location will do this for any customer.

Bring your ID so the teller can verify you are the cardholder. The whole process takes less than five minutes. If you are already closing the account or requesting a replacement card, mention this to the teller so they can note it in your file, though it is not required for them to destroy the card.

Mailing the card back to Chase

If you received your metal card in the mail, your card materials included a prepaid return envelope specifically for sending the card back. Look in the envelope that came with your card — it should have a postage-paid label and instructions. Place the card in the envelope and drop it in any mailbox. Chase will receive it within one to two weeks and destroy it.

If you no longer have the original envelope, call the customer service number on the back of your card and request a prepaid return envelope. They will mail one to you at no cost. This method is slower than visiting a branch but requires no tools and carries no injury risk.

Destroying the card yourself at home

If you choose to destroy the card yourself, you will need heavy-duty tools. A standard paper shredder, scissors, or a hammer will not work. Effective methods include a cordless drill with a metal bit (drill multiple holes through the card to destroy the account number and expiration date), an angle grinder (wear safety glasses and gloves), or a metal file (time-consuming but effective). The goal is to make the printed or embossed numbers unreadable and the card unusable.

This approach carries real risks. Metal shavings can cut your hands. An angle grinder or drill can slip and cause injury. If you do not own these tools, buying them just to destroy one card is not practical. Most people find a branch visit or mail return simpler and safer.

If you do destroy the card at home, dispose of the metal pieces in your regular trash or metal recycling bin. The pieces will be too small and damaged to reassemble or read.

What not to do

Do not put the card in a home document shredder. Metal will jam the mechanism, break the blades, and potentially cause the machine to overheat or catch fire. Do not snap it in half or bend it repeatedly — metal cards are designed not to break easily, and you risk cutting your hands on sharp edges. Do not throw it in household recycling or trash while the card is still intact, because the account information remains visible and readable on the surface.

Do not attempt to burn the card. Metal does not burn, and you will waste time and create a fire hazard. Do not mail it without a prepaid envelope or without contacting Chase first — postage-due mail may be returned to you, and sending it unprotected through the mail leaves your account information exposed in transit.

What happens after you destroy the card

Destroying the physical card does not close your account or change your account status. If you want to close the account, you must contact Chase separately by phone or through your online banking portal. If you are simply replacing the card with a new one, destroying the old card is just a housekeeping step — your new card will arrive on its own timeline.

Once the card is destroyed, there is no record that you destroyed it. Chase does not track destruction. The card simply stops existing, and your account continues as normal (or closes, depending on what you chose to do with the account itself).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recycle a metal credit card?

Not while it is intact. The account information printed or embossed on the surface makes it a security risk. Recycle only the small metal pieces after you have destroyed the card beyond recognition. Most curbside metal recycling programs will accept the shredded pieces.

Will Chase charge me to destroy my card at a branch?

No. Destroying a card at a Chase branch is free. You do not need to be a customer of that branch, and you do not need an account with Chase — any cardholder can walk in and ask a teller to destroy their card.

What if I lost my metal card and cannot find it?

Contact Chase immediately by calling the number on your account statement or logging into your online banking portal. Report the card as lost and request a replacement. Chase will deactivate the lost card so it cannot be used, even if someone finds it. You do not need to physically destroy a card you do not have.

How long does it take Chase to destroy a card I mail back?

Chase typically receives mailed cards within one to two weeks. They destroy it shortly after receipt, though you will not receive confirmation. If you need proof of destruction for your records, visit a branch in person instead.

Can I cut a metal card with scissors or a knife?

Probably not effectively. Metal credit cards are designed to resist bending and cutting. You risk dulling or breaking the blade and cutting your hands. A drill or angle grinder is much more effective if you are destroying it at home.