How to Close a Bank of America Account Online (And What to Know Before You Do)

Closing a Bank of America account sounds simple — log in, find a button, done. But the process is less straightforward than most people expect, and for credit card accounts specifically, closing an account can ripple through your credit profile in ways that aren't immediately obvious. Here's a clear walkthrough of how it works, what the bank actually requires, and what factors determine how much closing an account matters for your credit.

Can You Actually Close a Bank of America Account Online?

The short answer: it depends on the type of account.

For checking and savings accounts, Bank of America does allow online closure in most cases through their online banking portal or mobile app — provided the account has a zero balance and no pending transactions.

For credit card accounts, the process is different. Bank of America does not offer a self-service online closure option for credit cards. To close a credit card, you'll need to:

• Call the number on the back of your card (customer service)
• Send a written request via secure message through online banking
• Visit a branch in person

This is worth knowing upfront so you don't spend 20 minutes searching for a "close account" button that doesn't exist for cards.

How to Close a Bank of America Checking or Savings Account Online

If you're closing a deposit account, here's the general process:

1. Log in to your Bank of America online account or mobile app
2. Navigate to the account you want to close
3. Look for account settings or preferences — closure options typically appear there
4. Confirm your identity and follow the prompts
5. Transfer any remaining balance or request a check for the remaining funds

Before initiating closure, make sure:

• All pending transactions have cleared
• Automatic payments or direct deposits linked to that account have been redirected
• Your balance is at or near zero (or you've arranged how to receive remaining funds)

Closing a deposit account doesn't directly affect your credit score, since checking and savings accounts aren't reported to credit bureaus. The main risk here is operational — a missed automatic payment because an old account was closed without updating linked billers.

Closing a Bank of America Credit Card: What Actually Happens

Closing a credit card is where things get more consequential. Even if closing the account is the right move for you, it's worth understanding what changes.

Your Credit Utilization Will Shift 📊

Credit utilization — the percentage of your available revolving credit you're currently using — is one of the most influential factors in your credit score. When you close a credit card, you eliminate that card's credit limit from your total available credit.

If you carry any balances on other cards, your utilization ratio goes up automatically. For example:

That 10-percentage-point jump can translate to a meaningful score change, especially if your utilization was already on the higher side.

Your Credit History Length May Be Affected

Length of credit history accounts for roughly 15% of a traditional FICO score. Closed accounts stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, so closing a card doesn't immediately erase its history. However, once it eventually ages off, the average age of your accounts will drop — which can matter more if this was one of your older accounts.

If the Bank of America card you're closing is one of your oldest accounts, that's a more significant consideration than closing a recently opened card.

The Impact Varies Significantly by Profile

Two people can close the same card and experience very different outcomes:

• Someone with multiple long-standing accounts, low overall utilization, and a thick credit file may see little to no score change
• Someone with a thin credit file, few other cards, or balances on other accounts could see a more noticeable dip

There's no universal answer because the score impact is calculated relative to everything else already on your credit report.

Before You Close: A Few Practical Steps 💡

Regardless of why you're closing — annual fee, inactivity, simplifying your wallet — a few steps reduce the chance of complications:

• Redeem any rewards balance before requesting closure. Points and cash back are typically forfeited when an account closes.
• Pay off or transfer any remaining balance. You can't close a card with an outstanding balance, and interest continues to accrue until it's paid.
• Get written confirmation of the closure. Ask the representative to send written confirmation, and follow up by checking your credit report to verify the account shows as "closed by consumer" — not "closed by issuer," which can read differently to future lenders.
• Keep records of the closure date and any confirmation numbers.

What "Closed by Consumer" vs. "Closed by Issuer" Means

How a closure is notated on your credit report matters. Closed by consumer signals that you chose to end the relationship — generally a neutral notation. Closed by issuer can suggest the bank ended the relationship, which may raise questions for future lenders reviewing your report. Confirming the notation is correct is worth a follow-up credit report check 30–60 days after closure.

The Part That Depends on Your Profile

Whether closing a Bank of America account — especially a credit card — is low-stakes or meaningfully disruptive comes down to what the rest of your credit picture looks like. Your current utilization across all cards, the age of your other accounts, how many open lines of credit you have, and what balances you're carrying all interact in ways that are specific to your file.

The mechanics of closing are straightforward. The cost of closing is something only your own credit profile can answer.