Call American Express to cancel, have your card number ready, and ask about any pending rewards before you hang up
The fastest way to close an American Express card is to call the number on the back of your card and tell the representative you want to cancel. American Express will ask why you're leaving and may offer you a retention bonus — a statement credit or points offer to keep the account open. You can accept or decline. Once you confirm cancellation, the account closes when ready, though you remain responsible for any balance until you pay it off.
Before you call, check your account online for any pending rewards, sign-up bonuses you haven't met yet, or points that haven't posted. Some American Express cards let you transfer points to airline or hotel partners, and you may want to do that before closing. If you have an outstanding balance, you'll need to pay it — cancellation doesn't erase what you owe.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your American Express card to cancel; the process takes about five minutes and closes the account when ready.
- American Express may offer you a retention bonus to keep the card open, and you can negotiate or decline the offer.
- Redeem or transfer any pending rewards, points, or sign-up bonus progress before you cancel, because you lose access to them once the account closes.
- Cancellation does not erase any balance you owe; you must pay that separately, and American Express will continue to report the account to credit bureaus.
- Your credit score may drop slightly after cancellation because closing an account reduces your total available credit, but the effect is usually temporary.
What happens to your credit score when you cancel
Closing an American Express card lowers your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total credit limit you're using across all cards. If you had a $10,000 limit on that card and $5,000 in total credit limits elsewhere, closing it removes $10,000 from your available credit. This can cause a small dip in your credit score, usually 5 to 10 points, though the effect varies by how much credit you have open elsewhere.
The impact is temporary. Your score typically recovers within a few months as long as you keep other accounts in good standing and don't miss payments. The closed account stays on your credit report for up to 10 years, which actually helps your score because it shows a history of responsible credit use. The damage comes from closing the account itself, not from having closed it in the past.
If your credit score is important right now — you're explore for a mortgage or car loan soon — consider waiting to cancel until after the process is approved. If you're not planning to borrow money in the next few months, the timing doesn't matter much.
Paying off your balance before or after cancellation
You can cancel an American Express card with a balance on it, but you still owe the money. American Express will send you a bill each month until the balance is paid, and interest continues to accrue at your card's APR. Cancellation doesn't stop interest charges or change your payment terms.
If you have a 0% introductory APR that hasn't expired yet, that rate stays in effect even after you cancel — as long as you keep making payments on time. Once the promotional period ends, the regular APR kicks in. Some people cancel cards specifically to stop using them while keeping the account open long enough to finish paying off a 0% balance, which is a valid strategy.
Pay off the balance as quickly as you can to avoid interest. If you're canceling because of a high APR or because you want to switch to a different card with a lower rate, consider a balance transfer card instead — you can move the debt to a new card with a 0% intro period and cancel the old one once it's paid off.
Redeeming rewards and points before you cancel
American Express points and rewards are tied to your account. Once you cancel, you lose access to them unless you've already redeemed them or transferred them to an airline or hotel partner. Check your account online for any pending points, cash back that hasn't posted, or sign-up bonus progress you haven't finished yet.
If you're close to meeting a sign-up bonus — say you need $500 more in spending to earn 50,000 points — you can make that purchase before canceling and claim the bonus. The points will post to your account after the spending requirement is met, even if you cancel shortly after. However, some American Express cards require you to keep the account open for a set period (usually 30 days) after the bonus posts, so check your card agreement.
Transferring points to airline or hotel partners is often a good move if you have a lot of points and don't plan to use them for cash back or statement credits. Airline miles and hotel points don't expire as long as you have activity in that partner account, so you can hold them longer. You can transfer points through your American Express account online — no need to call.
Handling annual fees and when to cancel
If your American Express card has an annual fee, it usually posts on your card's anniversary date each year. If you're canceling to avoid paying the fee, call before that date hits. Once the fee posts, you've been charged and canceling won't refund it. American Express sometimes refunds the annual fee if you cancel within 30 days of it posting, but this is not may provide — ask the representative when you call.
If you've had the card for less than a year and the annual fee is coming up, you can cancel before it posts. If you've had it for several years and the fee just posted, you might ask for a refund or a retention offer that waives the fee for another year. Some cardholders negotiate a statement credit equal to the fee amount instead of canceling.
Premium American Express cards like the Platinum or Centurion often have high annual fees but come with credits for travel, dining, or shopping that offset the cost. Before you cancel, make sure you've used all available credits — they typically reset each calendar year and don't carry over.
Canceling without calling: online and mail options
American Express does not offer a way to cancel your card through their website or mobile app. You must call the number on the back of your card. There is no online cancellation form or chat option for closing an account.
If you cannot call, you can send a written request to American Express asking them to close your account. Include your card number, full name, and account number (if different from your card number). Send it to the address on your billing statement or the back of your card. This takes longer — usually 7 to 10 business days — and you won't get confirmation until you receive a letter in the mail. Calling is faster and gives you when ready confirmation.
If you're outside the United States, American Express has regional phone numbers. Check the back of your card or their website for the number that serves your country.
What to do with your card after cancellation
Once your account is closed, your card no longer works — any attempt to use it will be declined. You should destroy the card by cutting it up or shredding it to prevent someone from finding it and attempting to use the number. Some people keep one card in a safe place as a record, but this is not necessary.
If you have an authorized user on the account — a family member or employee with their own card linked to your account — their card will also stop working. American Express will notify them that the account has been closed. If you want to keep that person's access to credit, you'll need to open a separate account for them or add them to a different card.
After cancellation, you can still log into your American Express account online to view your closed account history, read statements, and check on any pending balance. The account stays accessible for record-keeping purposes even though it's closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will American Express let me reopen my account if I change my mind?
American Express can reopen a closed account within a short window — usually 30 to 60 days — if you call and ask. After that period, the account is permanently closed and you would need to open a new account. If you reopen within the window, your credit limit and account history remain the same. If you wait longer, you start fresh with a new process.
Do I have to pay my balance before I cancel?
No. You can cancel with a balance on the card, and American Express will continue to bill you monthly until it's paid off. However, interest will continue to accrue at your card's APR, so paying the balance before canceling saves you money. If you have a 0% intro APR, that rate stays in effect after cancellation as long as you make on-time payments.
What happens to my credit history after I cancel?
The closed account stays on your credit report for up to 10 years and continues to show your payment history. This actually helps your credit score because it demonstrates responsible credit use over time. Your score may dip slightly when you first cancel due to lower available credit, but the effect is temporary and usually recovers within a few months.
Can I cancel one American Express card and keep another?
Yes. If you have multiple American Express cards, you can cancel one without affecting the others. Each card is a separate account. Canceling one card does not close your other accounts or change their terms. You'll still have access to any rewards or points on your remaining cards.
How long does it take to cancel an American Express card?
Calling to cancel takes about five minutes, and the account closes when ready. If you send a written request by mail, it takes 7 to 10 business days for American Express to process it and send you confirmation. Calling is the fastest option and gives you when ready confirmation that the account is closed.