How to close a Fidelity account

You can close a Fidelity account by contacting Fidelity directly through their website, phone, or in person at a branch. The process takes a few days to a few weeks depending on whether you have cash or investments that need to be sold first. Fidelity will ask what you want to do with any remaining money — transfer it elsewhere, receive a check, or leave it in place if you're only closing one of multiple accounts you hold with them.

Before you close, decide whether you're closing just one account type (like a brokerage account) or all your Fidelity accounts at once. If you have investments, you'll need to decide whether to sell them, transfer them to another brokerage, or leave them untouched. These choices affect how long the closure takes and what happens to your money.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact Fidelity by phone at 1-800-343-3548, through their website, or at a local branch to start the closure process.
  • If you hold investments, you must either sell them, transfer them to another brokerage, or specify what you want done with them before closure is complete.
  • Any remaining cash can be mailed to you as a check, transferred to a bank account, or transferred to another brokerage account.
  • The entire process typically takes 5 to 10 business days if you have only cash, and longer if investments need to be liquidated or transferred.

Contact Fidelity to request account closure

Call Fidelity's main customer service line at 1-800-343-3548 and tell them you want to close your account. Have your account number ready. The representative will confirm which account or accounts you're closing and ask about any holdings you have — stocks, mutual funds, bonds, or cash.

If you prefer not to call, you can also start the process online through your Fidelity account dashboard or visit a Fidelity branch in person. Online closure options vary by account type; some accounts allow you to initiate closure through your settings, while others require a phone call or in-person visit. Ask the representative which method works for your specific account.

Decide what to do with investments before closing

If your Fidelity account holds stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, or other investments, you cannot close the account until you've dealt with them. You have three options: sell everything, transfer the investments to another brokerage, or leave them in place if you're closing only one account type and keeping other Fidelity accounts open.

Selling investments takes 1 to 3 business days depending on the type of security. Once sold, the proceeds sit as cash in your account and can then be withdrawn. Transferring investments to another brokerage typically takes 5 to 10 business days and requires you to set up an account at the receiving brokerage first. Ask Fidelity for their transfer form — they call it an ACAT (Automated Customer Account Transfer) form — and provide it to your new brokerage.

Arrange for cash withdrawal or transfer

Once investments are handled, tell Fidelity what you want to do with any remaining cash. The most common options are a check mailed to your address, a direct transfer to your bank account, or a transfer to another brokerage account. A mailed check typically arrives within 5 to 7 business days after Fidelity processes your request. A direct bank transfer is faster — usually 1 to 3 business days — but requires you to provide your bank's routing number and your account number.

If you're transferring cash to another brokerage, Fidelity can send it directly to that firm's account in your name. You'll need to provide the receiving brokerage's details and confirm that an account is already open in your name there.

Understand what happens to recurring transactions and settings

If you have automatic deposits, dividend reinvestment, or scheduled transfers set up on your Fidelity account, those will stop once the account closes. Cancel any automatic bill payments or transfers you've set up through Fidelity before you request closure, or they may fail and create confusion with your other financial institutions.

If you receive statements or tax documents from Fidelity — like 1099 forms for investment income — Fidelity will continue to send those to you even after closure if you had taxable activity during the year. You'll still receive year-end tax documents for the calendar year in which you closed the account.

Confirm closure and get written confirmation

After you've sold or transferred investments and arranged for cash withdrawal, Fidelity will process the closure. Ask the representative for a confirmation number or reference number for your closure request. Request written confirmation by email or mail so you have a record that the account was closed on a specific date.

Keep this confirmation for your records, especially if you had investments or significant activity in the account. If you ever need to reference tax information or dispute something related to the account, having proof of the closure date protects you.

What to do if you have multiple Fidelity accounts

Fidelity customers often hold more than one account — a brokerage account, a retirement account, a college savings account, or accounts opened at different times. You can close one account and keep others open. When you call to close an account, be specific about which one you're closing by account type and account number.

If you're closing a retirement account like an IRA or 401(k), the process is the same, but you need to be aware of tax consequences. Withdrawing money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) before age 59½ typically triggers income tax and a 10% penalty, unless you meet a specific exception. Consult a tax professional before closing a retirement account if you're unsure about the tax impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my Fidelity account online without calling?

Some Fidelity account types allow online closure through your account settings, but most require a phone call or in-person visit. Log into your account and look for account settings or profile options; if you don't see a closure option, call 1-800-343-3548. The representative can tell you whether your specific account type supports online closure.

What if I have pending trades or unsettled cash?

Fidelity will not close your account if trades are still settling or if cash is tied up in pending transactions. Wait for all trades to settle (typically 2 business days) and for any pending transfers to complete before requesting closure. The representative can tell you the exact date when your account will be ready to close.

Do I lose my investment history after I close the account?

You can request historical statements and tax documents from Fidelity even after closure. Contact Fidelity's records department if you need past statements or 1099 forms. Keeping your own copies of statements before closure makes this easier, since you won't need to request them later.

How long does it take to close a Fidelity account?

If you have only cash and no investments, closure takes 5 to 10 business days. If you need to sell investments first, add 1 to 3 days for the sale to settle. If you're transferring investments to another brokerage, the entire process can take 2 to 3 weeks. Fidelity will give you a specific timeline once you've decided what to do with your holdings.

What if I change my mind after requesting closure?

Contact Fidelity when ready if you want to stop the closure process. If the account hasn't been fully closed yet, Fidelity can usually cancel the request. Once the account is fully closed and cash has been withdrawn or transferred, reopening it requires a new account setup, though Fidelity may be able to restore some settings if you act quickly.