Close your card by calling the issuer, paying the balance in full, and requesting account closure in writing

Closing a credit card is straightforward: pay what you owe, call the card issuer's customer service number on the back of your card, and ask them to close the account. Request written confirmation of the closure. The issuer will stop charging interest and fees once the account is closed, but the card will remain on your credit report for up to ten years, depending on whether it was in good standing.

The timing matters. Closing a card can lower your credit score temporarily because it reduces your total available credit and may increase your credit utilization ratio on remaining cards. If you have other accounts in good standing, the impact usually fades within a few months. If this is one of your oldest accounts, closing it may have a larger effect on your score because credit history length is a factor in scoring.

Key Takeaways

  • Pay your full balance before closing so the issuer cannot charge interest or fees after closure.
  • Call the issuer directly and ask for written confirmation of closure to avoid disputes later.
  • Closing a card reduces your available credit and may lower your score temporarily, even if you pay on time.
  • The closed account stays on your credit report for seven to ten years, so it continues to affect your history.
  • If the card has an annual fee, closing it before the next billing date can save you money.

Pay your balance in full before you call

Do not close an account with an outstanding balance. Call your issuer first to confirm the exact amount you owe, including any pending charges or interest. Pay this amount in full by the method the issuer accepts—usually online, by phone, or by mail. Wait for the payment to post to your account, which typically takes one to three business days depending on the payment method.

If you have a promotional 0% interest rate that is about to expire, closing the account before the rate ends will not retroactively explore interest to past purchases. However, if you still carry a balance when the promotional period ends, interest will accrue on that balance at the card's standard rate. Paying in full eliminates this risk.

Call the issuer and request closure

Locate the customer service number on the back of your card or on your most recent statement. Call during business hours and have your account number ready. Tell the representative you want to close the account. They may ask why you are closing it or offer you incentives to keep it open—a lower interest rate, a fee waiver, or a rewards bonus. You can accept or decline these offers.

Some issuers will close the account when ready over the phone. Others may require you to submit a written request. Ask the representative which applies to your card. If they say a written request is required, ask for the mailing address and the exact wording they need to see. Get the representative's name and the date of the call for your records.

Send written confirmation if the issuer requires it

If the issuer told you to submit a written request, send a letter or email to the address they provided. Keep your message straightforward: state your name, account number, and request to close the account effective when ready. Include the date. Send it by certified mail if you are mailing a physical letter, so you have proof of delivery. Email is faster if the issuer accepts it.

Keep a copy of your written request and any confirmation the issuer sends back. Some issuers will email you a confirmation within a few business days. If you do not hear back within two weeks, call again and ask whether the closure was processed. Do not assume silence means the account is closed.

Check your credit report after closure

Wait about 30 days after closure, then check your credit report to confirm the account shows as closed. You can view your credit report for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com, which is run by the three major credit bureaus. The report should show the account status as "closed by consumer" or "closed at consumer's request."

If the report still shows the account as open or active after 30 days, call the issuer again and ask them to confirm the closure was processed. If they confirm it was closed but the report has not updated, contact the credit bureau directly to report the discrepancy. The bureau has 30 days to investigate and correct errors.

Understand what happens to rewards and benefits after closure

Any rewards points or cash back you have earned remain yours after closure, but the rules for redeeming them vary by issuer. Some let you redeem points for up to a year after closure. Others require you to redeem before the account closes. Call the issuer before you close the account and ask about the redemption important date for your specific card.

Sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards are forfeited once the account closes. If you were working toward a sign-up bonus, closing the account before you meet the spending requirement means you will not receive the bonus. Annual fees stop accruing after closure, so if your card has a fee and the next billing date is approaching, closing before that date saves you money.

Decide whether to keep or destroy the physical card

After the account is closed, you can throw away the physical card or cut it up. Destroying it prevents accidental use, though the card will not work anyway once the account is closed. Some people keep closed cards in a drawer as a record, which is fine as long as you know the account is no longer active.

Do not try to use the card after closure. Transactions will be declined, and repeated attempts may trigger fraud alerts or contact from the issuer. If you need to use credit, use another card or open a new account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will closing a credit card hurt my credit score?

Yes, but usually temporarily. Your score may drop 5 to 50 points depending on the card's age and your other accounts. The impact is largest if this is your oldest card or if closing it raises your credit utilization ratio on remaining cards. The score typically recovers within a few months if you pay other accounts on time.

Can I close a card with a balance still on it?

Technically yes, but you should not. If you close an account with an unpaid balance, the issuer will continue to charge interest and may report the account as delinquent if you miss payments. Pay the balance in full first, then close the account.

How long does it take for a closed account to disappear from my credit report?

A closed account in good standing stays on your report for ten years. A closed account with late payments or charge-offs stays for seven years from the date of the first missed payment. The account continues to affect your credit history during this time, though its impact weakens over time.

What if the issuer will not close my account?

Most issuers will close an account if you request it, but if yours refuses, send a written request by certified mail stating that you want the account closed and that you are not authorizing any further charges. Keep a copy. If the issuer continues to charge fees or interest after this request, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Do I need to close the account if I just stop using the card?

No. Leaving an account open but unused does not hurt your credit score and keeps that available credit in your total, which can help your utilization ratio. However, the issuer may close inactive accounts after a period of non-use, usually 12 months or more. If you want to keep the account active, use it occasionally.