Free, helpful information about Bank Cards and related How To Close Bank Of America Credit Card topics.
Get clear and easy-to-understand details about How To Close Bank Of America Credit Card topics and resources.
Answer a few optional questions to receive offers or information related to Bank Cards. The survey is optional and not required to access your free guide.
Closing a credit card account is straightforward from a procedural standpoint, but the decision itself carries consequences worth understanding before you act. This guide walks you through the process, explains what happens when you close an account, and identifies the factors that shape whether closing makes sense for your specific situation.
Bank of America offers multiple ways to close a credit card:
By phone: Call the customer service number on the back of your card. A representative will confirm your identity, answer questions about your account, and process the closure. This typically takes 10–15 minutes.
Online: You may be able to close certain accounts through your BankAmericard portal, though not all account types support this option. Check your online dashboard or contact support to confirm.
In person: Visit a local Bank of America branch with your card and ID. A representative can initiate the closure on the spot.
What happens next: Bank of America will close your account, typically within days. You'll receive written confirmation by mail. Any pending transactions may still post, and any remaining balance must be paid off—either through a lump sum or an agreed payment plan (though closing the account stops new charges).
Closing a credit card affects your credit profile in ways that vary depending on your broader financial picture:
Credit utilization (typically 30% of your credit score) may rise. If you close a card with available credit, your total available credit shrinks. Someone carrying balances on remaining cards could see their utilization ratio spike—for example, if you had $10,000 total credit across three cards and close one with $5,000 available, your utilization jumps. This can temporarily lower your credit score.
Account age matters too. Closing an older account removes that history from your active accounts. Your credit mix considers how long you've maintained accounts; closing one means losing that contribution. The closed account may still appear on your credit report for years, but its absence from active accounts can have a modest impact.
Hard inquiries and recent applications don't apply here—closing an existing account is not a new application and doesn't trigger a credit pull.
The magnitude of these effects depends on your overall credit profile: someone with multiple cards, low utilization, and a long credit history may see minimal impact. Someone with few accounts and higher utilization may feel it more noticeably.
Do you have a balance? You cannot close an account with an outstanding balance. You must pay it off first. Once paid, closing is your choice—but if you were carrying that balance, understand why before closing. If you're paying interest, that problem moves with you to other cards unless addressed.
How old is the account? Newer accounts (under a year or two) have less established history to lose. Older accounts—especially your oldest—contribute more to your credit history length. Closing your oldest card typically has a larger impact than closing a recent one.
Is this your only card? Having no credit cards at all doesn't help your credit score. Credit mix—the variety of credit types—plays a role. If this is your sole card, understand that closing it removes credit card history entirely.
Do you earn rewards or cash back? If the card offers benefits you actively use, closing it means losing those benefits. If you're not using them, this is less relevant.
Why are you closing it? Common reasons include high fees, not using the card, unwanted credit temptation, or dissatisfaction with benefits. Each has different implications. Closing a card due to fees makes sense if the benefits don't justify them; closing due to disuse is neutral. Closing to control spending works, but other tools (freezing the card, removing it from auto-payments) can achieve the same goal without the credit impact.
Several factors shift the calculus:
The account will appear closed on your credit report, but typically remains visible for seven years. This doesn't hurt you—it shows you successfully managed the account and closed it responsibly.
Any recurring charges on the card must be moved. Auto-pay subscriptions, insurance premiums, utility bills—update the payment method before closure or you'll face declined transactions.
Request written confirmation that the account is closed. Keep this for your records.
Monitor your credit report for a few months. Errors occasionally occur; catching them early makes them easier to dispute.
Closing a Bank of America credit card is simple operationally. The decision itself depends on weighing your reasons for closing against its potential credit impact and your broader financial goals. There's no universal "right" answer—only what's right for your specific circumstances.
