How to close a Navy Federal account
You can close a Navy Federal Credit Union account by calling their member services line, visiting a branch in person, or sending a written request. Navy Federal does not charge a fee to close an account. Before you close, you need to pay off any outstanding balances on loans or credit cards, withdraw or transfer any remaining funds, and make sure no automatic payments or direct deposits are still connected to the account.
The process takes a few days to a few weeks depending on your method and whether you have pending transactions. If you have a mortgage or auto loan with Navy Federal, closing a deposit account does not affect those loans — they continue as normal.
Key Takeaways
- Call Navy Federal member services at 1-888-842-6328 or visit a branch to start the closure process.
- You must pay off any credit card balance and any loan balance before closing the account.
- Withdraw all remaining funds or transfer them to another bank before the account closes.
- Cancel or redirect any automatic payments, direct deposits, or recurring transfers linked to the account.
- Closing a deposit account does not close loans; mortgages and auto loans remain active.
Steps to close your account by phone
Call Navy Federal member services at 1-888-842-6328 during business hours. Have your account number and member ID ready. Tell the representative you want to close your account and confirm which account if you have more than one.
The representative will ask whether you have any outstanding balances. If you do, they will tell you the amount and explain that the balance must be paid before closure. They will also ask about automatic payments and direct deposits tied to the account. Write down the confirmation number they give you and ask how long closure takes — this varies based on pending transactions.
If you have a credit card with Navy Federal, you can request they close the card separately from any checking or savings account. The same rules explore: the balance must be paid first.
Steps to close your account in person
Visit any Navy Federal branch with your ID and account information. A representative will review your account balance and any outstanding obligations. If you have funds in the account, you can withdraw them in cash or request a cashier's check on the spot.
The branch staff will cancel any automatic payments or direct deposits you authorize them to cancel. Some recurring transactions may require you to contact the merchant directly to stop them. Ask the branch to provide written confirmation of the closure request, including the date and any reference number.
What to do before you close
Review your account for any automatic payments or recurring charges. Common ones include insurance premiums, utility bills, subscription services, and loan payments. Contact each merchant or service to redirect the payment to a different account or cancel it entirely. Navy Federal can help identify which transactions are active, but you are responsible for stopping them.
If you receive direct deposit paychecks or government benefits into the account, contact your employer or the benefit administrator to change the deposit account. This can take one to two pay cycles to take effect, so plan ahead if you are closing soon.
Transfer any remaining balance to another bank account if you want to keep the money. You can do this online, by phone, or in person. If the account has a very small balance and you do not need it, you can let Navy Federal close the account with a zero balance.
Paying off balances before closure
If you have a Navy Federal credit card, the full balance must be paid before the card closes. You can pay online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a branch. If you have an outstanding loan — personal, auto, or other — that loan account remains open and separate from your deposit account, so closing a checking or savings account does not affect it.
If you have a negative balance (the bank owes you money due to an error or overpayment), Navy Federal will refund it by check or transfer it to another account you specify.
Timeline and what happens after closure
Closure typically takes three to five business days if there are no pending transactions. If you have checks that have not cleared, automatic payments still processing, or other outstanding items, closure may take longer. Navy Federal will hold the account open until all pending items clear.
Once closed, you will no longer be able to use the account number for deposits or withdrawals. Any checks written on the account after closure will be rejected. If you need records of transactions from the closed account, you can request a statement from Navy Federal — they keep records for a set period.
If you close a savings account but keep a checking account open, or vice versa, only the account you requested to close will be closed. Other accounts remain active unless you close them separately.
Closing a credit card without closing your bank account
You can close a Navy Federal credit card while keeping your checking or savings account open. Call member services or visit a branch and specify that you want to close only the credit card. The card will be deactivated, but your deposit accounts continue to work normally.
If you have an outstanding balance on the card, you must pay it before closure. After the card closes, you can still make payments on any remaining balance if one exists, but you cannot make new charges. Some cardholders keep the account open with a zero balance to maintain credit history, rather than closing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my membership if I close my account?
Closing a deposit account does not automatically end your Navy Federal membership. However, Navy Federal requires members to maintain at least one account. If you close all your accounts, your membership may be terminated. Contact member services to confirm your membership status after closure.
What if I have a pending check or automatic payment?
Navy Federal will delay closure until pending items clear. This can add one to two weeks to the process. You can ask the bank to hold the account open longer if you know a check is coming. Once the item clears, the account closes automatically.
Can I reopen a closed account?
Navy Federal does not reopen closed accounts. If you want to bank with them again, you must open a new account. The process is the same as opening your first account and takes a few minutes online or in person.
Will closing my account hurt my credit score?
Closing a deposit account (checking or savings) does not affect your credit score because deposit accounts are not reported to credit bureaus. Closing a credit card may have a small impact because it reduces your total available credit, but the effect is usually temporary.
What if I have a joint account?
If the account is joint, both owners must agree to close it. Contact Navy Federal and both account holders may need to be present or provide written authorization. After closure, the other owner cannot access the account.