Call your card issuer and request account closure
The fastest way to close a credit card is to call the customer service number on the back of your card. Tell the representative you want to close the account. They will confirm your identity, check for any remaining balance, and process the closure on the spot. The call usually takes five to ten minutes.
Before you call, pay off any balance you owe. Most issuers will not close an account with an outstanding balance — they will ask you to pay it first, either when ready or on your regular due date. If you have a promotional rate or 0% offer still running, closing the account will end that offer and any remaining balance will revert to the standard rate.
Write down the date and time of your call and the name of the representative who helped you. Ask them to confirm in writing that the account is closed, and request they send you a letter or email stating the closure date. This creates a record if there is ever a dispute about whether the account was actually closed.
Key Takeaways
- Pay off your full balance before calling to close the account, since most issuers will not process closure while money is owed.
- Call the customer service number on your card and tell the representative you want to close the account — closure happens when ready over the phone.
- Request written confirmation of the closure date and keep it with your financial records.
- Closing a card lowers your total available credit, which may raise your credit utilization ratio and temporarily lower your credit score.
- Closed accounts remain on your credit report for seven years if they were in good standing, which can actually help your score over time.
Understand how closing a card affects your credit score
Closing a credit card does not erase your history with that card. The account stays on your credit report for seven years if you closed it in good standing (meaning you paid on time and had no late payments). This is actually helpful to your score because it shows a long history of responsible credit use.
What does hurt your score is the change in your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total available credit that you are currently using. If you close a card with a $5,000 limit and you carry balances on other cards, your total available credit shrinks, and your utilization ratio goes up. A higher utilization ratio can lower your score by 10 to 50 points, depending on how much credit you have in use across all your cards.
The impact is temporary. Your score usually recovers within a few months as the closed account ages and as you pay down balances on your remaining cards. If you are planning to explore for a mortgage, car loan, or other major credit in the next three to six months, closing a card right before that process may not be the best timing.
Decide which card to close if you have multiple cards
If you have more than one card and want to close one, start by closing the card with the lowest credit limit or the one you use least often. This minimizes the damage to your utilization ratio. A card with a $500 limit hurts less to close than a card with a $10,000 limit.
Close newer cards before older ones. A card you opened five years ago has more positive history built into your credit report than a card you opened last year. Keeping the older card open preserves that longer history, which helps your score.
If a card has an annual fee and you do not use it, closing it makes sense. If the card has no annual fee, you might consider keeping it open even if you do not use it — the unused credit limit still counts toward your total available credit and helps your utilization ratio. Just make sure the issuer does not close it for inactivity. Many issuers close accounts that have had no activity for 12 to 24 months.
Handle rewards points and cash back before closing
Check your account for any unredeemed rewards points or cash back balance. Some issuers let you redeem rewards after you close the account, but others do not. Redeem everything before you call to close, or ask the representative whether you can redeem after closure.
If you have a large rewards balance, contact the issuer in advance and ask how to redeem it. Some cards let you transfer points to a travel partner or another rewards program. Others require you to redeem for a statement credit, a check, or a gift card. Know your options before you close so you do not leave money on the table.
Cancel any automatic payments linked to the card
Before closing the account, go through your recurring charges and subscriptions. Look for any automatic payments set to charge to that card — streaming services, gym memberships, insurance premiums, utility bills, or anything else that renews monthly or annually.
Update each one to charge to a different card or payment method. If you do not do this, the payment will fail when the card closes, and you may miss a payment important date. A missed payment can hurt your credit score and may result in late fees or service interruption.
Check your records for the past three to six months of statements to make sure you catch everything. Some subscriptions are straightforward to forget about, especially if you signed up for a free trial years ago and never cancelled.
Close the account in writing if you prefer a paper trail
Closing by phone is fastest, but you can also close by mail if you want a written record from the start. Write a letter to the address listed on your statement or the issuer's website. Include your name, account number, and a clear statement that you want to close the account. Keep a copy for your records.
Mail the letter via certified mail with return receipt requested. This creates proof that the issuer received your closure request. The issuer will respond in writing within a few business days to confirm the closure.
Written closure takes longer than a phone call — usually one to two weeks — but it gives you documentation that the request was made and received. If there is ever a dispute about whether the account was closed, you have the certified mail receipt and the issuer's written confirmation.
Monitor your credit report after closure
After you close the account, check your credit report within 30 to 60 days to confirm the closure was recorded correctly. You can view your credit report for free once per year from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — at annualcreditreport.com.
The report should show the account as "closed by consumer" or "closed at consumer's request." If it shows anything else — like "closed by creditor" or "charged off" — contact the issuer and ask them to correct it. An incorrect status can hurt your credit score.
Keep checking your report over the next several months to make sure no new charges appear on the closed account. If they do, contact the issuer when ready and dispute the charges. A closed account should have no activity after the closure date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing a credit card hurt my credit score?
Closing a card will likely lower your score temporarily because it reduces your total available credit and raises your utilization ratio. The impact is usually 10 to 50 points and fades within a few months. The closed account stays on your report for seven years, which actually helps your score over time by showing a long history of responsible use.
Can I close a credit card with a balance on it?
Most issuers require you to pay off the balance before they close the account. If you have a balance, pay it in full first, then call to close. If you cannot pay it all at once, ask the issuer whether they will close the account and let you pay the remaining balance on a payment plan.
What happens to my rewards points when I close the card?
Rewards policies vary by issuer. Some let you redeem points after closure, others do not. Redeem all your points before you close the account to make sure you do not lose them. Call the issuer and ask about their policy if you are unsure.
How long does it take to close a credit card?
Closing by phone takes five to ten minutes and is effective when ready. Closing by mail takes one to two weeks. The account will show as closed on your credit report within 30 to 60 days. You should see the closure reflected in your next billing statement.
Should I close old credit cards or new ones?
Close newer cards before older ones. An older card has more credit history attached to it, which helps your score. Keep the oldest card open if possible, even if you do not use it, because the length of your credit history is a factor in your score.