Call Bank of America to close your account, or do it through their website
The fastest way to cancel a Bank of America credit card is to call their customer service line at 1-800-432-1000. Have your card number ready. A representative will confirm your identity, ask why you're closing the account, and process the cancellation on the spot. The call usually takes five to ten minutes.
If you prefer not to call, you can also cancel through the Bank of America website or mobile app. Log into your account, go to the card settings or account management section, and look for the option to close the card. The exact menu path varies depending on whether you're using the website or app, so you may need to search "close credit card" within the site's help section if you can't find it when ready.
Either way, the card becomes inactive right away. Bank of America will send you a written confirmation in the mail within a few days. Keep that confirmation letter for your records.
Key Takeaways
- Call 1-800-432-1000 with your card number ready to cancel over the phone in about five minutes, or use the Bank of America website or app to close the account yourself.
- Pay off any remaining balance before you cancel, because the card will still report to credit bureaus and you'll owe interest on what's left.
- Request written confirmation of the cancellation and keep it with your financial records.
- Your credit score may drop slightly after cancellation because closing an account reduces your total available credit, but the effect is usually temporary.
- If you have rewards points or cash back pending, use or redeem them before you cancel, because some rewards expire when the account closes.
Pay off your balance before canceling
Do not cancel a card while you still owe money on it. If you close the account with a balance, you still have to pay what you owe, and Bank of America will continue charging you interest until the balance hits zero. The card will show as closed on your credit report, but the debt remains active.
Pay the full balance first, then cancel. If you need time to pay it off, wait until the balance is gone. Canceling an account with debt on it does not erase the debt—it only makes the card unusable for new purchases.
Check for pending rewards before you close the account
Bank of America credit cards often come with cash back, points, or travel rewards. Some of these rewards expire when you close the account, so redeem or transfer them before you cancel.
Log into your account and check your rewards balance. If you have cash back, you can usually redeem it as a statement credit, deposit it to a linked bank account, or request a check. If you have points or miles, redeem them for travel, merchandise, or a statement credit before the account closes. Once the card is canceled, you may lose any unredeemed rewards, depending on the card's terms.
Understand how cancellation affects your credit score
Closing a credit card usually causes a small, temporary drop in your credit score. This happens because your total available credit shrinks. If you had a $5,000 limit and you close that card, your available credit goes down by $5,000, which can raise your credit utilization ratio—the percentage of your total credit limit that you're actually using.
The impact is usually modest and fades within a few months as long as you keep paying other accounts on time. If you're planning to explore for a mortgage, car loan, or other major credit in the next few months, you may want to wait to cancel until after your process is approved.
The closed account will stay on your credit report for up to ten years, which is actually helpful because it shows a history of responsible credit use. You don't need to do anything about this—it happens automatically.
What happens to your card after cancellation
Once you cancel, the card stops working when ready. You cannot use it for new purchases, and any pending transactions may be declined. If you have automatic payments set up on that card—subscriptions, utilities, insurance—those will fail, so update your payment method with those companies before you cancel.
You can still receive statements and make payments on any remaining balance for a few months. Bank of America will eventually stop sending statements once the account is fully closed and paid off.
If you want to keep the card itself, you don't have to destroy it, but many people do for security. Bank of America will not reactivate a canceled card, so cutting it up or shredding it is safe.
Reasons to cancel versus reasons to keep the card open
Cancel if you're paying an annual fee and not using the card, if you're trying to simplify your finances, or if you're concerned about fraud or identity theft. You should also cancel if you're carrying debt on multiple cards and want to focus on paying down one account at a time.
Consider keeping the card open if it has no annual fee, because an unused card with a zero balance actually helps your credit score by lowering your overall credit utilization. Closing it removes that benefit. If the card offers rewards you use regularly, or if it's your oldest account (which helps your credit history), keeping it open is usually better for your credit than closing it.
What to do if you want to reopen the account later
Bank of America does not automatically reopen canceled accounts. If you change your mind within 60 days of cancellation, call customer service at 1-800-432-1000 and ask if they can reopen it. They may be able to do this, but it's not may provide.
After 60 days, the account is closed permanently. You would have to open a new card instead, which means a new process and a hard inquiry on your credit report. For this reason, make sure you actually want to cancel before you call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to call to cancel, or can I do it online?
You can do either. Phone is faster if you want confirmation when ready, but the website or app works fine if you prefer to handle it yourself. Both methods close the account the same way.
What if I have a balance I can't pay off right now?
Do not cancel yet. Keep the card open and active while you pay down the balance. Once it hits zero, then cancel. Canceling with a balance doesn't erase what you owe—you'll still pay interest on it, and the closed account will show on your credit report.
Will canceling hurt my credit score?
It usually causes a small temporary drop because your available credit decreases. The effect fades within a few months. If you're explore for a mortgage or loan soon, wait until after approval to cancel.
Can I cancel one card if I have multiple Bank of America cards?
Yes. Each card is a separate account. Canceling one does not affect your other Bank of America cards or accounts. Just make sure you're canceling the right card when you call or use the website.
What happens to my rewards if I cancel?
Redeem them before you cancel. Cash back can be credited to your account or sent as a check. Points and miles should be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or a statement credit. Once the account closes, unredeemed rewards may be lost depending on your card's terms.