Call Old Navy's card issuer to close your account
Old Navy credit cards are issued by Synchrony Bank, not by Old Navy itself. To cancel your card, you call Synchrony directly at the number on the back of your card. A representative will walk you through closing the account over the phone — it takes about ten minutes. Have your card number ready when you call.
Synchrony will ask why you want to close the account. You don't have to give a detailed reason, but they may offer you a retention offer — a discount or statement credit to keep the card open. You can accept or decline. If you decline, they will proceed with the cancellation.
After you hang up, you should receive written confirmation in the mail within a few days. Keep that confirmation. It shows the account was closed on a specific date, which matters if a charge appears on your bill afterward.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your Old Navy card to reach Synchrony Bank, the company that actually issues the card.
- Synchrony may offer you a discount or credit to keep the account open, but you can decline and proceed with cancellation.
- Request written confirmation of the closure and keep it with your records.
- Canceling a card can lower your credit score slightly because it reduces your total available credit, but the impact is usually small if you have other accounts open.
- Do not cut up the card or throw it away until you have confirmation the account is closed.
What to do before you call
Pay off any balance on the card first. You can still cancel an account with a balance, but Synchrony will send you bills until it is paid. Paying it off before you call means you won't have to deal with statements after the account closes.
Check whether you have any pending rewards or statement credits. Old Navy rewards points expire when the account closes, so redeem them before you cancel. Log into your account online or call Synchrony to see your current balance.
If you have automatic payments set up on this card — subscriptions, utilities, or other recurring charges — change those to a different payment method now. After the account closes, those payments will fail and you may face late fees on the bills themselves.
What happens to your credit after cancellation
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 $2,000 limit on the Old Navy card and you were using $400 of it, closing the card removes that $2,000 from your available credit pool. Your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total credit you are actually using — goes up, and that can lower your score by a few points.
The impact is usually temporary. Your score typically recovers within a few months as long as you keep other accounts in good standing and don't miss any payments. If you have other credit cards or a loan, the effect is even smaller.
The closed account itself stays on your credit report for seven to ten years, depending on whether it was in good standing when you closed it. This is normal and does not hurt your score — it just shows your history.
If you want to keep the card but stop using it
You don't have to cancel the card to stop using it. You can straightforward put it away and use a different card instead. This avoids the credit score dip that comes with closing an account. The card will stay open as long as you don't close it and Synchrony doesn't close it for inactivity.
Synchrony does sometimes close accounts that haven't been used in a long time, but this varies. If you want to keep the account open without using it, you can make a small purchase every few months and pay it off right away. This keeps the account active without costing you anything.
If you decide later that you want to cancel, you can always call Synchrony then. There is no time limit on when you can close an account.
What to do if you can't reach Synchrony by phone
If you lose the card or can't find the number, search online for "Synchrony customer service" and you will find the main phone line. You can also log into your Old Navy account online, go to the credit card section, and look for a customer service number there.
Some people prefer to cancel by mail. Write a letter to Synchrony requesting that your Old Navy credit card account be closed. Include your name, account number, and the date. Send it to the address on your statement. Keep a copy for your records. This method is slower — it can take several weeks — but it creates a paper trail.
Do not cancel through email or social media. Synchrony requires account changes to happen over the phone or by mail so they can verify your identity and protect your account from fraud.
After the account is closed
Monitor your credit report for the next few months. You can check it free once a year at annualcreditreport.com. Make sure the account shows as "closed by consumer" rather than "closed by creditor." If it shows the wrong status, contact Synchrony to correct it.
If a charge appears on the card after you close it, contact Synchrony when ready. Charges that post after the closure date should not happen, but if they do, you have the right to dispute them. This is why keeping your written confirmation of the closure date is important.
If you had an Old Navy rewards card and you still shop at Old Navy, you can still earn rewards through their loyalty program. You just won't earn them on a credit card — you'll earn them through their app or by giving your phone number at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will canceling hurt my credit score?
Yes, but usually only a little and only temporarily. Your score may drop a few points because your available credit decreases. The impact is smaller if you have other credit accounts open. Your score typically recovers within a few months.
Can I cancel if I still owe a balance?
Yes. You can close the account even with a balance, but Synchrony will continue to send you bills until the balance is paid off. It is easier to pay it off first, then cancel.
What if Synchrony denies my cancellation request?
Synchrony cannot deny a cancellation request. You have the right to close any credit account you own. If a representative says they cannot close it, ask to speak to a supervisor or call back and try again.
Do I have to cut up the card?
You should wait until you have written confirmation that the account is closed before you destroy the card. Once it is closed, you can cut it up or throw it away. Do not do this before the closure is confirmed, in case you need the card number for a dispute.
Can I reopen the account after I close it?
You can explore for a new Old Navy credit card after you close one, but Synchrony will treat it as a new process. You will get a new account number and a new credit limit. There is no automatic way to reopen a closed account.