Call Bank of America to close your card, or do it online through your account
The fastest way to close 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 closure on the call — it takes about five minutes. You can also close the card through your Bank of America online account by logging in, finding the card under "Credit Cards," and selecting "Close Account," though phone closure is more reliable because you get when ready confirmation.
Before you call or log in, pay off any remaining balance on the card. Bank of America will not close an account with an outstanding balance. If you have a promotional rate or a 0% offer still running, closing the card ends that offer when ready, so make sure you understand what you're paying off and at what rate.
Key Takeaways
- Call 1-800-432-1000 with your card number ready, or close the account online through your Bank of America login — both methods take less than ten minutes.
- Pay off your entire balance before closing; Bank of America will not process a closure on an account that still owes money.
- Your credit score may drop temporarily because closing a card reduces your available credit and changes your credit mix, but the effect fades over time.
- Request written confirmation of the closure and keep it for your records, especially if you had rewards points or pending transactions.
- If you have an authorized user on the card, that person's card will stop working when ready after closure.
What happens to your credit score when you close the card
Closing a credit card typically lowers your credit score in the short term, usually by 10 to 50 points depending on your overall credit profile. This happens for two reasons: your available credit shrinks (if you had a $5,000 limit, that $5,000 is no longer counted as credit you could use), and your credit mix changes slightly because credit cards are weighted differently than other types of credit.
The damage is temporary. After six to twelve months, the impact usually fades as long as you keep paying other accounts on time. The bigger long-term risk is if closing this card was your oldest account — closing your oldest card can lower your score more because it shortens your average account age. If this Bank of America card is relatively new and you have other older cards open, the impact will be smaller.
If you're planning to explore for a mortgage, car loan, or other major credit in the next few months, closing a card right before that process can hurt your chances of approval or your interest rate. Consider waiting until after you've secured the loan.
Handling rewards points and pending transactions
Check your rewards balance before you close the account. Bank of America allows you to redeem points up until the moment of closure, but once the account is closed, any unredeemed points are usually forfeited. Log into your account, go to the rewards section, and redeem your points for cash back, travel, or merchandise — whichever option you prefer. The redemption typically posts within a few business days.
If you have pending transactions or charges that haven't posted yet, they will still post to the closed account. You'll still receive a statement for those charges, and you can pay them by mail or through your Bank of America account even after closure. Authorized users should also be aware that their cards will stop working when ready, so if someone else is using this card, let them know before you call to close it.
Keeping a record of the closure
After you close the account, ask the representative for a confirmation number and write it down. If you closed online, take a screenshot of the confirmation page. Bank of America will send you a written confirmation in the mail within one to two weeks, but having the confirmation number lets you verify the closure when ready if you need to.
Keep this confirmation for at least one year. If a charge appears on the card after closure, or if the account shows up on your credit report as open, you'll have proof of when and how you closed it. This is especially important if you had a balance transfer, promotional rate, or any special terms on the card.
What to do if you want to keep the card open but stop using it
If you're worried about closing the card because of the credit score impact, you don't have to close it. You can straightforward stop using it and leave it open with a zero balance. This keeps your available credit intact and preserves your account age, both of which help your credit score. Bank of America will not charge you an annual fee on most of their credit cards if you're not using them, so there's no cost to keeping it open.
The downside is that inactive accounts sometimes get closed by the bank after a long period of no activity — usually one to three years, depending on the card type. If you want to keep the account active without using it, make one small purchase every few months and pay it off when ready. This keeps the account in good standing without accumulating debt.
Closing a card with an outstanding balance or late payments
If your card has a balance you can't pay off right now, you cannot close it through the standard process. You have two options: pay down the balance first, or contact Bank of America to discuss a payment plan. Closing an account with an outstanding balance doesn't erase the debt — you'll still owe the money, and Bank of America will still report it to the credit bureaus as an unpaid account.
If you have late payments on the card, closing it won't remove those late payments from your credit report. They'll stay on your report for seven years from the date of the first missed payment. However, closing the account does stop additional late fees from accumulating, so if you're behind and can't catch up, calling to discuss your options is still worth doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my Bank of America credit card online, or do I have to call?
You can close it online through your account, but calling 1-800-432-1000 is more reliable because you get when ready verbal confirmation. Online closure sometimes takes longer to process and you may not receive when ready confirmation. Either way, request written confirmation and keep it for your records.
What happens to my credit score when ready after I close the card?
Your score may drop 10 to 50 points in the short term because your available credit decreases and your credit mix changes. The impact usually fades within six to twelve months if you keep other accounts in good standing. Closing your oldest card causes a larger drop than closing a newer one.
Do I lose my rewards points when I close the card?
Yes, unredeemed points are forfeited after closure. Before you call to close the account, log in and redeem your points for cash back, travel, or merchandise. The redemption typically posts within a few business days, so you have time to use them before the account closes.
Can I close the card if I still owe money on it?
No, Bank of America will not process a closure on an account with an outstanding balance. You must pay off the full balance first. If you can't pay it all at once, call to discuss a payment plan, but the account will remain open until the balance reaches zero.
What if I change my mind after closing the card?
You cannot reopen a closed credit card account. If you want credit from Bank of America again, you would have to explore for a new card. The closure will remain on your credit report, but it won't prevent you from being approved for a new account in the future.