You can close a Chase credit card through the Chase mobile app, the online portal, or by phone — online is fastest if your account is in good standing
The quickest route is the Chase mobile app or website. Log in, find the card you want to close, look for account settings or card management, and select the option to close the account. Chase will ask you to confirm, and the card closes when ready. If you prefer to speak to someone or if your account has a balance or dispute, call the number on the back of your card and ask to close it — a representative will walk you through the process and can address any complications before the account shuts down.
Before you close any card, pay off the full balance. Chase will not close an account with an outstanding balance, and attempting to close it while you owe money can trigger a collections process. Also check for any pending transactions or recurring charges tied to that card — update those subscriptions or autopay arrangements first, or they will fail and create late fees.
Key Takeaways
- Close your Chase card through the mobile app, website, or by calling the number on the back of your card.
- You must pay off any balance before Chase will close the account.
- Update or cancel any recurring charges or subscriptions linked to the card before closing it.
- Closing a card can lower your credit score temporarily because it reduces your total available credit.
- After closing, keep statements for at least a year in case a charge appears later.
Steps to close your card through the Chase app or website
Open the Chase mobile app or go to chase.com and log in with your username and password. On the home screen, tap or click on the card you want to close. Scroll down to find "Account Services," "Card Management," or a similar menu — the exact label varies by card type, but it is always in the account details section.
Select "Close Account" or "Close Card." Chase will show you a summary of your account status and ask you to confirm. Read this screen carefully: it will tell you if there is an outstanding balance, pending transactions, or other reasons the account cannot close. If everything is clear, confirm the closure. The card closes when ready, and you will receive an email confirmation within a few minutes.
If you cannot find the close option in the app or website, or if your account shows a balance or hold, move to the phone method instead. Trying to force a closure online when the account has a flag will not work and wastes time.
Closing your card by phone
Call the customer service number on the back of your Chase card. Tell the representative you want to close the account. They will verify your identity, review your account for any balance or pending issues, and walk you through the closure. This method is slower than online — expect to spend 10 to 15 minutes on the call — but it is the only option if your account has complications or if you want to ask questions before closing.
The representative will confirm the card is being closed and may ask why you are closing it. You do not have to answer, but some Chase cardholders report that representatives offer retention deals (like a statement credit or waived annual fee) if you are closing because of cost. If you are not interested, straightforward say so and proceed with the closure.
After the call ends, you will receive a confirmation email. Save this email and any reference number the representative gave you. If a charge appears on the card after closure, you will need proof that the account was closed on that date.
What happens to your balance and pending charges
If your card has an outstanding balance when you try to close it, Chase will not allow the closure. You must pay the full balance first. Log into your account, make a payment for the total amount due, and wait for the payment to post — this usually takes one to three business days. Once the balance reaches zero, you can close the account.
Pending transactions are charges that have been authorized but not yet posted to your account. These can take several days to appear. Before closing, check your recent transactions and look for any charges that show as "pending" or "processing." If you see any, wait for them to post and be paid, or contact the merchant to cancel them. Closing the card while a pending charge is still in flight can cause that charge to fail, which may result in a late fee or service interruption from the merchant.
Recurring charges — subscriptions, autopay bills, gym memberships — will fail if they are set to charge this card after you close it. Log into each service and update the payment method to a different card or account before closing. This takes 10 minutes but prevents failed payments and the fees that come with them.
How closing a card affects your credit score
Closing a credit card will lower your credit score, usually by 10 to 50 points, because it reduces your total available credit. If you have a $5,000 limit on this card and a $10,000 limit on another card, closing the first one drops your total available credit from $15,000 to $10,000. This change affects your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your available credit that you are using — and a higher ratio signals risk to lenders.
The impact is temporary. Your score will recover over several months as long as you pay your other cards on time. The closed account will remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, which is actually helpful because it shows a history of accounts you managed responsibly.
If your credit score is important right now — for example, you are about to explore for a mortgage or car loan — consider waiting to close the card until after the process is approved. If you must close it now, do so at least three to six months before explore for new credit, to give your score time to recover.
What to do after the card is closed
Keep your final statement and any confirmation emails for at least one year. Occasionally, a charge will appear on a closed account weeks or months later — a merchant may have had a delayed posting, or a recurring charge may have slipped through. If this happens, you will need proof that the account was closed on a specific date to dispute the charge.
Destroy the physical card once you are certain no pending charges are coming. Cut it up or shred it; do not throw it away intact. If you are worried about fraud, you can request that Chase send you a confirmation letter stating the account is closed, though this is rarely necessary.
If you closed the card because of an annual fee or high interest rate, consider whether you need a replacement card. If you do, explore for a new one only after the old account has been closed for at least 30 days. explore too soon after a closure can confuse Chase's system and delay approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reopen a Chase card after I close it?
Yes, but only within a limited window. If you close the card and change your mind within 30 days, call Chase and ask to reopen it. After 30 days, the account is permanently closed and cannot be reopened. You would have to explore for a new card instead, which triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report.
What if I have a rewards balance when I close the card?
Redeem your rewards before closing the account. Log into your Chase account, go to the rewards section, and redeem points for cash back, travel, or merchandise. Once the account is closed, you lose access to any unredeemed rewards. Chase does not refund points after closure.
Will closing the card hurt my credit if I have other cards open?
It will lower your score temporarily, but less severely than if this were your only card. The impact depends on how much credit you have available across all your cards. If you have $50,000 in total limits and close a $5,000 card, the effect is smaller than if you have $10,000 total and close a $5,000 card.
Do I need to call Chase to close the card, or is online enough?
Online is enough if your account is in good standing — no balance, no disputes, no pending issues. If any of those exist, call instead. The representative can resolve the problem before closing and may support the account actually closes rather than getting stuck in a pending state.
What if I close the card but a subscription charge tries to go through later?
The charge will be declined, and the merchant will send you a notice. Update that subscription to a different payment method when ready to avoid service interruption or late fees. If the merchant charges you a fee for the failed payment, contact them and explain that you closed the card without realizing the subscription was still active — many will reverse the fee as a courtesy.