Call Bank of America to close your card, or do it online through your account dashboard
The fastest way to close a Bank of America credit card is to call their credit card customer service line at 1-800-732-9194. 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. The account closes when ready, though it may take a few days to appear as closed on your credit report.
If you prefer not to call, you can close the card through your Bank of America online account. Log in, navigate to your credit card account, look for account settings or account management options, and select the option to close the account. The exact menu path varies slightly depending on whether you use the website or mobile app, but the option is usually under "Account Services" or "More Options." Online closure takes the same effect as a phone call.
Before you close the card, pay off any remaining balance. Bank of America will not close an account with an outstanding balance — you'll need to settle what you owe first. If you have pending transactions or recent charges that haven't posted yet, wait for those to clear before calling.
Key Takeaways
- Pay your full balance before closing; Bank of America will not close an account with money owed.
- Call 1-800-732-9194 or use your online account dashboard to request closure, and the account closes the same day.
- The card will show as closed on your credit report within a few days, but the account remains visible in your credit history for seven to ten years.
- Closing a credit card can lower your available credit and raise your credit utilization ratio, which may temporarily affect your credit score.
- If you have rewards points or cash back pending, redeem them before closing, as you may lose them once the account is closed.
What happens to your credit score when you close a credit 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. The main reason is that your available credit shrinks. If you had a $5,000 limit and $2,000 in debt across all cards, your credit utilization was 40 percent. Close that card and your available credit drops to whatever your other cards total, which raises your utilization percentage on paper — even though you haven't borrowed any additional money.
The impact is temporary. Your score usually recovers within a few months as long as you keep paying other accounts on time. The closed account itself stays on your credit report for seven to ten years, which means it continues to show in your credit history even after closure. This is actually helpful for your score, because a long history of on-time payments on a closed account is better than no history at all.
If you're worried about the score impact, consider keeping the card open but unused instead. You get the same benefit of available credit without the closure penalty. Many people close cards unnecessarily and regret the score dip later.
Redeem rewards and cash back before closing
Check your Bank of America credit card account for any pending rewards points, cash back, or sign-up bonuses before you close it. Once the account is closed, you may lose access to unredeemed rewards. Some cards allow you to redeem after closure, but the policy varies by card type and it's safer to redeem first.
Log into your account and look for a "Rewards" or "Cash Back" section. Most Bank of America cards let you redeem directly to your bank account, as a statement credit, or toward a purchase. Do this before you call to close the account. If you have a large balance of rewards sitting there, it's worth waiting to redeem them rather than losing them.
What to do if you have an outstanding balance
Bank of America will not close your credit card while you owe money on it. If you call to close and have a balance, the representative will tell you to pay it off first. You have a few options: pay the full amount when ready by phone, set up a payment online, or mail a check.
The fastest route is to pay online or by phone while you're on the call with customer service. Once the payment posts — usually within one to two business days — you can call back to close the account. If you prefer to pay by mail, send a check to the address on your statement and wait for it to clear before closing.
If you're closing because you're in financial hardship and can't pay the balance, do not close the account yet. Contact Bank of America's hardship department instead. They may offer a payment plan, lower interest rate, or other options that are better than closure. Closing an account with a balance doesn't erase the debt — you still owe it, and the closed account may hurt your credit score more than an open one with a payment plan would.
Authorized users and joint accounts
If someone else is an authorized user on your Bank of America credit card, closing the account cancels their access to the card. Let them know before you close so they're not surprised when their card stops working. If the account is a joint account rather than an authorized user setup, both account holders have equal responsibility for the debt and equal say in closure — you may need the other person's consent.
If you want to remove an authorized user without closing the account, you can do that separately through your account settings or by calling customer service. This is useful if you want to keep the card open but don't want that person using it anymore.
What happens after you close the account
Once Bank of America closes your credit card, you can no longer use it for purchases. The account shows as closed on your credit report within a few days. You'll continue to receive statements if there are any remaining charges or if the account goes into collections, but otherwise statements stop coming.
If you closed the card by phone, ask the representative for a confirmation number. Keep this for your records. If you closed it online, take a screenshot of the confirmation page. This protects you if there's a dispute later about whether the account was actually closed.
If you notice charges appearing on the card after closure, contact Bank of America when ready. Fraudulent charges on a closed account are still your responsibility to dispute, and you have 60 days from the statement date to report them.
Alternatives to closing if you're trying to reduce debt
If you're closing the card because you're trying to pay down debt, closing may not be the best move. Keeping the card open with a zero balance actually helps your credit score more than closing it. You maintain your available credit, which lowers your utilization ratio, and you keep the account history active.
A better strategy is to stop using the card, pay off the balance, and then leave it open. Put it in a drawer or delete it from your digital wallet. You get all the credit score benefits of available credit without the temptation to spend. If you're closing because you're worried you'll use it again, consider asking Bank of America to lower the credit limit instead — this reduces your available credit (which raises utilization slightly) but keeps the account open and active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reopen a Bank of America credit card after I close it?
You can request to reopen the account within a short window after closure, usually 30 to 60 days, by calling customer service. After that window, the account is permanently closed and you would need to open a new card instead. Reopening an old account is faster than opening a new one because Bank of America already has your history.
Will closing my credit card hurt my credit score?
Yes, usually by 10 to 50 points in the short term, mainly because your available credit shrinks. The impact is temporary and your score typically recovers within a few months. The closed account stays on your credit report for seven to ten years, which actually helps your score because it shows a long payment history.
What if I have a balance transfer on the card?
You must pay off the balance transfer before closing. Bank of America will not close an account with any outstanding balance, including transferred debt. If the balance transfer has a promotional 0% interest rate, closing the card doesn't change the rate — you still owe the balance at whatever rate applies after the promotion ends.
Do I need to destroy my physical card after closing?
It's a good idea to cut up the card or shred it so it can't be used, even though the account is closed. The card itself is no longer active, but destroying it removes the temptation and the security risk if the card is lost or stolen.
How long does it take for the closure to show on my credit report?
The account usually shows as closed within three to five business days. It may take longer to appear on all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), so check your report after a week or two to confirm the closure is reflected everywhere.