You can close your Bank of America checking account by phone, in person, or online, but you must first move or withdraw your money and settle any outstanding balances

Bank of America does not charge a fee to close a checking account. The process itself takes minutes, but the real work happens before you call: moving your direct deposits and automatic payments to another bank, withdrawing or transferring your balance, and making sure no pending transactions are still processing. If you close the account while money is still flowing in or out, those transactions can bounce or get rejected, which costs you time and potentially overdraft fees at your new bank.

The fastest route is closing in person at a branch with your ID and debit card. If you cannot reach a branch, you can call Bank of America at 1-800-432-1000 and ask to speak with someone in account services. Online closure through the mobile app or website is also available, though it works only if your account is in good standing and has a zero balance.

Key Takeaways

  • Move your direct deposits and automatic bill payments to your new bank before closing, or they will fail and may trigger overdraft fees.
  • Withdraw or transfer your full balance and wait for any pending transactions to clear before you request closure.
  • You can close in person at any Bank of America branch, by phone at 1-800-432-1000, or through the mobile app if your balance is zero.
  • Bank of America does not charge a closure fee, but you may owe money if your account is overdrawn or if you have an outstanding balance on a linked credit product.
  • After closure, keep your final statement and any records of transfers for at least one year in case a transaction dispute arises.

What to do before you call or visit the branch

The single biggest mistake people make is closing an account while direct deposits or bill payments are still scheduled. When those transactions arrive after closure, they bounce. Your employer's payroll system may flag the failed deposit as a problem. Your utility company or mortgage servicer may report a missed payment. These failures can take weeks to sort out.

Start by logging into your Bank of America account online or through the mobile app. Look at your recent transactions and identify anything that repeats monthly: paychecks, insurance premiums, loan payments, subscriptions. For each one, you need to update the receiving or sending institution with your new bank's routing number and account number. Most employers and billers let you change this through their website or by calling their customer service line. Give yourself at least two weeks for these changes to take effect before you close the account.

Next, check your balance. If you have money in the account, you can transfer it to your new bank using an external transfer (which takes one to three business days) or withdraw it as cash or a cashier's check. If your balance is negative—meaning you owe Bank of America money—you must pay that amount before closure. Bank of America will not close an overdrawn account until the debt is settled.

If you have a linked credit card, home equity line of credit, or other Bank of America product, closing your checking account does not close those. You can keep them open or close them separately. However, if you have an overdraft protection linked to your checking account, that protection ends when the account closes.

Closing in person at a branch

Bring your government-issued ID and your debit card. If you have a joint account, both account holders should be present, though some branches will close a joint account with only one owner present if that person signs a form authorizing closure. Call ahead to confirm your branch's policy.

Tell the representative you want to close your checking account. They will confirm your balance, process any final transfers, and print a closure confirmation. Ask for a copy of this confirmation and your final statement. The account closes when ready, though it may take one to three business days for the closure to show in the system.

If you have pending transactions—checks you wrote that have not cleared, or automatic payments scheduled for the next few days—the representative may ask you to wait until those clear. This is the safest approach. If you close with pending transactions, Bank of America will attempt to process them against the closed account, which can result in returned checks and fees at merchants or billers.

Closing by phone

Call 1-800-432-1000 and say you want to close your checking account. You will be transferred to account services. Have your account number and ID ready. The representative will ask you to confirm your identity by answering security questions or providing information from your recent statements.

They will review your balance and any pending transactions with you. If your balance is positive, they will offer to mail you a check or transfer the money to another account. If you choose a check, it typically arrives within five to seven business days. If you choose a transfer, provide the routing number and account number of your new bank.

Once everything is settled, the representative will process the closure. You will receive a confirmation number. Write this down and ask for it to be emailed to you as well. The account closes when ready, though the closure may not appear in the online system for a day or two.

Closing through the mobile app or website

Bank of America offers online closure through its mobile app and website, but only if your account has a zero balance and is in good standing (no overdrafts, no fraud disputes, no holds). Log into your account, navigate to Settings or Account Management, and look for the option to close your account. The app will walk you through a series of confirmations and then close the account when ready.

This route is the fastest if your balance is already zero and you have no complications. However, if you have any pending transactions or a balance remaining, you will not see the closure option. In that case, you must use the phone or in-person route.

What happens after closure

Your debit card stops working when ready. If you have checks printed with your old account number, they will be rejected if anyone tries to cash them. Any automatic payments or direct deposits scheduled after the closure date will fail. This is why updating those before closure is critical.

Bank of America will mail you a final statement showing all activity through the closure date. Keep this for at least one year. If a transaction dispute arises—for example, a charge you did not authorize that posted just before closure—you will need this statement to prove the account is closed and to reference the transaction details.

If you owe Bank of America money after closure (for example, an overdraft fee or a returned check fee that posts after the account closes), the bank will contact you about payment. They may also report the debt to a collection agency if it goes unpaid. Settling any outstanding balance before closure prevents this.

If you cannot reach a branch or prefer not to call

Bank of America does not offer a live chat option for account closure, but you can send a find message through your online account. Log in, go to Messages or Contact Us, and explain that you want to close your checking account. A representative will respond within one to two business days with next steps. This is slower than calling or visiting in person, but it creates a written record of your request.

If you have moved out of the country or have no access to a U.S. phone number, you can also write to Bank of America's customer service address (available on their website under Contact Us) with a letter requesting closure. Include your account number, full name, and signature. Mail it certified with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. This method takes two to four weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have a pending check that has not cleared yet?

Wait until it clears before closing. You can check the status of a check in your transaction history. If you close with a pending check, Bank of America will attempt to pay it from the closed account, which usually results in a returned check fee and a fee from the merchant or payee. If the check has been pending for more than 30 days, it is likely stale and will not clear; in that case, you can close safely.

Can I reopen a Bank of America checking account after I close it?

Yes. There is no waiting period. You can open a new account the same day you close the old one. However, if you closed the account due to fraud or if Bank of America closed it for cause (such as repeated overdrafts or policy violations), reopening may be denied. If you are unsure whether your closure was voluntary or involuntary, ask the representative when you close.

What if I forgot about a subscription or bill payment tied to my old account?

The transaction will fail and you will likely receive a notice from the merchant or biller. Contact them when ready and provide your new bank account information. Many will retry the payment automatically once you update it. If the payment was for something important (like insurance or a loan), call the company right away to explain the situation and ask about a grace period or late fee waiver.

Do I need to close my Bank of America credit card when I close my checking account?

No. Your checking account and credit card are separate products. Closing one does not affect the other. You can keep your credit card open even after you close your checking account. However, if you want to close the credit card too, you can do that separately by calling the number on the back of the card.

Will closing my account hurt my credit score?

Closing a checking account does not directly affect your credit score because checking accounts do not appear on your credit report. However, if you close the account while overdrawn and do not pay the balance, Bank of America may report the debt to a collection agency, which will hurt your score. Paying any outstanding balance before closure prevents this.