You can close a Bank of America checking account by phone, in person, or online, but the fastest way is usually a phone call to customer service

Bank of America lets you close a checking account through three routes: calling their customer service line, visiting a branch in person, or using their online banking portal. A phone call typically takes 10 to 15 minutes and requires you to have your account number ready. In-person closure at a branch takes longer because of wait times, but you can hand over any remaining checks or debit cards on the spot. Online closure through the mobile app or website is the slowest option because Bank of America reviews the request before confirming it, which can take a few business days.

Before you close the account, you need to handle three things: move any money out, stop any automatic payments or direct deposits, and make sure no pending transactions are still processing. If you leave money in the account after closure, Bank of America will mail you a check, but this adds time. If automatic payments are still set to draw from this account, they will fail after closure and may trigger overdraft fees or late payment penalties on whatever bill they were paying.

Key Takeaways

  • Calling Bank of America customer service is the fastest way to close a checking account, taking about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • You must move your money out of the account and stop automatic payments or direct deposits before closure, or they will fail.
  • If you have pending transactions still processing, wait for them to clear before closing, or contact the merchant to cancel them.
  • Bank of America will mail any remaining balance to you as a check, which takes one to two weeks after the account closes.
  • You can close the account over the phone without visiting a branch, but you will need your account number and a form of identification to verify.

Closing by phone with Bank of America customer service

Call Bank of America at 1-800-432-1000 and tell the representative you want to close your checking account. They will ask for your account number and may ask security questions to confirm your identity — have your Social Security number or a government-issued ID ready. The representative will confirm your current balance and ask where you want any remaining money sent. If the balance is zero, the account closes when ready. If there is money left, they will mail you a check to the address on file.

Before you call, make a list of any automatic payments or recurring charges tied to the account — subscriptions, insurance premiums, loan payments, utility bills, anything that draws money automatically. Tell the representative about each one so they can note it in the account record. This protects you if a payment fails after closure and the merchant tries to collect again. You should also update those payments with a new account number at each company's website or by calling them directly, rather than relying on the bank to handle it.

The representative will ask if you have any outstanding checks you have written that have not cleared yet. If you do, they may ask you to wait a few more days before closing, or they will keep the account open long enough for those checks to process. This prevents the checks from bouncing, which would damage your credit and cost you fees.

Closing in person at a Bank of America branch

Walk into any Bank of America branch with your debit card or a government-issued ID and tell a teller you want to close your checking account. They will pull up your account, confirm your balance, and ask the same questions the phone representative would ask — where to send remaining money, whether you have pending transactions, and what automatic payments are attached. Bring any unused checks or debit cards with you so you can hand them over and watch them destroy them, which gives you peace of mind that they will not be used later.

In-person closure takes longer than a phone call because you have to wait for a teller to become available, and the branch may be busy. However, if you have questions about where your money should go or want to open a different account at the same time, a teller can walk you through both processes in one visit. Some people prefer this route because they can see the account closed in real time rather than waiting for confirmation.

Closing through Bank of America's website or mobile app

Log into your Bank of America account online or in the mobile app, go to the account settings or account management section, and look for an option to close the account. The exact location varies depending on whether you are using the website or the app, but it is usually under "Account Services" or "Manage Account." Click the option to close, and the system will ask you to confirm your balance and where to send any remaining money.

Online closure is the slowest method because Bank of America does not close the account when ready. Instead, they send you a confirmation email and review your request over the next few business days. During this time, the account remains open, which means automatic payments could still process and pending transactions could still clear. You will receive an email when the closure is complete. If you need the account closed urgently, phone or in-person closure is faster.

What to do with automatic payments before closing

Any automatic payment or recurring charge tied to your checking account will fail after the account closes. This includes monthly subscriptions, insurance premiums, loan payments, utility bills, and any other bill you set to pay automatically. When a payment fails, the merchant may charge you a late fee, and if the payment is important — like a mortgage or car loan — it could damage your credit.

Before you close the account, log into each company's website or call them and update your payment method to a different account, a credit card, or a debit card. Do this at least one week before you plan to close the Bank of America account, so the new payment method is in the system before the old one stops working. If you forget to update a payment and it fails, contact the company when ready to explain what happened and ask them to waive the late fee.

If you have a direct deposit set up — for example, your paycheck deposits automatically into this account — you need to change that too. Contact your employer's payroll department or HR and give them your new account number. Direct deposits usually take one or two pay cycles to switch over, so make the change at least a week before you close the account.

What happens to your remaining balance

If your checking account has money in it when you close, Bank of America will mail you a check for the full balance to the address on file with your account. The check is mailed within one to two weeks after the account closes. You then have to deposit that check into another account, which takes a few more days to clear. If you want the money faster, move it to another account before you close — this takes one business day if you transfer to another Bank of America account, or one to three business days if you transfer to a different bank.

If the balance is very small — a few dollars or less — some people choose to leave it and let the bank mail the check, since the cost of a stamp is not worth the effort. However, if you have a significant balance, transfer it yourself before closing so you have access to the money when ready.

Handling pending transactions and outstanding checks

Before you close the account, check your recent transactions to see if anything is still pending — a charge that has been authorized but not yet deducted from your balance. Pending transactions can take anywhere from one to five business days to clear, depending on the merchant and the type of transaction. If you close the account while a transaction is pending, it may still process after the account closes, which can cause confusion or overdraft fees.

If you have written checks that have not cleared yet, wait for them to clear before closing the account. You can check this by looking at your transaction history — cleared checks show a specific date they were deducted. If you are unsure whether a check has cleared, contact the person or business you wrote it to and ask. If they have not deposited it yet, ask them to do so before you close the account, or wait a few more days.

If a pending transaction or outstanding check is taking longer than expected, contact Bank of America customer service and ask them to hold the account open until it clears. They can usually do this without charging you a fee, as long as you explain the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will closing my Bank of America checking account hurt my credit?

Closing a checking account does not directly affect your credit score because checking accounts are not reported to credit bureaus. However, if you close the account while automatic payments are still attached and those payments fail, the resulting late payments could hurt your credit. Update all automatic payments before closing to avoid this.

What if I have a pending direct deposit that has not arrived yet?

Contact your employer's payroll department and ask them to delay the deposit until after you have updated your account information with them. If the deposit arrives after the account closes, Bank of America will return it to your employer, and you will have to contact payroll to reissue it to your new account. It is easier to update payroll first and wait for the next deposit cycle.

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

Yes, you can open a new checking account with Bank of America at any time. However, if you closed the account because of overdraft fees or other issues, the bank may review your banking history before approving a new account. There is no waiting period — you can open a new account the same day you close the old one.

What if I still owe Bank of America money on a loan or credit card?

Closing your checking account does not affect loans or credit cards. You can still make payments on those accounts using a different checking account, a credit card, or Bank of America's online payment system. However, if you had automatic payments set up from this checking account to pay a loan or credit card, you must update those payments before closing the account.

How long does it take for the account to fully close?

If you close by phone or in person, the account closes when ready, though it may take one to two business days for the closure to show in the system. If you close online, it takes two to five business days for Bank of America to review and confirm the closure. Any remaining balance is mailed as a check within one to two weeks after closure.