You can close a Bank of America savings account in person, by phone, or online, depending on your account type and what you need to do first
Before you close the account, you need to move any money out of it—Bank of America will not close an account with a balance. You also need to settle any outstanding fees or pending transactions. Once the account is empty and clear, you can request closure through any of three channels: visit a branch in person, call the customer service number on the back of your card, or use the online banking portal if your account type supports it.
The process itself is straightforward and usually takes a few minutes. What takes longer is making sure you have not missed anything—a forgotten automatic payment or a pending deposit can delay closure by weeks. This guide walks you through what to check, how to close, and what to expect afterward.
Key Takeaways
- Your savings account must have a zero balance before Bank of America will close it; you cannot close an account with money still in it.
- Check for automatic transfers, scheduled payments, or pending deposits linked to the account before you request closure.
- You can close the account by visiting a branch, calling customer service, or using online banking if your account supports it.
- After closure, Bank of America will send you written confirmation; keep this for your records in case questions arise later.
- If the account has been inactive or overdrawn, closure may take longer or require additional steps.
Empty the account and check for linked activity
Log into your Bank of America account online or call 1-800-432-1000 to see the current balance. If there is money in the savings account, transfer it to another account—either another Bank of America account you own or an external account at a different bank. Online transfers to external accounts typically take one to three business days, so plan accordingly if you need the money urgently.
While the balance is processing, search for anything still connected to the account. Check whether any automatic transfers, bill payments, or direct deposits are set to hit this savings account. Look at the last three months of statements to spot patterns. If you find recurring activity, you will need to change those settings before closing—otherwise the closure request will fail or the account will reopen when a deposit arrives.
Pay any outstanding fees or overdraft balances. If the account is negative, you cannot close it until the balance is zero or positive. Bank of America will not waive fees just because you are closing, so if there are monthly maintenance charges or overdraft fees pending, settle those first.
Close the account in person at a branch
This is the most straightforward method if you have a Bank of America branch nearby. Bring a government-issued photo ID and your debit card or account number. Tell the representative you want to close the savings account. They will verify that the balance is zero, confirm there are no linked transactions pending, and process the closure on the spot.
The representative will give you a receipt or confirmation number. Ask them to write down the account number and the date of closure on the receipt, or take a photo of it. This becomes your proof of closure if questions come up later—for example, if a payment bounces or a company claims the account is still active.
Closing in person is useful if you are unsure whether you have caught all the linked activity, because the representative can review the account with you and flag anything you might have missed.
Close the account by phone
Call 1-800-432-1000 and tell the representative you want to close your savings account. Have your account number and a government-issued ID ready—they will ask for your Social Security number or other identifying information to verify you are the account holder. Confirm that the balance is zero and that there are no pending transactions.
The representative will process the closure and provide you with a confirmation number. Write this down when ready, along with the date and time of the call. Ask the representative to note in the account that you requested closure, so if anything unusual happens later, there is a record of when you made the request.
Phone closure works well if you cannot reach a branch, but you lose the in-person verification step. Make absolutely certain the account is empty and clear before you call, because the representative cannot see pending activity as clearly as a branch employee can.
Close the account online if your account type allows it
Not all Bank of America account types support online closure. Log into your online banking portal and look for account settings or account management options. If the option to close the account appears, you can request closure directly. Bank of America will send you a confirmation email within a few hours.
Online closure is the fastest method if it is available for your account, but it offers the least verification. You are responsible for confirming that the balance is zero and that no transactions are pending. If something goes wrong—for example, a deposit arrives after you request closure—the account may reopen or the closure may be delayed while Bank of America investigates.
If you do not see a closure option in your online portal, you will need to use the phone or branch method instead.
What happens after you request closure
Bank of America will send you written confirmation of the closure within five to ten business days. This letter will include the account number, the closure date, and a final statement showing the account balance at the time of closure (which should be zero). Keep this letter for at least one year.
The account will stop accepting deposits or withdrawals when ready, but it may take several weeks to fully disappear from your online banking portal. Do not be alarmed if you can still see it listed for a while—this is normal. If you can still see the account after 30 days, call customer service to confirm it is actually closed.
If you have a debit card linked to this account, it will no longer work for withdrawals from the savings account. If the card was linked to multiple accounts, it will still work for your other accounts.
What to do if closure is delayed or refused
Bank of America may refuse to close the account if there is still a balance, pending transactions, or unresolved fees. If this happens, the representative will tell you what needs to be resolved. Go back and fix those issues—transfer the remaining balance, cancel the pending transaction, or pay the fee—then request closure again.
If the account has been inactive for a long time, Bank of America may have frozen it or charged dormancy fees. You will need to reactivate it first by making a deposit or withdrawal, then follow the closure steps. If you cannot reactivate it yourself, call customer service and ask them to help you access the account so you can close it.
Closure usually happens within a few days of your request, but if there are complications—for example, a dispute with a transaction or a hold placed by another bank—it can take several weeks. Ask the representative for a timeline and follow up if you do not receive written confirmation within the stated timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my savings account if I still have a pending deposit?
No. You must cancel or redirect any pending deposits before closure. If a deposit arrives after you request closure, the account may reopen or the closure may be delayed. Contact whoever is sending the deposit (your employer, a government agency, another bank) and ask them to send it to a different account instead.
What if I closed the account but a payment still tried to go through?
The payment will be rejected and bounce back to whoever tried to send it. This can trigger overdraft fees at the other bank or late fees from a creditor. Before closing, change the account number on any bills, subscriptions, or automatic payments that were linked to this savings account. Do this at least one week before you request closure.
Do I need to close the account in the same state where I opened it?
No. You can close a Bank of America account from any branch, by phone, or online, regardless of where you opened it. The account is in the Bank of America system nationwide, so location does not matter.
Will closing my savings account affect my credit score?
No. Closing a savings account does not appear on your credit report and does not affect your credit score. Credit reports track credit accounts (credit cards, loans, lines of credit), not deposit accounts.
How long do I need to keep the closure confirmation letter?
Keep it for at least one year. If a problem comes up later—for example, a company claims the account is still active or a payment bounces—you will have proof of when and how you closed it. After one year, you can discard it unless you have a specific reason to keep it longer.