You can close most Bank of America accounts online through your digital banking profile, but the process depends on your account type and whether you have outstanding balances or linked services.
Bank of America lets you close checking and savings accounts through their website or mobile app without visiting a branch. The steps take about 10 minutes if your account is in good standing — meaning no negative balance, no pending transactions, and no linked credit products that need separate closure. If you have a mortgage, investment account, or credit card tied to your Bank of America profile, you'll need to handle those separately or call to coordinate the closure.
The online closure works best when you've already moved your direct deposits, set up bill pay elsewhere, and withdrawn or transferred your remaining balance. Bank of America will not close an account with money still in it, and they won't close an account with a negative balance until you pay what you owe.
Key Takeaways
- You can close checking and savings accounts through the Bank of America website or mobile app by going to Settings, then Account Services, then Close Account.
- Your account must have a zero balance and no pending transactions before closure will process — Bank of America will not close accounts with money in them or with debt.
- If you have a credit card, mortgage, or investment account with Bank of America, you must close those separately or call 1-800-432-1000 to coordinate.
- The closure takes effect when ready online, but it may take 5 to 10 business days for the account to fully disappear from your profile and for any remaining holds to release.
- If you cannot close online because of a linked product or account issue, calling customer service is faster than visiting a branch.
Steps to close your account through the Bank of America website
Log into your Bank of America online banking account using your username and password. Once you're in, look for the Settings icon — usually a gear symbol in the top right corner of the page. Click it and select "Account Services" from the dropdown menu.
Find the account you want to close in the list and click on it. You should see an option that says "Close Account" or "Close This Account." Click that option. Bank of America will show you a confirmation screen that lists the account number, account type, and current balance. If the balance is not zero, you cannot proceed — you'll need to transfer or withdraw the remaining funds first.
If your balance is zero and there are no holds or pending transactions, click the confirmation button to close the account. You'll see a message saying the closure request has been submitted. Bank of America will send you a confirmation email within a few minutes. The account will stop accepting transactions when ready, though it may take 5 to 10 business days to fully close in their system.
Closing your account through the Bank of America mobile app
Open the Bank of America mobile app and log in. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner, then select "Settings." Look for "Account Services" and tap it.
Select the account you want to close from the list. Scroll down until you see "Close Account" and tap it. The app will show you the same confirmation screen as the website — account number, type, and balance. If your balance is zero and there are no pending items, tap "Confirm" or "Close Account" to submit your request.
You'll receive a confirmation message on screen and an email confirmation within minutes. The closure takes effect right away, though the account may remain visible in your app for a few days while it processes in the background.
What to do if you cannot close your account online
Bank of America will block online closure if your account has a negative balance, pending transactions, or linked products like a credit card or mortgage. If you see an error message when you try to close, one of these issues is the reason.
If you have a negative balance, deposit money to bring it to zero first. If you have pending transactions, wait for them to clear — this usually takes 1 to 3 business days. If you have a linked credit card, you must close that card separately through the credit card section of your account, or call 1-800-432-1000 and ask a representative to close both at the same time.
If you have a mortgage or investment account with Bank of America, you cannot close your checking or savings account online if those products are attached to the same profile. Call 1-800-432-1000 and explain that you want to close your deposit account. A representative can either close the linked products first or set up a separate profile for them so you can close your checking or savings account online.
What happens to your debit card, checks, and automatic payments
Your debit card will stop working when ready after you close your account online. If you have checks linked to the account, they will bounce if anyone tries to cash them after closure. Bank of America recommends notifying anyone you've given checks to before you close the account.
Any automatic payments or bill pay transactions scheduled for after the closure date will fail. You need to cancel or redirect these before you close the account. Log into your bill pay settings and either delete the scheduled payments or change them to your new bank account. If you forget to do this, the payments will bounce and may trigger overdraft fees at the other bank.
Direct deposits will also fail if they're still set to go into the closed account. Update your direct deposit information with your employer or the organization sending the deposit at least a week before you close the account.
Timeline for account closure and what to expect after
The online closure request processes when ready — you'll see confirmation within minutes. However, the account doesn't fully disappear from Bank of America's system right away. It typically takes 5 to 10 business days for the account to stop appearing in your online banking profile and for any remaining holds or pending items to clear.
During this window, do not attempt to use the account or make deposits to it. If someone tries to deposit money into the closed account, Bank of America will return the deposit to the sender, which can take an additional 5 to 10 business days.
Once the account is fully closed, Bank of America will keep records of it for your file, but you won't be able to access it through online banking. If you need a statement or record of transactions from the closed account, you can request one by calling 1-800-432-1000 or visiting a branch with your ID.
Reasons Bank of America might refuse to close your account online
Bank of America will not close an account if it has any of the following: a negative balance (you owe them money), pending transactions that haven't cleared, a linked credit card or mortgage, or an active dispute or fraud investigation. If any of these explore, you'll see an error message when you try to close online.
If you have a dispute with Bank of America about a transaction or a fraud claim, the account will be frozen until the investigation closes. You cannot close it during this time. Once the dispute is resolved, you can close it online or by calling.
Some older account types or accounts with special features (like a student account or a rewards account with an active promotion) may not have an online closure option. If you don't see "Close Account" in your Account Services menu, call 1-800-432-1000 and ask a representative to close it for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing my Bank of America account hurt my credit score?
Closing a checking or savings account does not affect your credit score because these are not credit products. Bank of America does not report deposit account closures to credit bureaus. However, if you close a credit card with Bank of America, that can affect your score by reducing your available credit.
What if I close my account and then need to access old statements?
Bank of America keeps records of closed accounts for seven years. You can request statements or transaction history by calling 1-800-432-1000 with your ID and the account number. They can email or mail you copies of statements from the closed account.
Can I reopen a Bank of America account I just closed?
Yes, you can reopen a closed account within a short window — usually 30 days. Call 1-800-432-1000 and ask if your account can be reopened. After 30 days, you'll need to open a new account instead. Reopening is faster than opening new because Bank of America already has your information on file.
Do I need to close my account in person at a branch?
No. The online process is the standard method and works for most accounts. You only need to visit a branch if you cannot close online due to a linked product, a negative balance, or a system issue. Calling customer service is usually faster than going to a branch.
What if Bank of America owes me money after I close the account?
If you have a credit balance or a pending refund when you close, Bank of America will mail you a check to the address on file within 5 to 10 business days. Make sure your mailing address is current before you close the account. If you don't receive the check within two weeks, call 1-800-432-1000 to ask where it is.