Bank of America will close your credit card account when you request it, but the timing and what happens to your balance depend on how you close it
You can close a Bank of America credit card by phone, online through your account, or in person at a branch. The account closes when ready when you initiate the request, but you remain responsible for any remaining balance. If you have a zero balance, the card stops working right away. If you carry a balance, you'll continue making payments on the closed account until it's paid off — Bank of America will send you statements and accept payments as usual.
The key decision before you close is whether to pay off the full balance first. Closing with an outstanding balance doesn't hurt you legally, but it does affect your credit score because it reduces your available credit and changes your credit utilization ratio. Most people close cards after paying them down to zero for this reason.
Key Takeaways
- You can close your Bank of America credit card by calling their customer service line, logging into your online account, or visiting a branch in person.
- Closing a card with a balance is allowed, but you'll keep receiving statements and must continue making payments until the balance reaches zero.
- Your credit score may drop temporarily when you close a card because your available credit decreases and your credit utilization ratio changes.
- Bank of America typically keeps closed accounts on your credit report for seven to ten years, so the account history remains visible to lenders even after closure.
Closing your card by phone
Call Bank of America's customer service number on the back of your credit card. You'll reach a representative who can process the closure when ready. Have your card number and account information ready, though the representative can look it up using your Social Security number and date of birth.
The representative will ask why you're closing the account — this is optional information, and you don't have to give a detailed reason. They may offer you incentives to keep the card open, such as a fee waiver or rewards bonus. You can decline and proceed with closure. Once you confirm, the account closes right away. The representative will give you a confirmation number; write it down or ask them to email it to you.
Phone closure is the fastest method if you want to speak to someone directly. The line is typically open during standard business hours, though Bank of America's exact hours vary by region.
Closing your card online
Log into your Bank of America online account or mobile app and navigate to your credit card account. Look for a "Close Account" or "Account Services" option, usually found in the account settings or help section. The exact location varies depending on whether you're using the website or app, so use the search function if you can't find it when ready.
The online closure process walks you through a series of confirmations. You'll confirm your identity, review your current balance, and acknowledge that closing the account may affect your credit score. Once you submit the request, the account closes when ready. You'll receive a confirmation on screen and typically via email within a few minutes.
Online closure is convenient if you prefer not to call, but you won't have the option to speak with a representative about your balance or to negotiate any final offers.
Closing your card in person at a branch
Visit any Bank of America branch with your credit card and a form of identification. Tell the representative you want to close the account. They'll pull up your account, review your balance, and process the closure on the spot. This method works well if you have questions about your balance or want to discuss payment options before closing.
Branch closure typically takes 10 to 15 minutes. You'll receive a written confirmation of the closure, which you can keep for your records. This is useful if you want documentation that you initiated the closure on a specific date.
What happens to your balance after closure
Closing the account does not erase what you owe. If you have a balance when you close, Bank of America will continue to charge interest on that balance at your current APR until it's paid off. You'll receive monthly statements showing your balance and minimum payment due, just as you did before closure.
You can pay the balance in full or continue making minimum payments. There's no penalty for closing with a balance, but the longer you carry it, the more interest you'll pay. If you want to avoid interest charges, pay the balance in full before you close, or pay it off as quickly as possible after closure.
If you close the account and then miss a payment, Bank of America can report the late payment to credit bureaus and may pursue collection action, just as they would with an open account. The closure itself doesn't change your payment obligations.
How closure affects your credit score
Closing a credit card typically lowers your credit score in the short term because it reduces your total available credit. If you had a $5,000 limit and that was your only card, closing it means your available credit drops to zero. This increases your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total credit limit that you're using — which is a major factor in credit scoring.
The impact is usually temporary. Your score will recover over several months as you continue making on-time payments on other accounts. The closed account itself remains on your credit report for seven to ten years, so lenders can still see that you had the card and how you managed it.
If you're concerned about the score impact, you can minimize it by closing the card after paying off the balance and by keeping other credit accounts open. Closing multiple cards at once has a larger impact than closing one.
Confirming the closure and what to do with the card
After you close the account, you should receive a confirmation letter from Bank of America within 7 to 10 business days. This letter confirms the closure date and your final balance, if any. Keep this letter for your records in case there's ever a dispute about when the account was closed.
Once the account is closed, you can destroy the physical credit card by cutting it in half or shredding it. Do not throw it away intact, as the card number could be recovered. You don't need to return the card to Bank of America — destroying it yourself is sufficient.
If you have autopay set up on the card for any recurring charges, those payments will fail once the account closes. Before you close, check whether you've linked the card to any subscriptions or monthly bills. Move those payments to a different card or bank account to avoid missed payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reopen a Bank of America credit card after I close it?
Bank of America may reopen a recently closed account if you request it within a short window, typically 30 to 60 days. After that, reopening becomes difficult. If you think you might want the card back, contact customer service before the window closes. Otherwise, you would need to explore for a new card, which triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Will closing my card hurt my credit score?
Yes, closing a credit card typically lowers your score temporarily because it reduces your available credit and increases your credit utilization ratio. The impact is usually largest in the first month and gradually recovers over several months. The effect is smaller if you close the card after paying off the balance.
What if I have a balance when I close the account?
You can close the account with a balance. Bank of America will continue charging interest on what you owe and will send you monthly statements. You must keep making payments until the balance reaches zero. There's no penalty for closing with a balance, but you'll pay more in interest the longer you carry it.
Do I have to pay off my balance before closing?
No, you can close with an outstanding balance. However, paying it off first is usually better because it stops interest charges and minimizes the impact on your credit score. If you can't pay it off when ready, close the account and then pay down the balance as quickly as possible.
How long does it take for the account to close?
The account closes when ready when you request closure through any method — phone, online, or in person. You'll receive a confirmation right away. The formal confirmation letter arrives within 7 to 10 business days, but the account is closed and unusable from the moment you submit the request.