Bank of America will close your account within one to three business days if you ask in person, by phone, or through their website

You can close a Bank of America checking or savings account through three routes: visit a branch with your ID, call their customer service line at 1-800-432-1000, or use the mobile app or website. The fastest method is in-person closure at a branch, because the banker can confirm your account is empty, process the closure when ready, and hand you any remaining balance on the spot. Phone and online closures take longer because Bank of America needs to verify your identity through security questions and mail you confirmation.

Before you close, you must have a zero balance. If money remains in the account, Bank of America will not process the closure request. You can transfer funds to another bank using an external transfer, withdraw cash at an ATM or branch, or request a check. If you have pending transactions—a check you wrote that hasn't cleared, or a subscription charge that hasn't posted yet—those will still hit the account after closure, which can create overdraft fees or cause the account to reopen. Call the bank to confirm no transactions are pending before you finalize the closure.

Key Takeaways

  • Your account must have a zero balance before Bank of America will close it; transfer or withdraw any remaining money first.
  • In-person closure at a branch is fastest and gives you when ready confirmation, while phone and online closures take one to three business days.
  • Check for pending transactions—checks you've written, automatic payments, or subscriptions—because they will still process after closure and may trigger overdraft fees.
  • If you have a linked account (savings tied to checking, or a credit card), closing one account does not automatically close the other.
  • Bank of America will mail you a final statement and close the account within the timeframe they quote, but you should confirm closure in writing if you need documentation.

Preparing your account for closure

Start by logging into your Bank of America account online or through the mobile app to check your current balance and review recent transactions. Look for any pending charges: automatic bill payments, subscription renewals, payroll deposits, or checks you've written that may not have cleared yet. Bank of America typically processes closures within one to three business days, but transactions initiated before closure can still post afterward.

If you have direct deposits set up (paycheck, government benefits, or transfers from another account), update those with your new bank account information now. If you have automatic payments going out—insurance, utilities, loan payments—change those to your new account or cancel them. Any transaction that posts after closure will be rejected, which can result in late fees from the payee or a returned-payment fee from Bank of America.

Transfer your remaining balance to another bank account using Bank of America's external transfer feature, or withdraw the money in cash. External transfers typically take one to three business days, so plan accordingly if you're closing soon. If the balance is small, withdrawing cash at an ATM or the branch is simpler.

Closing in person at a Bank of America branch

Bring your government-issued ID and your debit card or account number. Walk into any Bank of America branch during business hours and tell the banker you want to close your account. They will pull up your account, confirm the balance is zero, and process the closure on the spot. If you have cash remaining, they will give it to you when ready. If the account is linked to other products—a savings account, credit card, or investment account—the banker will clarify which accounts are closing and which remain open.

Ask the banker for written confirmation of the closure. Bank of America will mail you a final statement within one to two weeks, but having a receipt from the branch gives you proof the same day. If you need the account closed by a specific date for legal or financial reasons, closing in person is the only method that guarantees same-day completion.

Closing by phone or online

To close by phone, call Bank of America's customer service at 1-800-432-1000. Have your account number and Social Security number ready. The representative will verify your identity, confirm your balance is zero, and process the closure. They will give you a confirmation number and tell you when to expect the account to close—usually within one to three business days. Write down the confirmation number and the representative's name and the time of the call.

To close online, log into your Bank of America account, navigate to Settings or Account Management (the exact path varies by whether you use the website or app), and look for a "Close Account" or "Account Services" option. Not all account types can be closed online; if you don't see the option, you will need to call or visit a branch. Online closure requests are processed in the order received, so if the bank is busy, it may take the full three business days.

Whether you close by phone or online, Bank of America will mail you a final statement and a confirmation letter. Keep both for your records. If you do not receive the confirmation letter within two weeks, call back to verify the account is actually closed.

What happens to linked accounts and credit cards

If you have a savings account linked to your checking account, closing the checking account does not close the savings account. You must request each closure separately. The same applies to credit cards, money market accounts, or investment accounts—each is a separate product and must be closed individually if you want them closed.

If your checking account is set up as the primary account for overdraft protection or bill pay, closing it may affect those services on linked accounts. Before you close, review which accounts are connected and decide whether you want to keep any of them open. If you keep a savings account open, you may need to set up a new primary account for overdraft protection.

After your account is closed

Bank of America will send you a final statement showing all transactions through the closure date and confirming the account balance was zero when closed. This statement arrives by mail within one to two weeks. Keep it with your tax records and financial documents for at least one year.

If a transaction posts after closure—a check clears, a subscription charges, or a paycheck deposits—Bank of America will reject it and may charge a returned-item fee. Contact the payee or your employer when ready to update your banking information. If you believe a transaction was fraudulent or unauthorized, you have up to 60 days from the date it posted to dispute it, even if the account is closed.

Your account number becomes inactive when ready upon closure, but Bank of America retains records of the account for seven years. If you need a copy of old statements or transaction history, you can request it from Bank of America even after the account is closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my account if I have a negative balance or pending overdraft fees?

No. You must bring the account to zero or positive balance before closure. If you owe money due to overdraft fees, you must pay that amount first. Contact Bank of America to confirm the exact amount owed, including any fees that may still be processing.

What if I have checks that haven't cleared yet?

Wait until those checks clear before closing the account, or contact Bank of America to confirm they have posted. If you close the account while checks are still pending, they may bounce, which will trigger returned-check fees from the payee and from the bank. If a check bounces after closure, you are still responsible for paying the payee.

Do I need to close my debit card separately?

No. When you close the checking account, the debit card linked to it becomes inactive automatically. If you have a separate savings account with its own debit card, that card remains active unless you close the savings account too. Destroy the old debit card once the account is closed.

How long does it take to close a Bank of America account?

In-person closure at a branch is when ready. Phone and online closures take one to three business days. Bank of America will send you a final statement by mail within one to two weeks. If you need proof of closure before the statement arrives, ask for written confirmation at the branch or request a confirmation letter by phone.

Can I reopen a closed Bank of America account?

Bank of America can reopen a recently closed account if you contact them within a short window, but policies vary. Call 1-800-432-1000 to ask whether your account can be reopened. If it has been more than a few weeks, opening a new account is usually faster than trying to reopen the old one.