You cannot close a Bank of America account entirely through their website or mobile app
Bank of America requires you to close an account by phone or in person at a branch. There is no online closure option, even though you can manage most other account functions digitally. This is standard across most major banks—the final step of account closure involves verification and confirmation that typically requires a real person on the other end of the line.
The reason is straightforward: the bank needs to confirm your identity, may support all pending transactions have cleared, verify that you have no outstanding fees or holds, and walk through what happens to any remaining balance. These steps protect both you and the bank from fraud and error.
Key Takeaways
- Call Bank of America at 1-800-432-1000 (the main customer service line) or visit a local branch in person to close your account.
- Before you call, make sure your account balance is zero or positive, all checks have cleared, and automatic payments linked to the account have been moved or cancelled.
- If you have a negative balance or outstanding fees, you must pay them before the account can be closed.
- The bank will mail you a confirmation letter within 7 to 10 business days after closure, and your account will be reported to ChexSystems (the banking history system) as closed by customer request.
What you need to do before calling
Empty your account first. Withdraw or transfer any remaining money to another bank account you control. Bank of America will not close an account with a positive balance still in it—they need to know where that money is going. If you have direct deposits set up, change those to your new bank account now, not after you close this one.
Cancel or move any automatic payments. If you have bills, subscriptions, or transfers set to come out of this account, update them with your new bank details or cancel them entirely. The bank will not do this for you, and missed payments can damage your credit or cause service interruptions.
Wait for checks to clear. If you have written checks against this account, give them time to process before you call. Closing an account with outstanding checks can create problems for both you and the people who received them.
Pay any negative balance or fees. If your account is overdrawn or you owe fees, you must settle that before closure. The bank will not close an account with money owed.
How to close your account by phone
Call 1-800-432-1000 during business hours. Bank of America's customer service line is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Have your account number and a government-issued ID ready—the representative will ask for both.
Tell the representative you want to close your account. They will verify your identity, confirm your account balance is zero, check for any holds or pending transactions, and ask why you are closing (this is optional to answer). They will then process the closure and give you a confirmation number. Write this down.
Ask for written confirmation. Request that the bank mail you a closure confirmation letter. This letter serves as proof that the account was closed on a specific date and can be useful if disputes arise later or if you need documentation for tax or legal purposes.
How to close your account in person
Visit a Bank of America branch with your government-issued ID and your debit card or account number. Any branch can process the closure—it does not have to be the one where you opened the account. Bring proof that your account balance is zero (a recent statement or screenshot from online banking).
Tell the teller you want to close the account. They will verify your identity, confirm the account is ready for closure, and process it on the spot. You will receive a receipt with a confirmation number and the closure date. Ask them to note on your receipt that the account was closed by customer request.
In-person closure is often faster than phone closure because there is no wait time, and you leave with when ready written proof. If you have questions about pending transactions or fees, a teller can also look into your account history with you in real time.
What happens after your account closes
Your account will be reported to ChexSystems, the banking history system that most banks use to check whether someone has had problems with previous accounts. The report will show that the account was closed by customer request, not due to fraud or overdraft abuse. This does not prevent you from opening accounts at other banks, but it is part of your banking record.
Any remaining balance will be mailed to you as a check within 7 to 10 business days if you did not withdraw it before closure. If the bank cannot locate you, unclaimed funds may be turned over to your state's unclaimed property program after a set period (usually three to five years, depending on state law).
If you had a credit card through Bank of America, closing your checking or savings account does not close the credit card. You must close credit cards separately if you want them closed. Closing a credit card account can affect your credit score, so consider whether you actually want to close it or straightforward stop using it.
Common reasons the bank might refuse to close your account
Your account has a negative balance. You owe the bank money. You must pay this before closure can proceed.
There are pending transactions or holds on the account. Fraud investigations, pending deposits, or holds placed by creditors can prevent closure. The bank will tell you what the hold is and when it will be released.
You have an active loan or line of credit tied to the account. If you have a home equity line of credit or personal loan with Bank of America, closing the checking account linked to it may not be possible until the loan is paid off or transferred.
The account is part of an active dispute or legal matter. If there is a court order, garnishment, or ongoing dispute, the bank may not close the account until the matter is resolved.
If you want to keep your account open but stop using it
You do not have to close the account if you are straightforward not using it anymore. Many people keep old bank accounts open indefinitely with zero balance. This avoids the small risk that closing the account could affect your credit score or banking history.
However, some Bank of America accounts charge monthly maintenance fees if the balance falls below a certain amount or if you do not meet other requirements (such as direct deposit). Check your account terms. If fees are being charged on an inactive account, closure or switching to a no-fee account type makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my account if I have a pending direct deposit?
You should move your direct deposit to another account before closing. If a deposit arrives after closure, the bank will attempt to return it to the employer or sender, which can cause delays in your paycheck. Change your direct deposit details with your employer or benefits provider first, then close the account once you confirm the new account is receiving deposits.
What if I closed my account and then realized I made a mistake?
Contact Bank of America when ready. If the account was closed very recently and no time has passed, the bank may be able to reopen it. Once significant time has passed or the account has been reported to ChexSystems, reopening becomes difficult or impossible. You would need to open a new account instead.
Do I lose my routing and account number after closure?
Yes. Once the account is closed, those numbers are no longer valid. If anyone tries to use them for a payment or transfer, it will fail. Make sure all automatic payments and direct deposits have been moved to your new account before closure.
Will closing my Bank of America account hurt my credit score?
Closing a checking or savings account does not directly affect your credit score because these accounts do not appear on your credit report. However, if you close a credit card account, that can have a small negative impact on your credit score because it reduces your total available credit. Closing a checking account will not harm your credit.
How long does it take for the account to fully close?
The account is closed when ready when you process the closure by phone or in person. However, it can take 7 to 10 business days for the closure to be fully reflected in all of the bank's systems and for you to receive written confirmation. During this time, do not attempt to use the account.