Close your Chase checking account only if you have moved your direct deposits and automatic payments elsewhere, paid off any overdrafts, and confirmed you have no pending transactions
Closing a checking account is straightforward, but doing it in the wrong order can leave you without access to money or stuck paying fees. Chase will not automatically move your paychecks or bill payments to a new bank — you have to tell your employer and billers yourself. If you close the account before that happens, deposits and payments can bounce, and you may face overdraft charges on money that was supposed to land there.
The actual closing takes a phone call or a visit to a branch. Chase does not charge a fee to close a checking account. What matters is the sequence: move your money first, then close. This section walks you through the order and what to watch for.
Key Takeaways
- You must redirect your direct deposits and automatic bill payments to another account before closing, because Chase will not do this for you.
- Check your account for pending transactions and wait for them to clear, or they may bounce and trigger overdraft fees.
- Chase does not charge a fee to close a checking account, but you may owe money if your balance is negative.
- Call Chase at the number on the back of your debit card or visit a branch in person to close; online closure is not available.
- Keep your old Chase account number and routing number written down for a few months in case a payment or deposit arrives late.
Reasons people close Chase checking accounts
People close checking accounts for different reasons, and some are easier to handle than others. You might be switching to a bank with lower fees, moving to a bank closer to where you live, consolidating accounts at one institution, or leaving because of a bad experience with customer service. Each of these is a valid reason, and none of them require special permission from Chase.
If you are closing because of fees, check what you are being charged for. Chase has a basic checking account with no monthly fee, and a premium account that costs money. If you are on the paid tier and do not want to pay, you can downgrade to the free account instead of closing. If you are being charged overdraft fees or maintenance fees, those usually stop once you bring your balance positive and switch account types.
The order of steps before you close
Start by opening a new account at the bank you are switching to. You do not need to close Chase first — in fact, you should not. Once the new account is open and you have your new account number and routing number, contact your employer's payroll department and give them the new information. This usually takes one pay cycle to take effect, so your next paycheck should land in the new account.
Next, make a list of every automatic payment that comes out of your Chase account. This includes utilities, subscriptions, insurance, loan payments, and anything else that is set to auto-pay. Log into each company's website or call them, and update your payment method to your new account. Do this one by one and write down the date you made the change — some companies take a few days to process the update.
Wait at least one full pay cycle after your paycheck lands in the new account, and wait until you see that all your automatic payments have moved to the new account. This usually takes two to four weeks. During this time, keep your Chase account open and monitor it to make sure nothing unexpected lands there.
What to do with money still in your Chase account
Once you are certain no more deposits or payments are coming, transfer any remaining balance to your new account. You can do this online through Chase's website, through a transfer from your new bank, or by withdrawing cash and depositing it. If your balance is negative — meaning you owe Chase money — you will need to deposit enough to cover it before closing.
If you have a negative balance and do not pay it, Chase will eventually send the debt to a collection agency. This will damage your credit score and make it harder to open accounts at other banks. Pay what you owe before you close.
How to close your Chase checking account
Call Chase at the number on the back of your debit card. Tell them you want to close your checking account. They will ask you to confirm your identity, verify that your balance is zero or positive, and confirm that you understand the account will be closed. The call usually takes five to ten minutes.
If you prefer to close in person, visit a Chase branch with your debit card or a government-issued ID. A banker will walk through the same steps and close the account on the spot. Either way, ask for written confirmation that the account is closed. Chase will mail you a letter, but getting it in writing at the time of closure is helpful if there are questions later.
After closure, you will not be able to use your debit card for that account. If you have checks linked to the account, they will bounce if anyone tries to cash them. Destroy any checks you have left.
What happens to your debit card
Your Chase debit card will stop working once the account is closed, usually within one business day. If you have set up your card for online shopping, bill payments, or other services, those will fail. Before you close the account, update any websites where you have saved this card as a payment method.
Chase will not automatically send you a new debit card for a different account. If you are keeping another Chase account open, you can request a new card for that account. If you are leaving Chase entirely, you do not need to do anything — just destroy the old card once it stops working.
Fees and what you might owe
Chase does not charge a fee to close a checking account. However, if your account is negative when you close it, you will owe that amount. Chase may also charge overdraft fees for any transactions that bounced before you closed the account.
If you had a promotional offer when you opened the account — for example, a bonus for opening a new checking account — closing the account may disqualify you from that bonus or require you to repay it. Check the terms of any promotion before you close. These terms are usually in the email confirmation you received when you opened the account.
After your account is closed
Keep your old Chase account number and routing number in a safe place for at least three months. If a payment or deposit arrives after closure, you will need this information to track it down. Chase will return deposits to the sender, but it can take time, and you want to be able to tell your employer or a biller where the money went.
Check your credit report a few weeks after closing to make sure the account is reported as closed by the account holder, not closed due to inactivity or negative balance. You can view your credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com. If it is reported incorrectly, contact Chase and ask them to correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I close my account and then a check I wrote bounces?
The check will bounce, and the person who tried to cash it will be notified. You may face a returned check fee from the other person's bank. To avoid this, stop writing checks at least two weeks before you close the account, or wait until you are certain all outstanding checks have cleared.
Can I reopen a Chase checking account I closed?
Yes, you can open a new Chase checking account at any time. However, if you closed the account due to a negative balance or fraud, Chase may review your history before approving a new account. If you closed it in good standing, opening a new account is usually straightforward.
What if my employer keeps sending my paycheck to the old Chase account after I close it?
Chase will return the deposit to your employer's bank, and your employer will be notified. Contact your payroll department when ready and confirm they have your new account information. Ask them to resend the paycheck to the correct account. This is why you should wait at least one pay cycle after updating your information before closing the account.
Do I need to close my Chase savings account too?
No. You can close your checking account and keep your savings account open, or vice versa. They are separate accounts and closing one does not affect the other. If you want to close both, follow the same steps for each account separately.
Will closing my Chase account hurt my credit score?
Closing a checking account does not directly affect your credit score because checking accounts are not reported to credit bureaus. However, if you close the account with a negative balance and do not pay it, that debt can be reported and will damage your score. Closing an account in good standing has no credit impact.