Call 5/3 Bank directly or visit a branch to close your account

5/3 Bank (Fifth Third Bank) does not offer account closure through their online banking portal or mobile app. You must contact them by phone or in person. Call their customer service line at 1-800-972-3030 and tell them you want to close your account, or walk into any 5/3 branch with your ID and ask to speak with a banker about closing.

The bank will ask which accounts you want to close—you may have checking, savings, or both. Have your account numbers ready, though the representative can look them up with your ID. If you have any outstanding checks or automatic payments linked to the account, the bank will warn you about those before processing the closure.

5/3 will not charge you a fee to close an account. The closure is usually when ready, though it can take one to two business days for the account to fully disappear from their system.

Key Takeaways

  • 5/3 Bank requires you to close accounts by phone (1-800-972-3030) or in person at a branch—there is no online closure option.
  • You must have a zero balance in the account before closing; the bank will not close an account with money still in it.
  • If you have automatic payments or recurring transfers set up, cancel those before you close the account or they will fail.
  • The closure takes effect when ready, but it may take one to two business days for the account to stop appearing in your online banking.

What to do with money still in the account

5/3 will not close an account that has a balance. Before you call or visit, withdraw all remaining funds or transfer them to another account. You can do this through 5/3's online banking, mobile app, or by visiting a branch and asking a teller to move the money.

If you have direct deposits scheduled to hit this account after closure, change the deposit destination in your employer's payroll system or with whoever sends the payment. This usually takes one to three business days to take effect, so do it before you close the account.

Canceling automatic payments and recurring transfers

Any automatic bill payments, transfers to other accounts, or recurring charges linked to the 5/3 account must be stopped before closure. If you do not cancel them, the payments will fail and may trigger overdraft fees or late-payment penalties from the companies you owe.

Log into your 5/3 online banking and look for a section called "Bill Pay" or "Transfers." Review every payment and transfer set to come out of this account and delete each one. If you use 5/3's bill pay service, you may also need to contact the companies you pay directly to update your payment method with them.

Give yourself at least a week to catch any payments you might have missed. Check your email for confirmation that each cancellation went through.

Handling outstanding checks

If you have written checks that have not yet cleared, those checks will bounce after you close the account. Before closing, either wait for all outstanding checks to clear or contact the people or companies you wrote them to and ask them to hold off on depositing.

5/3's customer service representative will ask you about outstanding checks when you call to close. Be honest about how many are out there and when you expect them to clear. If you are unsure, wait another week or two before closing the account.

What happens to pending transactions

Transactions that are pending—meaning they have been authorized but not yet fully processed—may still go through after you close the account. Debit card charges, ATM withdrawals, and online purchases can take one to three days to fully settle, even if you close the account the day after you make them.

If a pending transaction tries to process after closure and there is no money in the account, it will fail. The merchant may charge you a fee for the failed payment. For this reason, wait until you are certain all pending transactions have cleared before you close.

Closing a joint account

If the account is held jointly with another person, both account holders must agree to close it. 5/3 will not close a joint account without consent from all owners. If you and the other person disagree, you cannot unilaterally close the account.

If you want out of a joint account but the other person does not, your options are limited. You can ask 5/3 to remove your name from the account (called a removal or conversion), though this requires the other person's signature. Alternatively, you can stop using the account and let the other person manage it, but you remain legally responsible for any overdrafts or fees.

After your account closes

Once 5/3 confirms the closure, you will no longer be able to log into that account online. Any debit card linked to the account will stop working. If you had a checkbook, those checks are now worthless—destroy them or write "ACCOUNT CLOSED" on them.

5/3 will keep records of the closed account for seven years for tax and fraud-prevention purposes. If you need a statement or proof that the account is closed, you can request it from customer service. Keep your own records of the closure date and final balance in case you need them for tax purposes or to dispute a charge later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my 5/3 account online?

No. 5/3 does not offer online account closure. You must call 1-800-972-3030 or visit a branch in person. The phone route is usually faster if you are not near a branch.

What if I have a negative balance or owe 5/3 money?

You must pay the negative balance before closing. 5/3 will not close an account in the red. If you owe fees or overdraft charges, ask the representative how much you owe and pay it before the closure is processed.

How long does it take for my 5/3 account to fully close?

The closure is usually when ready when you call or visit, but it can take one to two business days for the account to disappear from your online banking and for any pending transactions to fully clear.

Will closing my 5/3 account hurt my credit score?

Closing a bank account does not directly affect your credit score. However, if you close the account while owing money or have unpaid fees, those may be reported to credit agencies or sent to collections, which would hurt your score.

What if I closed my account but a payment still tried to go through?

Contact 5/3 customer service and explain the situation. If the payment failed because the account was closed, the merchant will see the failed transaction. You may need to contact the merchant directly to resolve any fees they charged for the failed payment.