Close your account in person, by phone, or by mail — Bank of America does not charge a fee

You can close a Bank of America savings account through any of three methods: visit a branch in person with your ID, call 1-800-432-1000 and ask for account closure, or send a written request by mail to your local branch. Bank of America does not charge a closure fee. The process takes a few minutes by phone or in person; by mail, allow 5 to 10 business days after the bank receives your letter.

Before you close, make sure your account balance is zero or move any remaining money to another account. If you have pending transactions or automatic deposits scheduled, cancel or redirect them first — the bank will not close an account with outstanding holds or active transfers in progress.

Key Takeaways

  • You can close your savings account by visiting a branch, calling 1-800-432-1000, or mailing a written request; no fee applies.
  • Your account balance must be zero before closure, so withdraw or transfer any remaining funds first.
  • Cancel automatic deposits, bill payments, or transfers linked to the account before you close it.
  • If you close within a certain timeframe after opening (usually 90 days), the bank may flag the account as closed due to early closure rather than your request.
  • Keep your account number and the date of closure for your records in case you need to dispute a charge later.

What happens to pending transactions and automatic payments

Any automatic deposits, bill payments, or transfers tied to your savings account will fail once the account closes. If you have a paycheck set to deposit into this account, update your employer's payroll system at least one week before closure to redirect it elsewhere. If you have automatic bill payments coming out of this account, log into each biller's website or call them to change the payment method.

Checks written against the account will bounce if they clear after closure. If you suspect a check is still outstanding, wait until it clears before closing, or contact the payee to ask them to resubmit it to a different account.

Closing by phone: the fastest route

Call 1-800-432-1000 and tell the representative you want to close your savings account. Have your account number and a form of ID ready — they may ask you to verify your Social Security number or answer security questions. The representative will confirm your balance is zero, process the closure, and give you a confirmation number. Write down this number and the date.

If your account has a balance, the representative will ask how you want to handle it: they can transfer it to another Bank of America account you own, mail you a check, or in some cases issue a debit card with the funds loaded. The closure itself is immediate, but if they mail a check, allow 5 to 7 business days for delivery.

Closing in person at a branch

Bring your ID and your savings account card or account number to any Bank of America branch. Tell a teller you want to close the account. They will verify your identity, confirm the balance is zero, and process the closure on the spot. You will receive a receipt with a confirmation number and the closure date.

If you have a balance, the teller can transfer it to another account you own, give you cash, or issue a check. Cash is the fastest option if you need the money immediately; a check takes 5 to 7 business days to clear if you deposit it elsewhere.

Closing by mail

Write a letter to your local Bank of America branch requesting closure of your savings account. Include your full name, account number, the date, and your signature. Mail it to the branch address — you can find this on your statement or by calling 1-800-432-1000 and asking for the mailing address of your branch.

Before you mail the letter, make sure your balance is zero and all pending transactions have cleared. The bank will not process a closure request if money is still in the account. Allow 5 to 10 business days after they receive your letter for the closure to complete. If you do not hear back within two weeks, call the branch to confirm they received it.

What to do if the account has a negative balance or holds

If your account is overdrawn, you must deposit money to bring it to zero before the bank will close it. If there is a hold on the account — usually because of a disputed transaction or a returned check — the hold must clear first. Holds typically last 5 to 10 business days, depending on the reason.

If you are unsure whether there is a hold, call 1-800-432-1000 and ask. The representative can tell you the exact reason and when it will lift. Once the hold clears and the balance is zero, you can proceed with closure.

After closure: what you need to know

Once your account is closed, you cannot reopen it under the same account number. If you want to open a new savings account with Bank of America later, you will get a new account number. Keep your closure confirmation number and the date for your records — if a charge appears on your credit report or if someone tries to use the old account number, you will need proof that the account was closed on that date.

Closed accounts remain visible in your Bank of America online banking history for a limited time, usually 12 to 24 months. After that, they may disappear from your account list, but the bank keeps records internally. If you need a statement from a closed account, call 1-800-432-1000 and ask for archived statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will closing my savings account hurt my credit score?

No. Closing a savings account does not affect your credit score because savings accounts are not reported to credit bureaus. Only credit products like credit cards, loans, and lines of credit appear on your credit report. Closing a savings account is a routine banking action with no credit impact.

What if I close the account but a check clears after closure?

The check will bounce and the payee will be notified. Contact the payee immediately and ask them to resubmit the check to your new account, or arrange an alternative payment method. You may also face a returned-check fee from Bank of America if the check was written by you against the closed account.

Can I close my account online?

Bank of America does not offer account closure through its online banking portal or mobile app. You must close by phone, in person, or by mail. Phone closure is the fastest option and takes about 10 minutes.

Do I need to close the account if I just want to stop using it?

No, but closing is cleaner. An unused account with a zero balance will not cost you anything, but it will remain open and tied to your Social Security number. Closing removes it from your active account list and reduces the number of accounts a potential fraudster could target if your information is compromised.

What if I have a linked checking account?

Closing your savings account does not affect your checking account. They are separate products. If you want to close both, you must request closure for each one separately, or tell the representative you want to close both during a single call.