Call Bank of America or go online to close your card
The fastest way to close a Bank of America credit card is to call their customer service line at 1-800-732-9194. A representative will walk you through the closure, confirm your account details, and process the request on the spot. You can also close the account online through your Bank of America login by navigating to the card settings, though the phone route gives you a record of the conversation and a chance to ask questions before the account closes.
Before you call or log in, make sure your card balance is paid in full. Bank of America will not close an account with an outstanding balance. If you have a balance, pay it down first—you can do this online, by phone, by mail, or at a branch. Once the balance hits zero, you can proceed with closure.
Have your card number and the phone number associated with your account ready when you contact them. The process itself takes about 10 minutes, and the account will close within a few business days after you request it.
Key Takeaways
- Pay your full credit card balance before requesting closure—Bank of America will not close an account with money owed.
- Call 1-800-732-9194 or log into your Bank of America account online to request closure; the phone route gives you a confirmation record.
- Closing a credit card can lower your credit score because it reduces your total available credit and may increase your credit utilization ratio.
- Your closed account will remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, so the damage to your score fades gradually over time.
- If you have pending transactions or recurring charges on the card, cancel those subscriptions or payment arrangements before you close the account.
What happens to your credit score when you close a card
Closing a credit card typically lowers your credit score, sometimes by 10 to 50 points depending on your overall credit profile. The damage comes from two directions: your total available credit shrinks (if the card had a $5,000 limit, that $5,000 disappears from your credit mix), and your credit utilization ratio climbs if you carry balances on other cards.
Credit utilization is the percentage of your total available credit that you are actually using. If you have $10,000 in total credit limits across all your cards and you owe $2,000, your utilization is 20 percent. Close a card with a $5,000 limit and your total available credit drops to $5,000—now that same $2,000 debt means 40 percent utilization, which signals higher risk to lenders.
The impact is temporary. Your score will recover as you continue to pay bills on time and reduce other balances. The closed account itself stays on your credit report for up to 10 years, but its weight in your score calculation fades after a few years.
Cancel subscriptions and recurring charges before closure
If you have automatic payments or recurring charges tied to this card—subscriptions, gym memberships, insurance premiums, loan payments—you must cancel or redirect them before you close the account. Bank of America will close the card, and any charge that tries to process after closure will be declined. This can trigger late fees, service interruptions, or account suspensions with the merchant.
Go through your recent statements and look for any recurring charges. Contact each merchant directly to update your payment method or cancel the service. This takes time, so do it at least two weeks before you plan to close the card. If you miss one and a charge bounces, the merchant will contact you—but you will have already closed the card and may not see the notice right away.
What to do if you have a balance you cannot pay immediately
If you owe money on the card and cannot pay it all at once, you have two options: keep the card open and pay down the balance over time, or request a payment plan with Bank of America before closure.
Keeping the card open while you pay is the simpler route. You can set up automatic monthly payments online, and the card stays active until the balance is zero. Once it is paid off, you can close it. This avoids the credit score hit of closure while you still owe money, and it gives you time to manage the debt without pressure.
If you want the account closed immediately despite the balance, call 1-800-732-9194 and explain your situation. Bank of America may allow you to close the account while keeping a payment plan in place, though this is not may provide. The card will close, but you will continue to receive statements and can make payments by mail, phone, or online until the debt is settled.
How long the closure takes and what to expect after
After you request closure, Bank of America typically closes the account within 3 to 5 business days. You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail within 7 to 10 days. Your online account access will disappear once the closure is complete, so download or screenshot any statements you need for your records before that happens.
The card itself remains valid for a short period after closure—merchants may still be able to process charges for a few days. Do not use it. If a charge does go through after closure, contact Bank of America immediately to dispute it.
Your credit report will show the account as "closed by consumer" rather than "closed by creditor," which is better for your credit score. The account will age on your report and gradually become less relevant to your score calculation. After seven years, it will fall off your report entirely, though some credit bureaus may keep it for up to 10 years.
Reasons to keep the card open instead
Before you close the account, consider whether keeping it open might serve you better. If the card has no annual fee, there is no cost to leaving it open. An open account with a zero balance actually helps your credit score by lowering your utilization ratio and showing a longer credit history.
If you opened this card years ago, closing it shortens your average account age, which can dent your score. Older accounts carry more weight in credit calculations, so closing a long-standing card hurts more than closing a new one.
A middle ground is to keep the card open but stop using it. Put it in a drawer, set a small recurring charge to it (like a streaming service you already pay for), and pay it off monthly. This keeps the account active and helps your credit profile without requiring you to actively manage it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing my credit card hurt my credit score?
Yes, closing a credit card typically lowers your score by 10 to 50 points because it reduces your available credit and may increase your utilization ratio. The impact is temporary and fades over time as you continue to pay other bills on time and reduce other balances. If the card has no annual fee, keeping it open with a zero balance actually helps your score more than closing it.
Can I close my Bank of America credit card if I still owe money on it?
Bank of America will not close an account with an outstanding balance through the normal closure process. You must pay the balance in full first. If you cannot pay it all at once, you can keep the card open while you pay it down, or call customer service to ask about closing the account while maintaining a payment plan—though this is not may provide to be approved.
What happens to my rewards points when I close the card?
Your rewards points will remain in your Bank of America account after the card closes, and you can still redeem them. Log into your account online or call customer service to check your points balance and choose a redemption option. Do this before closure to avoid confusion, though you can also do it after the account is closed.
How do I make sure all my subscriptions are moved off the card before I close it?
Review your last three months of statements and identify any recurring charges. Contact each merchant directly—do not rely on Bank of America to notify them. Update your payment method with each one or cancel the service. Do this at least two weeks before you plan to close the card to give merchants time to process the change.
Will my closed credit card account stay on my credit report?
Yes. Your closed account will appear on your credit report for up to 10 years, marked as "closed by consumer." It will continue to affect your credit score for several years, but its impact weakens over time as newer accounts and payment history become more relevant. After seven to ten years, it will fall off your report entirely.