How to close a Bank of America account

You can close a Bank of America checking or savings account by phone, in person at a branch, or through the mobile app. Before you close, withdraw or transfer any remaining balance, pay off any outstanding fees or overdrafts, and make sure no automatic payments or direct deposits are still linked to the account. Bank of America does not charge a fee to close an account, but the process takes a few business days to complete after you initiate it.

The fastest method is calling Bank of America's customer service at 1-800-432-1000. Have your account number ready. A representative will confirm your identity, review any remaining balance, and process the closure. If you have a debit card linked to the account, they will deactivate it during the call.

Key Takeaways

  • You can close your account by phone (1-800-432-1000), in person at any Bank of America branch, or through the mobile app without paying a fee.
  • Before closing, withdraw your balance, cancel automatic payments and direct deposits, and settle any overdraft fees or negative balances.
  • The account closure takes three to five business days after you initiate it, even though the representative may tell you it is closed immediately.
  • Bank of America will mail you a final statement showing the account closure and any remaining activity within 30 days.
  • If you have a mortgage, credit card, or other Bank of America products, closing a checking or savings account does not affect them.

Withdraw your money and cancel automatic payments first

Before you call or visit a branch, move any money out of the account. You can transfer the balance to another bank using an external transfer, withdraw it as cash at a Bank of America ATM or teller, or move it to another Bank of America account you own. If you leave money in the account when you close it, the bank will mail you a check for the remaining balance, which can take one to two weeks.

Next, stop any automatic payments or recurring charges tied to the account. Log into your Bank of America online banking or mobile app, find the bill pay or transfers section, and cancel each one. Check your email for confirmation from each service (utilities, subscriptions, insurance, loan payments) that the payment method has been removed. If you have direct deposit set up, contact your employer's payroll department and provide them with your new bank account number so future paychecks go to the right place.

Pay off any overdraft fees or negative balance. If your account is overdrawn, Bank of America will not close it until the balance is zero or positive. Transfer money in from another account or deposit cash to cover the overdraft, then wait for the transaction to post (usually one business day) before closing.

Close by phone, in person, or through the app

By phone: Call 1-800-432-1000 and say you want to close your account. Have your account number and a form of ID ready. The representative will verify your identity, confirm the account balance, and process the closure. They will also deactivate your debit card. The call usually takes five to ten minutes.

In person: Visit any Bank of America branch with a photo ID and your debit card or account number. A teller will review your account, confirm the balance, and submit the closure request. Bring any outstanding checks or pending transactions to their attention so they can note them in the file. Closing in person can take longer if the branch is busy, but you will have a paper record of the request.

Through the mobile app: Open the Bank of America app, go to Settings, select the account you want to close, and look for a "Close Account" or "Manage Account" option. Not all account types can be closed through the app; if the option does not appear, you will need to call or visit a branch. The app will guide you through confirming your identity and reviewing the balance before submitting the request.

What happens after you submit the closure request

Bank of America processes account closures within three to five business days. During this time, the account is still technically open, and any checks or transfers you wrote before closing may still post. If a check or automatic payment clears after you close the account, the bank will honor it and may reopen the account temporarily to process the transaction, then close it again.

Your debit card will stop working immediately after you close the account, even if the account closure is still processing. If you have a PIN-based ATM card separate from your debit card, that will also be deactivated. Any pending transactions (like gas pump charges or hotel holds) may still post for up to 30 days after closure.

Bank of America will mail you a final statement within 30 days showing the account closure date and any final activity. Keep this statement for your records. If you do not receive it within 45 days, call customer service to request a copy.

Reasons Bank of America might refuse to close your account

Bank of America will not close an account if it has a negative balance (you owe the bank money). You must deposit funds to bring the balance to zero before the closure can proceed. If the account is overdrawn by more than a small amount, the bank may require you to pay the full overdraft fee before processing the closure.

If you have an active dispute or claim filed against the account, the bank may place a hold on the closure until the dispute is resolved. This is rare but can happen if you reported fraud or filed a chargeback. Contact the dispute department to check the status before trying to close.

Accounts with outstanding liens or legal judgments against them cannot be closed until the lien is released. If you are in this situation, you will need to resolve the legal matter first.

What to do if you need to reopen the account

If you close your account and then realize you need it back, you can reopen it within 30 days by calling 1-800-432-1000 or visiting a branch. After 30 days, the account is permanently closed and cannot be reopened. You will need to open a new account instead, which requires a new application and may involve a new account number.

If checks or automatic payments post after you close the account, the bank will reopen it temporarily to process those transactions. Once they clear, the account will close again automatically. You do not need to do anything; the bank handles this on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 Bank of America does not report deposit account activity to credit bureaus. However, if you close the account while it has an unpaid overdraft fee or negative balance, the bank may send it to collections, which will harm your credit. Pay any outstanding balance before closing.

What happens to my checks after I close the account?

Any checks you wrote before closing the account will still be processed if they are deposited after closure. The bank will honor them and may temporarily reopen the account to clear the check, then close it again. Notify anyone you wrote checks to that your account is closing so they can deposit them quickly.

Can I close my account if I have a Bank of America credit card or mortgage?

Yes. Closing a checking or savings account does not affect your credit card, mortgage, or other Bank of America products. Each product is separate, and closing one does not close the others. Your credit card and mortgage will continue to work normally.

How long does it take to get my money back if I leave a balance in the account?

Bank of America will mail a check for any remaining balance within 30 days of the account closure. The check will be sent to the address on file. It usually takes five to seven business days for the check to arrive after the bank mails it, plus time for it to clear once you deposit it at another bank.

Do I need to close my account in person, or can I do it over the phone?

You can close your account over the phone without visiting a branch. Calling 1-800-432-1000 is the fastest method and takes about five to ten minutes. In-person closure is optional and useful only if you want a paper record or have questions the representative cannot answer clearly over the phone.