How to close a Discover Bank account
To close a Discover Bank account, call Discover's customer service at 1-800-347-2000 and tell them you want to close the account. They will ask you to verify your identity, confirm you have no pending transactions, and may ask why you're leaving. After you confirm, the account closes immediately, though it can take a few business days for any remaining balance to be processed and any automatic payments to stop.
You do not need to visit a branch or submit a written request—a phone call is the standard method. Have your account number ready when you call, and make sure you've moved any money you want to keep to another bank first. If you have a debit card linked to the account, it will stop working once the account is closed.
Key Takeaways
- Call Discover customer service at 1-800-347-2000 to close your account; the process takes one phone call and closes immediately.
- Transfer any money you want to keep to another bank before closing, because you cannot access the account after it shuts down.
- Cancel any automatic bill payments or direct deposits linked to the account at least a few days before closing to avoid failed transactions.
- Your Discover debit card will stop working once the account closes, so destroy it or wait for it to expire.
- If you have a negative balance or owe money, the account cannot close until that is resolved.
What to do before you call to close
Before you contact Discover, move any money you want to keep out of the account. Once the account is closed, you cannot access it, and retrieving money after closure is difficult and slow. Transfer funds to another bank account you control using online banking, a wire transfer, or an ACH transfer—all three take one to three business days.
Next, cancel or update any automatic payments or direct deposits tied to the account. If your paycheck goes directly to Discover, change the deposit location in your employer's payroll system. If bills are set to auto-pay from the account, log into each biller's website and update the payment method or cancel the automatic transfer. Do this at least three to five business days before closing the account to make sure the changes take effect.
Check your account for any pending transactions—refunds, transfers, or charges that have not yet posted. Wait for these to clear before closing. If you close while a transaction is still pending, it may fail or bounce, and you will have to contact Discover to resolve it after the account is already closed.
The phone call to Discover
Call 1-800-347-2000 during business hours. Have your account number, Social Security number, and a form of ID ready. Discover will verify your identity by asking security questions or requesting information from your account.
Tell the representative you want to close the account. They may ask why you are leaving or offer to keep the account open with a different product—you can decline. Confirm that you have no pending transactions and that you have moved your money. The representative will process the closure, and the account will close immediately.
Ask the representative for a confirmation number and note the date and time of the call. This protects you if there is a dispute later about whether the account was actually closed.
What happens after the account closes
Your Discover debit card stops working right away. You do not need to do anything with it—just destroy it or let it expire. Do not try to use it, because transactions will be declined.
Any remaining balance in the account will be mailed to you as a check within one to two weeks, or Discover may offer to transfer it to another bank account. If you have a negative balance—meaning you owe Discover money—the account cannot close until that is paid. Contact Discover to arrange payment before closing.
Automatic payments that were set to come out of the account may fail if you did not cancel them beforehand. If a payment fails, the biller will contact you. Update your payment method with each biller to prevent late fees or service interruptions.
If you have a loan or credit product with Discover
Closing a checking or savings account does not affect a Discover personal loan, credit card, or home loan. Those products are separate and will remain open unless you close them separately. If you have a loan and want to close it, you must pay off the full balance first, then contact Discover to close the loan account.
If you have a Discover credit card, closing your bank account does not close the card. You can keep using the card and pay the bill from a different bank account. If you want to close the credit card itself, that is a separate process and requires a different call or online request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reopen my Discover account after closing it?
Discover does not reopen closed accounts. If you want to bank with Discover again, you must open a new account. There is no waiting period, and you can open a new account immediately after closing the old one.
What if I forgot to cancel automatic payments before closing?
Contact the biller directly and update your payment method. If a payment was declined because the account was closed, the biller may charge a fee. Call Discover to confirm the account is closed and get a confirmation number to show the biller as proof.
Will closing my account hurt my credit score?
Closing a bank account does not affect your credit score. Bank accounts do not appear on your credit report. Only loans and credit cards impact your credit.
How long does it take for the account to fully close?
The account closes immediately when you call, but it can take three to five business days for all pending transactions to clear and for automatic payments to stop processing. Any remaining balance is mailed within one to two weeks.
Do I need to close the account in person at a Discover branch?
Discover does not have physical branches. You must close the account by phone at 1-800-347-2000 or through online banking if that option is available in your account settings.