You can close your Navy Federal checking account by phone, in person, or by mail — the fastest route is a call to member services
Navy Federal will close your account once you've paid any outstanding fees or negative balance, moved your money out, and confirmed you have no pending transactions. The process itself takes minutes on the phone, but the account may take a few business days to fully close after that. You don't need to close it in person at a branch — a phone call to 1-888-842-6328 (the main member services line) is the standard way.
Before you call, make sure your account balance is zero or positive. If you owe money or have overdraft fees, you'll need to settle those first. Navy Federal won't close an account with a negative balance, and they may send it to collections if you ignore it. Once the balance is clear and any pending checks or transfers have cleared, you're ready to close.
Key Takeaways
- Call Navy Federal member services at 1-888-842-6328 to close your account — this is faster than visiting a branch or mailing a request.
- Your account balance must be zero or positive; you cannot close an account that owes money or has unpaid overdraft fees.
- Wait for any pending checks, ACH transfers, or automatic payments to clear before closing, or they may bounce and create fees.
- Ask the representative for written confirmation of the closure, including the date the account will be fully closed.
- If you have a linked savings account or other Navy Federal products, closing your checking account does not automatically close those.
What to do before you call Navy Federal
Transfer any money you want to keep to another bank account. You can do this online through Navy Federal's website, through your other bank's transfer tool, or by having Navy Federal mail you a check. If you use automatic bill pay through Navy Federal, log in and cancel or redirect those payments to your new account now — don't wait until after you close the account, or bills may not get paid.
Check for any pending transactions. Look at your recent activity and your scheduled transfers or payments. If you have a check you wrote that hasn't cleared yet, wait for it to post before closing. Same with any ACH transfers you initiated — they can take three to five business days to complete. If you close the account while a transaction is still pending, it may bounce and create a returned-item fee.
Write down your account number. You'll need it when you call, and it makes the process faster. You can find it on a check, your debit card, or by logging into your Navy Federal account online.
How to close your account by phone
Call 1-888-842-6328 during Navy Federal's business hours. Member services is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Have your account number and a form of ID ready — the representative may ask for your Social Security number or date of birth to verify you're the account holder.
Tell the representative you want to close your checking account. They'll confirm your balance is zero or positive, check for any pending transactions, and ask if you want them to mail you a check for any remaining balance. If your balance is negative or you have unpaid fees, they'll tell you the amount and ask how you want to pay it. You can pay by debit card or bank transfer over the phone.
Ask for a confirmation number and the date the account will be fully closed. Write this down. The representative should also confirm that any linked accounts (savings, money market, credit card) will remain open unless you specifically ask to close those too.
Closing your account by mail or in person
If you prefer not to call, you can visit a Navy Federal branch in person and ask to close your account. Bring your ID and your account number. The process is the same — they'll verify your balance, handle any outstanding fees, and give you a receipt confirming the closure.
You can also send a written request to Navy Federal's address, but this is slower. Include your full name, account number, and a statement that you want to close the account. Mail it to Navy Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 179, Merrifield, VA 22116. Include a copy of your ID. It may take two to three weeks for them to process a mailed request, and you won't know if there's a problem until they contact you.
What happens to your debit card and online access
Your Navy Federal debit card will stop working once the account is closed, usually within a few business days. If you have automatic payments set up on that card with other companies, those will fail. Before you close the account, update your payment methods with any merchants or service providers that charge your Navy Federal card.
Your online and mobile banking access to that account will also disappear once it's closed. If you have other Navy Federal accounts, you'll still be able to access those. If this was your only Navy Federal account and you want to keep online banking access to other products (like a credit card), make sure you have another account or product linked to your login.
If your account has a negative balance or unpaid fees
Navy Federal will not close an account with a negative balance. If you owe money, you have two options: pay the balance over the phone when you call to close, or pay it separately and then call back to close the account once it's settled.
If you ignore a negative balance, Navy Federal may freeze the account and eventually send it to a collections agency. This will damage your credit and may result in calls or letters from a debt collector. It's faster and cheaper to pay the balance yourself, even if it's small.
What to do after the account is closed
Keep the confirmation number and closure date for your records. If you set up automatic payments with other companies and forgot to update them, those payments will bounce. You may see returned-payment fees from those companies, but you can contact them and explain that your account closed. Many will waive a single returned-payment fee if you update your payment method right away.
If Navy Federal sends you a check for any remaining balance, deposit it into your new bank account. If the check gets lost in the mail, contact Navy Federal with your confirmation number and they can issue a replacement or transfer the money to another account you provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing my Navy Federal checking account affect my credit score?
Closing a checking account does not directly affect your credit score — checking accounts don't appear on your credit report. However, if you close the account with a negative balance and don't pay it, Navy Federal may report it to collections, which will hurt your credit. Pay any balance before closing.
Can I reopen my Navy Federal checking account after I close it?
Yes, you can open a new Navy Federal checking account after closing one. There's no waiting period. However, if you closed it with an unpaid balance or outstanding fees, Navy Federal may ask you to settle those before opening a new account.
What if I have a pending direct deposit scheduled to arrive after I close my account?
The deposit will bounce and be returned to your employer or the source. Contact Navy Federal before closing and ask them to delay the closure until after the deposit clears, or update your direct deposit information with your employer to send it to your new bank account instead.
Do I need to close my Navy Federal savings account if I'm closing my checking account?
No. Closing your checking account does not close any other accounts you have with Navy Federal. You'll need to close your savings account separately if you want to close that too. Tell the representative during your call if you want to close multiple accounts at once.
What if Navy Federal says I can't close my account?
Navy Federal can only refuse to close an account if there's a negative balance or pending legal action (like a court order or tax levy). If they cite another reason, ask to speak with a supervisor. If the issue is a negative balance, pay it first and then call back to close.