Keep the Change does not automatically move to a new checking account
When you open a new checking account, your Keep the Change savings account stays with your old account. The program is tied to the specific checking account you enrolled in, so switching banks or opening a new account at the same bank means your Keep the Change savings stops accumulating. You have to manually set it up again with your new checking account if you want to keep using it.
This matters because many people assume their savings features follow them when they move money. Keep the Change is different — it is a separate product linked to one account number, not a feature that travels with you as a customer.
Key Takeaways
- Keep the Change savings stops working the moment you stop using the old checking account, even if you stay with the same bank.
- You can set up Keep the Change on your new checking account through your bank's app or website, but you have to do it yourself.
- Any money already in your Keep the Change savings account stays there — it does not disappear or transfer automatically.
- If you close the old checking account before moving your Keep the Change savings, contact your bank to confirm the savings account remains open and accessible.
How Keep the Change is linked to your checking account
Keep the Change works by rounding up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and moving the difference into a linked savings account. Because the program is built around your specific checking account number, it cannot follow you when you switch accounts. The bank's system knows to round up transactions from account A, but it has no instruction to do the same for account B.
This is true whether you are switching to a different bank entirely or opening a new account within the same bank. The old account and the new account are separate in the system, so Keep the Change does not automatically activate on the new one.
What to do with your existing Keep the Change savings
Money in your Keep the Change savings account does not vanish when you close the old checking account. The savings account is a separate product, and most banks keep it open even after the linked checking account closes. You can still access that money — you just need to know how.
Before closing your old checking account, log into your bank's app or website and check your Keep the Change balance. Write down the account number of your savings account. When you close the checking account, ask the bank to confirm in writing that your savings account will remain open and accessible. Some banks allow you to transfer the savings balance to your new checking account's savings product, while others require you to withdraw it or leave it in the old savings account.
Setting up Keep the Change on your new account
Once your new checking account is open and active, you can enroll in Keep the Change through your bank's mobile app or website. The process is the same as the first time you set it up: you choose whether to round up to the nearest dollar on every debit card purchase, and you link it to a savings account where the rounded-up amounts will go.
Some banks let you link it to an existing savings account you already have. Others create a new savings account as part of the enrollment. Check your bank's specific steps, because the process varies slightly depending on which bank you use.
Timing matters when you switch accounts
If you are planning to close your old checking account, do not close it the same day you open the new one. Keep the Change transactions can take a day or two to post, so if you close the account too quickly, you might miss some rounded-up amounts that were in process. Close the old account at least three to five business days after you have stopped using the debit card.
Also, make sure your new account is fully activated and you have received your new debit card before you close the old one. If you close the old account and your new card has not arrived yet, you will have a gap where you cannot make purchases and Keep the Change cannot work.
Banks that offer Keep the Change
Keep the Change is offered by Bank of America, Capital One, and some other banks, but not all banks have this program. If you are switching to a bank that does not offer Keep the Change, you will lose access to the program entirely — though your existing savings balance will still be yours to withdraw.
Before you switch banks, check whether your new bank offers Keep the Change or a similar round-up savings program. Some banks call it by a different name — "Round Up" or "Spare Change" — but the concept is the same. If your new bank does not have a round-up program and you want to keep saving that way, you may need to manually transfer money to savings after purchases, or look for a different bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Keep the Change savings to my new bank?
Not directly. Your Keep the Change savings stays in the account it was created in. You can withdraw the money and deposit it into a savings account at your new bank, or you can leave it in the old account and access it from there. Contact your old bank to confirm the savings account will stay open after you close the checking account.
What if I forget to set up Keep the Change on my new account?
Nothing happens — the program simply does not run. Your debit card purchases will not round up, and no money will move to savings. You can set it up at any time after opening the new account, and it will start working on your next purchase.
Do I lose money if I close my checking account before moving Keep the Change?
No. The savings account is separate from the checking account, so your balance stays safe. However, contact your bank before closing the checking account to confirm the savings account will remain open and to get the account number so you can access it later.
Will Keep the Change work if I use my old debit card after switching accounts?
No. Once your old checking account is closed, the debit card tied to it stops working. Keep the Change only works with an active checking account, so you must use your new debit card and have Keep the Change set up on your new account.