Call your card issuer and request closure
The first step is to contact the credit card company directly. Call the customer service number on the back of your card or find it on your online account. Tell them you want to close the account. They may ask why, but you are not required to give a reason — a straightforward "I'd like to close this card" is enough.
Before you call, make sure you have paid off any balance on the card. Most issuers will not close an account with an outstanding balance, and if they do, you will still owe the money. If you have a balance, pay it down to zero first, then call to request closure.
Ask the representative to confirm in writing that the account is closed at your request. This creates a record that protects you if the card issuer later reports the account as closed by them instead of by you — a small distinction that can affect how it appears on your credit report.
Key Takeaways
- Pay off any remaining balance before calling to close the account, because most issuers will not process closure requests on accounts with debt.
- Request written confirmation of closure to may support the account is marked as closed by your request, not by the issuer.
- Closing a card reduces your total available credit, which can raise your credit utilization ratio and temporarily lower your credit score.
- If you have had the card for a long time, closing it removes that account history from your credit mix, which may affect your score more than closing a newer card.
- After closure, continue to monitor your credit report to confirm the account appears closed and to watch for any unauthorized activity.
Understand how closure affects your credit score
Closing a credit card does not erase your payment history with that card — that record stays on your credit report for seven years. However, closure does change two factors that affect your score: your credit utilization ratio and your credit mix.
Credit utilization is the percentage of your total available credit that you are currently using. If you have three cards with $5,000 limits each ($15,000 total) and carry a $3,000 balance, your utilization is 20 percent. If you close one of the $5,000 cards, your total available credit drops to $10,000, and that same $3,000 balance now represents 30 percent utilization. Higher utilization can lower your score.
The impact is usually temporary and modest — often a few points — but it is real. If you are planning to explore for a mortgage or loan in the next few months, closing a card right before that process may not be the best timing.
Decide whether to close older or newer cards
If you have multiple cards and want to minimize the score impact, close the newest one rather than the oldest. Credit age — the average age of your accounts — is part of your credit score. Closing an old account removes that history from the calculation and can lower your average age more than closing a card you opened recently.
For example, if you have one card opened 15 years ago and another opened 2 years ago, closing the newer card has less effect on your credit age than closing the older one. The older account will continue to show in your history even after closure, but it will no longer be counted as an active account.
What to do with the physical card
After the issuer confirms closure, cut up the card or destroy it so it cannot be used. Do not straightforward throw it away intact. Some people prefer to keep one card in a safe place as proof of the account, but this is not necessary — your credit report and the written confirmation from the issuer are your records.
If the card is a joint account, make sure both account holders agree to closure before you proceed. Closing a joint account affects both people's credit reports.
Monitor your credit report after closure
Check your credit report 30 to 60 days after closure to confirm the account appears as closed. You can request a free report from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — once per year at annualcreditreport.com. You can also pull reports more frequently through your bank or credit card issuer if they offer free monitoring.
Look for the closed account in your report and verify that it shows as closed by your request, not by the issuer. If it shows incorrectly, contact the bureau in writing to dispute it. Also watch for any accounts or inquiries you do not recognize, which could signal fraud.
Handle rewards points or cash back before closure
If your card earns rewards or cash back, use or redeem those points before you close the account. Most issuers will let you redeem them after closure, but policies vary — some may cancel unused points when an account closes. Check your account online or call customer service to find out your issuer's policy, and redeem any balance you have before the account is officially closed.
If you have a large rewards balance, contact the issuer before you close to confirm how and when you can redeem it. Do not assume you will be able to redeem after closure.
Consider keeping the card open if you rarely use it
If the card has no annual fee and you do not carry a balance, keeping it open costs you nothing and helps your credit score by maintaining your available credit and your account age. Many people close cards they think they do not need, only to regret it later when they realize the score impact was larger than expected.
If the card does have an annual fee and you do not use it, closure makes more sense. You can also call the issuer and ask them to waive the annual fee or downgrade you to a no-fee version of the card — many issuers will do this to keep your account open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing a credit card hurt my credit score?
Closing a card typically lowers your score temporarily because it reduces your available credit and may lower your average account age. The impact is usually small — a few points — and the score often recovers within a few months. The longer-term effect depends on how old the card is and how many other accounts you have.
Can I close a credit card with a balance?
Most issuers will not close an account with an outstanding balance. You must pay the balance down to zero first. After closure, you can still use the card to make payments on any remaining balance until it is paid off, but you cannot make new purchases.
What happens to my rewards points when I close the card?
Policies vary by issuer. Some let you redeem points after closure; others cancel unused points when the account closes. Check your issuer's policy before you close and redeem any balance you have. Call customer service if you are unsure.
How long does it take to close a credit card?
Closure is usually when ready once you call and confirm your request. The account will stop accepting new charges right away. It may take 30 to 60 days for the closure to appear on your credit report.
Should I close old cards or new cards?
If you must close a card, close a newer one rather than an older one. Older accounts help your credit age, and removing them from your active accounts can lower your score more than closing a card you opened recently.