The basic steps to cancel a credit card
Call the customer service number on the back of your card. Tell them you want to close the account. They will ask why, but you do not have to give a detailed reason — "I no longer need it" is enough. Write down the date, time, and the name of the person you spoke with.
After you hang up, send a written request by mail or through your online account. Include your account number, the date you called, and a straightforward statement: "I request that you close this account effective [date]." Keep a copy for your records. This creates a paper trail in case there is a dispute later about whether the account was actually closed.
Check your statement 30 to 60 days later to confirm the account shows as closed. Some issuers mark it "closed by customer" and others mark it "closed by issuer" — both mean the same thing. If it still shows open, call again and ask why.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on your card, speak to a representative, and request closure — do not rely on email or online chat alone.
- Follow up with a written request by mail or find message so you have proof the closure was requested.
- Pay off any remaining balance before closing, because you cannot use the card once it is closed.
- A closed account stays on your credit report for up to 10 years and can still help your credit history if it was in good standing.
- Closing a card reduces your total available credit, which may raise your credit utilization ratio and temporarily lower your credit score.
Why closing a card affects your credit score
Your credit score depends partly on your credit utilization ratio — the amount of credit you are using divided by the amount available to you. If you have a $5,000 limit and carry a $1,000 balance across all cards, your utilization is 20 percent. When you close a card with a $2,000 limit, you lose that $2,000 of available credit, and your utilization ratio goes up even if your balance stays the same.
A higher utilization ratio typically lowers your score, sometimes by 10 to 20 points. The effect is temporary — it recovers as you pay down balances or as the closed account ages. The older the closed account, the less it matters to your score.
If the card you are closing has a long history of on-time payments, closing it removes a positive account from your active credit mix. This is a smaller effect than utilization, but it is real. Cards with no late payments help your score more than cards with a spotty history.
When to pay off the balance before closing
You must pay off any remaining balance before the account closes, or the issuer will not close it. Even a $5 balance will keep the account open. Pay the full amount owed, wait for the payment to post (usually 3 to 5 business days), then call to confirm the balance is zero before requesting closure.
If you have a promotional 0% interest period that has not ended, closing the card may trigger interest on the remaining balance at the regular rate. Check your cardholder agreement or call and ask before you close. Sometimes it is worth keeping the card open until the promotional period ends, even if you do not use it.
What happens to rewards points and cash back
Redeem any rewards or cash back before you close the account. Once the account is closed, you typically cannot earn new rewards, and some issuers delete unused points after a set period of inactivity. Check your account to see how many points you have and what they are worth, then redeem them for a statement credit, travel, or a gift card — whichever your card offers.
Read your rewards program terms before closing. A few issuers let you keep points after closure, but most do not. If you have a small balance of points that is not worth redeeming, ask the issuer whether they will expire or whether you can keep them.
Closing a card versus leaving it open and unused
Leaving a card open with a zero balance costs you nothing and preserves your available credit. The card stays on your credit report and continues to show a positive payment history if it was in good standing. Your credit utilization ratio stays lower because you still have that credit limit available, even if you never use it.
The downside is that some issuers close accounts for inactivity — usually after 12 months with no charges. If that happens, the issuer closes it, not you, and the effect on your score is the same as if you had closed it yourself. You can avoid this by charging something small to the card once or twice a year, like a subscription or a small purchase you pay off when ready.
If you are closing the card because you are worried about overspending or carrying a balance, leaving it open is risky. In that case, closing it is the safer choice, even if your score dips temporarily.
Closing a card with an annual fee
If your card charges an annual fee and you do not want to pay it, you have two options before closing. First, call and ask if the issuer will waive the fee. Many will waive it once or twice if you have been a customer for years and have a good payment history. If they refuse, ask if they can downgrade you to a different card from the same issuer that has no annual fee. This keeps the account open and preserves your credit history without the fee.
If neither option works, close the card. Do not let the fee post and then close it — close it before the fee charges. Check your statement to see when the annual fee is due, and call a few weeks before that date.
Authorized users and joint accounts
If someone else is an authorized user on your card, closing the account removes them from it. Let them know before you close so they are not surprised when the card stops working. If the card is a joint account — meaning both of you are equally responsible for the debt — both of you must agree to close it, and you both must contact the issuer or sign the written request.
Closing a joint account affects both people's credit reports. If one person wants to close it and the other does not, the issuer will not close it without both signatures. In that case, you may need to pay off your share of the balance and ask to be removed as a joint account holder instead, though not all issuers allow this.
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 raises your utilization ratio. The effect is usually 10 to 20 points and recovers over time as you pay down other balances. If the card had a long payment history, the impact may be slightly larger.
How long does it take for a credit card to close?
The account usually closes within 1 to 2 weeks after you request it, though some issuers take up to 30 days. Check your statement or log into your account after 30 days to confirm it shows as closed. If it still shows open, call and ask why.
Can I reopen a closed credit card account?
Some issuers will reopen an account if you ask within a few months of closing it, but this is not may provide. If you think you might need the card again, consider leaving it open with a zero balance instead of closing it. Once it is closed for a year or more, reopening becomes much harder.
What should I do with the physical card after I close the account?
Cut the card in half or shred it so it cannot be used. You do not need to return it to the issuer unless they ask you to. Destroying it prevents someone from finding it and attempting to use it.
Do I need to close all my credit cards?
No. Close only the cards you do not want. Keeping multiple cards with zero balances actually helps your credit score because it lowers your overall utilization ratio. Close a card only if you are paying an annual fee, worried about overspending, or genuinely do not need it.