Call Chase to close your account, not the website
Chase does not let you close a credit card through their website or mobile app. You must call the phone number on the back of your card and speak to a representative. They will ask you why you want to close the account, confirm your identity, and process the closure on the call. The account will close within one to two business days.
Have your card in front of you when you call. Chase will ask for the last four digits and may ask security questions to verify you are the account holder. If you are closing an account that is not in your name, you will need to be an authorized user or have power of attorney to close it.
If you have a balance on the card, you can still close it. Chase will send you a bill each month until the balance is paid in full. Closing the account does not erase what you owe.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your Chase card to close it—there is no online option.
- Have your card ready and be prepared to answer security questions to confirm your identity.
- If you have a balance, you will continue to receive bills after closure until the debt is paid.
- Ask the representative to confirm the closure in writing and note the date the account closes.
- Check your credit report a few weeks later to confirm the account shows as closed.
What happens to your credit when you close a Chase card
Closing a credit card can lower your credit score in the short term because it reduces your total available credit. If you had a $5,000 limit and close that card, your available credit drops by $5,000, which can raise your credit utilization ratio on your remaining cards. This effect is usually temporary and fades over several months as you build payment history on other accounts.
The closed account will stay on your credit report for seven to ten years, depending on whether it was in good standing. An account closed in good standing (no missed payments) helps your credit history longer than one closed with a negative mark. Either way, the account will eventually fall off your report.
If you are worried about the impact on your score, you can also ask Chase to convert the card to a different product instead of closing it. For example, you might downgrade a rewards card to a no-annual-fee card and keep the account open. This preserves your credit history and available credit without the cost of the annual fee.
Pay off your balance before closing if you can
If you have a balance on the card, pay it off before you call to close the account. This is not required—you can close an account with a balance—but it simplifies the process. Once the account is closed, you cannot make new charges, but you will still owe the balance and will receive monthly statements.
If you have a large balance, ask the Chase representative whether you can set up a payment plan or whether the account will be converted to a fixed-rate loan after closure. Some cards offer this option; others do not. The representative can tell you what to expect.
If you have a promotional interest rate (like 0% APR for 12 months), closing the card may end the promotion early. Check your card terms or ask the representative before you close whether the rate will change.
What to do with the physical card after closure
After you close the account, cut up the physical card or shred it. Do not throw it in the trash intact. The card number and expiration date are printed on the front, and someone could find it and attempt to use it. Cutting the card in half or shredding it takes a few seconds and eliminates this risk.
You do not need to return the card to Chase by mail. Destroying it yourself is sufficient. If you have multiple cards from the same account (like a primary card and an authorized user card), destroy all of them.
Timing: when to close a Chase card
Close a Chase card after you have paid off the balance and after you have moved any recurring charges (subscriptions, insurance, utilities) to another card. If you close a card that still has automatic payments set up, those payments will fail and you may miss a due date on another account.
Check your statements from the past three months to see what charges hit this card regularly. Update those merchants with a new card number before you close the account. This usually takes a few minutes per merchant and prevents late payments or service interruptions.
If you are closing the card because of an annual fee, close it before the next fee posts. Chase typically charges the annual fee on the anniversary of the account opening. If the fee is coming up in the next week or two, call now. If it is months away, you have time to plan.
If you want to keep the card but remove the annual fee
Before you close a Chase card, call and ask whether the representative can downgrade it to a no-annual-fee version. Many Chase cards have a no-fee sibling—for example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, but you can downgrade to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, which has no annual fee. The downgrade keeps your account open, preserves your credit history, and eliminates the fee.
The representative may also offer you a statement credit or waive the fee for one year if you ask. This is not may provide, but it is worth asking before you close the account. Say something like: "I am thinking about closing this card because of the annual fee. Is there anything you can do to help me keep it open?"
If the representative says no, you can still close the account. But asking takes 30 seconds and sometimes results in a fee waiver or credit.
Confirming the closure and checking your credit report
After you close the account, ask the representative to send you a written confirmation. This confirmation should include the account number, the date the account closed, and a statement that the account is closed at your request. Save this email or letter in case you need proof of closure later.
Check your credit report two to four weeks after closure to confirm the account shows as closed. You can view your credit report for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com. All three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) should show the account as closed. If one bureau is missing the update, contact that bureau directly to request the correction.
If you see the account still listed as open after a month, call Chase again and ask them to confirm the closure with the credit bureaus. This is rare, but it happens occasionally and is worth checking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close a Chase credit card over the phone if I am not the primary account holder?
Only the primary account holder can close the account. If you are an authorized user, you cannot close the account yourself. The primary account holder must call Chase and request closure. If you are a co-owner of the account, you may be able to close it, but Chase will verify your relationship to the account first.
What if I have a balance and close the account—will I still get charged interest?
Yes. Closing the account does not stop interest charges. You will continue to accrue interest on the remaining balance at the card's regular APR until the balance is paid in full. If you have a promotional rate, closing may end the promotion and explore the regular rate instead.
How long does it take for a closed Chase card to stop showing on my credit report?
A closed account stays on your credit report for seven to ten years. An account closed in good standing (no late payments) typically stays for ten years. An account with negative marks may fall off sooner. You cannot remove it yourself, but it will eventually disappear automatically.
Can I reopen a Chase credit card after I close it?
Chase does not reopen closed accounts. If you close a card and change your mind, you would need to explore for a new card. You would go through the full process process again, and Chase would perform a new credit check. The new account would have a different account number and would not restore your original credit history on that card.
What happens to my rewards points when I close a Chase card?
Your rewards points do not disappear when you close the card. Points stay in your account and you can still redeem them after closure. However, some Chase cards have terms that say points expire if the account is closed for a certain period. Check your card's terms or ask the representative about the expiration policy before you close.