The basic steps to close a bank account

To close a bank account, contact your bank directly—either by phone, in person at a branch, or through your online banking portal. The bank will ask you what to do with any remaining balance (they can send a check, transfer it to another account, or you can withdraw it in cash). Once you confirm, the bank closes the account, usually within a few business days. You will stop receiving statements and the account number becomes inactive.

The process itself is straightforward because banks handle account closures regularly. You do not need a reason to close an account, and most banks will not ask for one. What takes longer is making sure you have not left anything behind—unpaid fees, automatic payments still running, or direct deposits still going to that account.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact your bank by phone, in person, or through online banking to request closure, and tell them what to do with any remaining money.
  • Before closing, cancel or redirect any automatic payments, direct deposits, or recurring charges tied to that account.
  • Check your account for pending transactions and outstanding fees, which the bank may deduct before sending your final balance.
  • Ask the bank for written confirmation of the closure and keep it for your records in case the account appears on your credit report later.
  • If you have a joint account, both owners usually must agree to close it, and the bank will ask how to split any remaining balance.

What to do before you close the account

Before you call the bank, spend a few minutes checking what is still connected to the account. Log into your online banking and look at the last few transactions. Are there any automatic payments—insurance, utilities, subscriptions, gym memberships—still being charged? These will bounce or fail once the account closes, which can hurt your credit or cause service interruptions. Contact each company and update your payment method to a different account or card.

Next, check whether your paycheck or any other regular deposits go to this account. If they do, contact your employer or the organization sending the deposit and provide your new account number. This usually takes one pay cycle to take effect, so do this before closing the old account. If you have a joint account with someone else, make sure you both agree to close it and decide how to split any remaining balance.

Finally, let any pending transactions settle. If you wrote a check that has not cleared yet, wait until it does. If you made a recent transfer, confirm it went through. The bank will not close an account with outstanding transactions, and even if they do, the transaction may fail.

How to contact your bank to close the account

You have three main ways to close an account: by phone, in person, or online. Phone is fastest if your bank has a customer service line—look for the number on your debit card or bank statement. Have your account number ready. The representative will confirm your identity, ask what to do with your balance, and process the closure on the spot. They will usually give you a confirmation number.

If you prefer to do it in person, visit a branch with a photo ID and your debit card. A teller can close the account immediately and hand you a check for your balance if you ask, or transfer the money to another account. This is useful if you want to withdraw cash or have questions the phone line cannot answer.

Some banks let you close accounts through their online portal or mobile app. Log in, find the account settings or help section, and look for a "close account" option. Online closure is convenient but may take longer to process, and you will not get immediate confirmation. If you use this method, follow up with a phone call to make sure the closure went through.

What happens to your remaining balance

Any money left in the account after the bank deducts outstanding fees belongs to you. You tell the bank what to do with it when you request the closure. The most common options are a check mailed to your address on file, a transfer to another bank account you own, or a withdrawal in cash at a branch.

If you choose a check, it usually arrives within one to two weeks. If you choose a transfer, provide the routing number and account number of the receiving bank, and the transfer typically completes within three to five business days. If you withdraw cash, the teller will give it to you immediately, but you will need to visit a branch in person.

If you forget to tell the bank what to do with your balance, they will usually mail you a check. However, if the account has an outstanding balance (meaning you owe the bank money), they will deduct it from your remaining funds or send you a bill.

Outstanding fees and what the bank might deduct

Banks can deduct certain fees from your final balance before sending it to you. The most common are monthly maintenance fees (if the account has not yet been charged for the current month), overdraft fees from recent transactions, and fees for bounced checks. Some banks also charge a closure fee, though this is less common. Check your account agreement or ask the bank what fees might apply.

If your account is overdrawn—meaning you owe the bank money—the bank will not close it until you pay the balance. You can deposit money to cover the overdraft, or ask the bank to deduct it from another account you have with them. If you do not pay, the bank may send your account to a collections agency, which will appear on your credit report.

Closing a joint account

If the account is in both your name and someone else's, both of you usually must agree to close it. The bank will ask how to divide any remaining balance—you can split it equally, give it all to one person, or have the bank send separate checks. If one person wants to close the account and the other does not, the bank may not allow it. In that case, one option is to ask the bank to remove your name and leave the other person as the sole owner, though this is not the same as closing.

If you are in a dispute with a joint account holder and cannot agree on closure, contact the bank's customer service department. They can explain your options, which may include having a manager review the situation or requiring both parties to sign a closure form in person.

Getting confirmation and keeping records

After the bank closes your account, ask for written confirmation. This can be a confirmation number from a phone call, an email receipt from online closure, or a printed receipt from a branch visit. Keep this for your records. If the account appears on your credit report later (which sometimes happens if there were unpaid fees), you will have proof that you closed it properly.

Also keep any statements from the final month of the account. These show the last transactions and any fees deducted. If a check or transfer takes longer than expected, you can use the confirmation number to follow up with the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my account if I have a negative balance?

No. If your account is overdrawn, you must pay the negative balance first. You can deposit money to cover it, ask the bank to deduct it from another account you own, or set up a payment plan. Once the balance is zero or positive, you can close the account.

How long does it take to close an account?

If you close in person or by phone, the account closes immediately. If you close online, it may take one to three business days. Any remaining balance sent by check takes one to two weeks to arrive. Transfers to another bank account usually complete within three to five business days.

Will closing my account hurt my credit score?

Closing a checking or savings account does not directly hurt your credit score because these accounts do not appear on your credit report. However, if the account has unpaid fees that go to collections, that can damage your credit. Closing the account does not erase outstanding debts.

What if I closed my account but money is still being charged to it?

Contact the bank immediately. If a company tried to charge a closed account, the transaction should have been rejected. If it went through, the bank may have reopened the account temporarily or the charge may have been pending before closure. The bank can investigate and reverse the charge if it was not authorized.

Do I need to close my account in person, or can I do it by phone?

You can close most accounts by phone or online without visiting a branch. In-person closure is useful if you want to withdraw your balance in cash or prefer to speak face-to-face, but it is not required. Check with your bank about which methods they offer.