How to Close Your Bank of America Account Online

You can close most Bank of America accounts through their website or mobile app without visiting a branch

Bank of America lets you close checking and savings accounts online through their website or mobile app. The process takes a few minutes, but you need to handle a few things first — mainly making sure your account balance is zero and that no automatic payments are still linked to it. If you have a credit card, mortgage, or investment account with Bank of America, those close through different paths.

Before you start, withdraw or transfer any remaining money in the account. Bank of America will not close an account that still holds funds. You should also cancel any automatic bill payments, direct deposits, or transfers tied to that account at least a few days before you close it.

Key Takeaways

• Your account balance must be zero before Bank of America will close it — withdraw or transfer any remaining money first.
• Cancel all automatic payments, direct deposits, and recurring transfers linked to the account at least a few days in advance.
• You can close the account through the Bank of America website or mobile app by going to your account settings.
• Credit cards, mortgages, and investment accounts require different closure steps and cannot be closed through the same online path as deposit accounts.
• If you have a debit card attached to the account, it will stop working once the account closes.

Steps to close your checking or savings account online

Log into your Bank of America account on their website or open the mobile app. Navigate to your account settings — this is usually found in a menu labeled "Settings" or under your profile icon. Look for an option that says "Close Account" or "Account Services." Bank of America groups this under account management, not under a general help section.

Select the specific account you want to close from your list of accounts. Bank of America will show you a confirmation screen that lists the account number and type. Review this carefully to make sure you are closing the right account, especially if you have multiple checking or savings accounts. At this point, Bank of America will ask you to confirm that your balance is zero and that you have no pending transactions.

Complete any additional information Bank of America requests. This might include a reason for closing (though this is optional) or confirmation that you have canceled automatic payments. Once you submit the closure request, you will receive a confirmation number. Save this number — it serves as proof that you requested the closure.

What to do before you close the account

Withdraw all remaining money or transfer it to another account. You can do this through the Bank of America website, mobile app, or by visiting a branch. If you have a small balance that you want to leave behind, Bank of America will not close the account until that balance reaches zero. Some accounts charge a monthly maintenance fee, so leaving money behind means you could be charged fees even after you think the account is closed.

Cancel all automatic bill payments that pull from this account. Log into each biller's website or app — your utility company, insurance provider, subscription services, and any other recurring charges — and update the payment method to a different account or payment source. Do not rely on the account closure to stop these payments, because failed transactions can create problems with those billers and damage your payment history.

Stop any direct deposits from your employer or other sources. Contact your employer's payroll department or the organization sending the deposit and provide them with a new account number, or ask them to pause deposits until you have set up a new account elsewhere. Direct deposits that arrive after you close the account will be returned to the sender, which can delay your pay.

Deactivate any linked transfers or recurring money movements. If you have set up automatic transfers between Bank of America accounts or to accounts at other banks, cancel those through the Bank of America website before closing. Transfers scheduled to occur after the account closes will fail.

What happens to your debit card and checks

Your Bank of America debit card will stop working when ready once the account closes. If you have checks linked to this account, they will no longer be valid. Destroy any remaining checks or debit cards to prevent someone from trying to use them. Bank of America does not automatically destroy these items when you close the account.

If you have pending checks that have not yet cleared, wait for them to process before closing the account. A check that arrives after the account is closed will be returned to the person who wrote it, marked as "account closed." This can create confusion and delays, especially if it is a check from your employer or an important payment.

Closing credit cards, mortgages, and other products

Credit cards do not close through the same online path as deposit accounts. To close a Bank of America credit card, call their credit card customer service line (the number is on the back of your card) or log into your credit card account online and look for a "Close Account" option under card settings. When you close a credit card, make sure the balance is paid in full first.

Mortgages and home equity lines of credit cannot be closed online. You will need to contact Bank of America's mortgage department directly or visit a branch. Investment accounts and brokerage accounts also require a phone call or branch visit to close.

If you have multiple products with Bank of America and want to close all of them, you may find it faster to visit a branch or call customer service. A representative can walk through each account type and make sure everything closes properly.

What to expect after you submit the closure request

Bank of America typically processes account closures within a few business days. You will receive a confirmation email at the address on file. Keep this email along with the confirmation number you received when you submitted the request.

After the account closes, you will no longer see it in your online banking portal. Any statements or tax documents related to that account will still be available in your Bank of America account history for a set period. If you need records after the account is closed, read or print them before you close it.

If you closed the account but still see it in your online banking portal after a week, contact Bank of America customer service to confirm the closure went through. Occasionally a technical issue can prevent the account from fully closing on the first attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my account if I still have a small balance?

No. Bank of America requires the account balance to be exactly zero before they will close it. Withdraw or transfer any remaining funds, even if it is just a few cents. Some accounts charge monthly fees, so leaving a balance behind means you could be charged even after closure.

What if I have a pending direct deposit that hasn't arrived yet?

Wait for the direct deposit to arrive and clear before you close the account. If you close the account before the deposit arrives, the money will be returned to your employer or the sending organization, and you will have to contact them to resend it to a new account.

Will closing my account hurt my credit score?

Closing a checking or savings account does not affect your credit score. Credit scores are based on credit history, not on deposit accounts. However, closing a credit card can have a small impact on your credit score because it reduces your total available credit.

Can I reopen the account after I close it?

Bank of America may allow you to reopen a closed account within a certain timeframe, but this depends on how the account was closed and your banking history with them. Contact Bank of America directly if you need to reopen an account you recently closed.

What if the online closure option is not working?

If you cannot find the close account option or the online process is not working, call Bank of America customer service or visit a local branch. A representative can close the account over the phone or in person and can troubleshoot any technical issues preventing the online closure.