The fastest way to close your account

Call Citizens Bank customer service at 1-800-922-9999 and tell them you want to close your checking account. Have your account number ready. They will ask whether you want to close just the checking account or all your accounts with the bank, confirm your identity, and walk you through any final steps — usually within 5 to 10 minutes. You can also visit a Citizens Bank branch in person with your ID and ask to close the account there.

Before you call, make sure you have paid all outstanding checks and automatic payments tied to that account. Citizens Bank will not close an account with pending transactions. If you have direct deposits coming in, you will need to update your employer or the paying organization with a new account number or payment method.

After you close the account, Citizens Bank will send you a final statement showing any remaining balance. If there is money left, they will mail you a check or transfer it to another account you specify. If the account is overdrawn, you will owe that amount.

Key Takeaways

  • Call 1-800-922-9999 or visit a branch with your ID to close your checking account; the process takes about 10 minutes.
  • Stop all automatic payments and pending checks before closing, or the bank will not process your request.
  • Update your employer or any organization sending direct deposits so payments go to a different account.
  • Citizens Bank will mail you a check for any remaining balance or transfer it to another account you provide.
  • If your account is overdrawn, you remain responsible for paying that amount even after closing.

What happens to automatic payments and direct deposits

Any automatic payments set up on your checking account — bills, subscriptions, loan payments — will fail once the account closes. The merchant or creditor will receive a rejection notice, but you are responsible for making sure those payments move to a new account or payment method before you close. Log into your online banking or call each company individually to update their records.

Direct deposits work the same way. If your paycheck, Social Security, tax refund, or other regular deposit is set to go to this Citizens Bank account, it will bounce back to the sender once the account closes. Contact your employer's payroll department, the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or whoever sends the deposit and provide them with your new account details. This can take one to two pay cycles to take effect, so plan ahead.

If you miss updating a payment or deposit, the transaction will fail and you may face late fees from the creditor or a delay in receiving funds. The bank cannot redirect these payments for you.

Handling a negative balance or overdraft

If your checking account has an overdraft — meaning you owe the bank money — Citizens Bank will not close the account until you pay it. You can pay the overdraft by transferring money from another account, depositing cash or a check at a branch, or paying over the phone with a debit card or bank account.

Even if you close the account, you remain legally responsible for any negative balance. If you do not pay it, Citizens Bank may report it to ChexSystems, a banking history database that other banks use to decide whether to open accounts for you. This can make it harder to open a new checking account elsewhere for several years.

Timing and what to expect after closing

Citizens Bank closes most checking accounts the same day you request it, though it can take up to one business day for the closure to appear in their system. Any checks you have written that have not yet cleared will still go through — the bank will honor them even after the account is closed, so do not assume a closed account stops old checks.

Your debit card linked to that account will stop working immediately. If you have a Citizens Bank savings account or other products, closing your checking account does not affect them unless you specifically ask to close those too.

Citizens Bank will keep records of your closed account for a set period. If you need a copy of old statements or transaction history, you can request them from the bank, though they may charge a fee for statements older than a certain date.

Reopening an account if you change your mind

If you close your Citizens Bank checking account and later want to reopen one, you can do so by visiting a branch or calling customer service. However, if your account was closed due to a negative balance that you never paid, or if it was flagged for suspicious activity, the bank may deny your request to open a new account. You would need to resolve the old debt first.

If your account was simply closed at your request with no issues, reopening is usually straightforward and takes the same time as opening a new account — typically a few minutes in a branch or online.

Alternatives if you want to keep banking with Citizens Bank

If you are closing your checking account because you are unhappy with fees, service, or account features, consider whether switching to a different Citizens Bank account type might work instead. Citizens Bank offers several checking account products with different fee structures and minimum balance requirements. You could transfer your balance to a different account rather than closing entirely, which keeps your banking history and account number intact.

If you want to keep a Citizens Bank savings account or money market account but close only the checking account, you can do that. Just tell the bank you want to close the checking account specifically, not all your accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my Citizens Bank checking account online?

Citizens Bank does not allow you to close a checking account through their website or mobile app. You must call 1-800-922-9999 or visit a branch in person. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized closures.

What if I have a pending check that has not cleared yet?

Citizens Bank will still honor checks written on your account even after you close it, as long as the check was written before the closure and the funds are available. The check will clear against your closed account. Do not count on a closed account to stop payment on a check — if you need to stop a check, contact the bank before closing and request a stop payment order, which costs a fee.

How long does it take to receive my remaining balance after closing?

If Citizens Bank mails you a check for your remaining balance, it typically arrives within 5 to 10 business days. If you ask them to transfer the balance to another account, it usually posts within 1 to 3 business days. Ask the bank which option they offer when you close.

Will closing my Citizens Bank account hurt my credit score?

Closing a checking account does not directly affect your credit score because checking accounts do not appear on your credit report. However, if you close the account with an unpaid overdraft, that debt can be reported and may harm your score.

What if I forgot to update a bill payment before closing?

Contact the company or creditor immediately and provide them with a new payment method or account number. Explain that your old account closed. Most companies will accept a late payment without penalty if you contact them quickly. If you miss a payment deadline, you may face a late fee, but communicating proactively usually prevents credit reporting.