The person must be removed by the account owner at the bank, not by the other person
You cannot remove someone from a joint bank account by yourself if they are a co-owner with equal rights. The bank requires the account owner (or both owners, depending on the account structure) to request the removal in person, by phone, or through online banking. The person being removed does not have the power to take themselves off, and you cannot do it without their knowledge or the bank's involvement.
The process differs slightly depending on whether the account is truly joint (both people own it equally) or whether the other person is simply an authorized user. A joint owner has legal rights to the money and the account. An authorized user can access and use the account but does not own it. Removing an authorized user is faster and simpler than removing a joint owner.
The bank you use will have its own forms and procedures, but the basic steps are the same across most institutions: contact your bank, confirm your identity, specify which person to remove, and complete any required paperwork. Some banks allow this online; others require a visit to a branch or a phone call with verification.
Key Takeaways
- Authorized users can be removed by the account owner alone; joint owners typically require both people's consent or a court order.
- Contact your bank directly by phone, in person, or through online banking to start the removal process.
- You will need to provide the other person's full name, Social Security number or tax ID, and date of birth.
- The bank may freeze the account temporarily or require written notice to the other person before the removal takes effect.
- If the account has a negative balance or pending transactions, the bank may delay removal until those are resolved.
Authorized users versus joint owners: which one is the other person
An authorized user is someone you gave permission to use the account, but you remain the sole owner. You can remove an authorized user at any time without their consent. The bank will deactivate their debit card, close their online access, and they will no longer be able to make transactions. This is the simpler path and usually takes one phone call or a few minutes online.
A joint owner is someone whose name appears on the account title with equal legal rights. Both of you own the money in the account. Removing a joint owner is harder because that person has a legal claim to the account. Most banks require both owners to agree to the removal, or they require a court order showing that one owner has the right to remove the other. Some banks will allow the primary account holder to remove a joint owner unilaterally, but this varies by institution and state law.
Check your account paperwork or call your bank to confirm which status the other person has. Ask the bank directly: "Is [name] a joint owner or an authorized user?" The answer determines what you can do and how long it will take.
Steps to remove an authorized user
Contact your bank through the method that works fastest for you. Most banks offer removal through online banking (log in, go to account settings, find the authorized users section, and select remove), by phone (call the customer service number on your card or statement), or in person at a branch. Online is usually the quickest if your bank offers it.
Have the other person's information ready: their full name as it appears on the account, their date of birth, and their Social Security number or tax ID if the bank asks for it. The bank will verify your identity (usually by asking for your account number, PIN, or answers to security questions) and then process the removal.
The authorized user's debit card will stop working immediately or within one business day. Their online and mobile app access will be closed. If they have pending transactions (like a subscription charge scheduled to post), those may still go through if they were already authorized before the removal. Ask the bank whether pending transactions will be blocked or allowed.
Steps to remove a joint owner
Call your bank and ask what their policy is for removing a joint owner. Some banks allow the primary account holder to remove a joint owner unilaterally; others require both owners to visit a branch together or provide written consent from both parties. A few banks will only remove a joint owner if you provide a court order.
If your bank requires both owners' consent, you will need to have that conversation with the other person and bring them to the bank or have them sign a removal form. If the other person refuses or is unreachable, you may need to close the account entirely and open a new one in your name alone, or pursue a court order through your state's civil court system.
If your bank allows unilateral removal, you will still need to provide the joint owner's information and may need to sign an affidavit stating that you are the primary account holder and have the right to make this change. The bank may send written notice to the other person's address on file, informing them that they have been removed. This protects the bank from liability if the other person disputes the removal later.
What happens to money in the account during removal
The money in the account belongs to whoever owns it, regardless of whose name is on the account. If the account is joint, both owners have equal legal claim to all the money. If the account is in your name alone and the other person is an authorized user, the money is yours. Removing someone does not change who owns the money.
If you are removing a joint owner and there is a dispute over who owns the money, the bank may freeze the account until the dispute is resolved. This can take weeks or months. If you are concerned about the other person withdrawing money before removal takes effect, ask the bank whether they can place a hold on the account or limit withdrawals while the removal is processed.
If the account has a negative balance (you owe the bank money), the bank may not process the removal until the balance is paid. Similarly, if there are pending transactions or holds on the account, removal may be delayed.
Removing someone from a savings account versus a checking account
The removal process is the same for both savings and checking accounts. The main difference is that a checking account may have automatic payments, direct deposits, or recurring transactions set up. Before removing someone from a checking account, verify that no bills or paychecks are tied to that account, or those payments may fail.
If the other person receives direct deposit to this account, removing them will not stop the deposits automatically. You will need to contact the employer or the entity sending the deposit and ask them to update the account information. If you do not, the deposits may continue to go into the account even after the person is removed, and you may end up holding money that does not belong to you.
When you cannot remove someone and what to do instead
If the other person is a joint owner and your bank requires both owners' consent, and that person refuses to cooperate or is unreachable, you have limited options. You can close the account entirely, but the bank will not release the money to you alone if the other person has a legal claim to it. You may need to go to civil court to get a court order allowing you to remove the joint owner or divide the money.
If there is a domestic violence situation or a restraining order involved, contact your bank's fraud or security department and explain the situation. Some banks have procedures to remove someone from an account without their consent if there is a court order or documented abuse. You may also be able to open a new account at a different bank and transfer your portion of the money there, though the other person may dispute this.
If the account is overdrawn or has a negative balance, the bank may not allow removal until the balance is resolved. Contact the bank and ask what needs to happen before removal can proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the other person be notified that I removed them?
It depends on your bank and whether they are an authorized user or joint owner. Most banks send written notice to the address on file. Authorized users may not receive notice; joint owners usually do. Ask your bank what notification they send and to whom before you request removal.
Can I remove someone if they owe me money?
Removing someone from the account does not recover money they owe you. If they are a joint owner, they have a legal claim to the money in the account regardless of whether they are on the account. If you need to recover a debt, you may need to pursue it through small claims court or civil court, separate from the account removal.
What if we share the account for bills and I need to keep it open?
You can remove them as an authorized user and keep the account open in your name alone. If they are a joint owner, you will need to either close the account and open a new one, or get their consent to remove them. You can set up automatic payments or transfers from your account to pay shared bills without keeping them on the account.
How long does removal take?
Authorized user removal usually takes one business day to one week. Joint owner removal can take two to four weeks if both parties consent, or longer if there is a dispute or if a court order is required. Ask your bank for a specific timeline when you request removal.
Can I remove someone if they have a negative balance on a debit card?
If the authorized user has a negative balance (they owe the bank money through overdraft fees), the bank may not process removal until that balance is paid. Contact the bank and ask whether the debt must be resolved before removal can happen, or whether removal will simply close their access and leave the debt as the account owner's responsibility.