The basic process: what you need to do
To close a bank account, contact your bank directly—by phone, in person, or through their website—and tell them you want to close the account. The bank will ask you to confirm your account number and identity, then walk you through their specific steps. Most banks close accounts within one to five business days, though some may hold the account open for a short period to catch any pending transactions.
Before you call, make sure you have moved any money out of the account and stopped any automatic payments or direct deposits that use it. The bank will not close an account with a negative balance, and they will not transfer money to another account for you—you have to do that yourself.
If you have a joint account, both account holders usually need to agree to close it. If you are the only person on the account, you can close it alone.
Key Takeaways
- Move all your money out of the account before you call the bank, because they will not close an account with a negative balance.
- Stop all automatic payments, direct deposits, and subscriptions tied to that account number at least a week before closing.
- Contact your bank by phone, in person, or online to request closure, and confirm the account is fully closed in writing or by checking your statement.
- If the account has a negative balance, you must pay it off before the bank will close it.
- Keep records of the closure for at least one year in case a delayed payment or billing error surfaces later.
Stop automatic payments and direct deposits first
Any recurring payment tied to your account—a subscription, insurance premium, loan payment, or utility bill—will bounce if you close the account while it is still active. The merchant or creditor will then charge you a returned-payment fee, usually $25 to $35, and may report the failed payment to credit bureaus.
Log into each service that pulls money from this account and update the payment method at least one week before you plan to close. This includes payroll direct deposits: contact your employer's payroll department and give them your new account number if you are switching banks, or confirm they have stopped the deposits if you are closing the account entirely.
Check your bank statement for the past three months to catch any recurring charges you may have forgotten about—streaming services, gym memberships, insurance, loan payments. Search your email for receipts or confirmation emails from subscriptions. If you find a charge you do not recognize, contact that merchant before closing the account.
Withdraw or transfer your remaining balance
Move all money out of the account before you contact the bank. You can transfer funds to another account at the same bank or a different bank using an internal transfer, ACH transfer, or wire transfer. You can also withdraw cash at an ATM or teller window.
If you have a small balance—under $25—some banks will let you leave it and close the account anyway. Call ahead and ask. If you have a negative balance, you must deposit money to bring it to zero before the bank will close the account. The bank will not close an account that owes them money.
If you are closing the account because of a dispute or fraud, tell the bank that when you call. They may freeze the account instead of closing it immediately while they investigate.
Contact the bank and request closure
Call the customer service number on the back of your debit card or on the bank's website. Have your account number and a government-issued ID ready. Tell the representative you want to close the account and confirm that all automatic payments have been stopped and the balance is zero.
The representative will ask you to confirm your identity, may ask why you are closing the account, and will walk you through any final steps. Some banks require you to visit a branch in person if you have a joint account or if there are outstanding holds on the account.
Ask the representative for a confirmation number and the date the account will be closed. Write this down. Then ask them to send you written confirmation of the closure by email or mail.
Confirm the closure on your next statement
Check your bank statement one to two weeks after the closure date. The account should no longer appear on your statement, or it should show a status of "closed" with a zero balance. If the account still shows as active or if there are any charges after the closure date, contact the bank immediately.
Keep the confirmation email or letter from the bank for at least one year. If a merchant tries to charge the closed account and a payment bounces, you will have proof that the account was closed on a specific date. This protects you if the merchant claims you owe a returned-payment fee.
What to do if the bank will not close the account
A bank can refuse to close an account if you owe money on it, if there are pending transactions, or if there are legal holds (such as from a court order or tax authority). If the bank says it cannot close the account, ask them specifically what is blocking the closure and what you need to do to remove that block.
If you owe money, pay it. If there are pending transactions, wait for them to clear. If there is a legal hold, you will need to contact the agency that placed it—usually a court, the IRS, or a creditor's attorney—to have it lifted. The bank cannot remove a legal hold on its own.
If the bank is refusing to close the account for a reason that seems unfair or unclear, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. The CFPB investigates complaints against banks and can order them to take action.
Closing an account with a negative balance
If your account is overdrawn—meaning you owe the bank money—you must pay the negative balance before they will close it. The amount you owe includes the overdraft itself plus any overdraft fees the bank charged. You can pay this by transferring money from another account, depositing cash, or sending a check.
Once you have paid the negative balance and brought the account to zero, the bank will close it. If you do not pay the negative balance, the bank may send the debt to a collection agency, which will report it to credit bureaus and may sue you to recover the money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to close a bank account?
Most banks close accounts within one to five business days after you request closure. Some banks may keep the account open for up to 30 days to catch any delayed transactions or automatic payments you may have missed. Ask your bank for their specific timeline when you call.
Can I close a joint account if the other person does not want to?
No. Both account holders must agree to close a joint account. If you and the other person disagree, you can remove yourself from the account by converting it to a single-name account, but the other person must consent to that change as well. If you cannot reach agreement, you may need to open a separate account and move your portion of the money out.
What happens to checks I wrote before closing the account?
Checks can take weeks to clear. If you close the account before a check clears, it will bounce and the recipient will be charged a returned-check fee. Contact anyone you recently wrote a check to and let them know the account is closing. Ask them to deposit the check quickly or provide an alternative payment method.
Do I need to close the account in person?
Most banks let you close an account by phone or online. Some banks require an in-person visit if you have a joint account, if there are holds on the account, or if the account has unusual activity. Call your bank and ask whether you can close by phone before making a trip to the branch.
Will closing a bank account hurt my credit score?
Closing a checking or savings account does not directly affect your credit score because banks do not report checking or savings accounts to credit bureaus. However, if you close the account while it has a negative balance and do not pay it, the bank may send the debt to a collection agency, which will hurt your credit.