How to Cancel a Bank of America Credit Card

You can close your Bank of America credit card account in three ways: over the phone, by mail, or in person. However, there are some things you should know before officially canceling your credit card, so you don’t cost yourself money or damage your credit score.

If you’re on the fence about deactivating your Bank of America account, there are alternatives you can explore.

What to know before canceling your Bank of America credit card

Closing a credit card account has some hidden consequences you should consider before you take steps to officially shut down your Bank of America credit card account. Here are some things to consider before ending your line of credit:

• You’ll lose your points: According to Bank of America, you’ll forfeit any unredeemed rewards on your Bank of America credit card when you close your account. Make sure to cash out on your points, miles, or cashback rewards before you formally cancel your card.
• You won’t get your annual fee back: If you’ve already paid an annual fee for your Bank of America credit card, you won’t get any of it refunded when you cancel—even if you still have most of the year left. Unless you’re also paying monthly fees, consider waiting to cancel until right before your next annual fee is due, so you can continue taking advantage of your Bank of America credit card’s benefits in the meantime.
• You’ll still get billed: If you leave an unpaid balance on your Bank of America credit card, the debt won’t disappear when you close the account. Instead, you’ll continue to be billed until the balance is paid in full, even if your Bank of America account is fully closed.
• Your credit score may drop: Canceling a credit card may affect your credit utilization ratio and your credit age (though the latter will only be affected in your VantageScore, not your FICO score). Both of these are factors in your credit score, so you may see a slight drop in points when you shut down your Bank of America credit account.

How to close a Bank of America credit card account

There are multiple ways to cancel a Bank of America credit card. Here’s how to close your Bank of America account using the best method for you.

How to cancel a Bank of America credit card by phone

To cancel your Bank of America credit card by phone, call (800) 732-9194.

Tell the agent you want to cancel your credit card and provide your account information.

How to cancel a Bank of America credit card by mail

To cancel your Bank of America credit card by mail, send a letter detailing your request to cancel and account information to the following address:

Bank of America

P.O. Box 982234

El Paso, TX 79998-2234

How to cancel a Bank of America credit card in person

To cancel your Bank of America credit card in person, visit a Bank of America branch and speak to a bank employee. You can find the nearest branch to you by searching the Bank of America branch locator.

Alternatives to canceling your Bank of America credit card

If you’re not yet set on closing your Bank of America credit card for good, consider one of these alternatives.

Request a different card

If your current Bank of America credit card isn’t serving your needs well enough, consider requesting a credit card upgrade or downgrade.

If your card costs too much in fees that you don’t feel are offset by rewards, call the number on the back of your Bank of America credit card and ask if you can downgrade to a less expensive card.

If your current Bank of America credit card doesn’t offer enough rewards or benefits, call the number on the back of your card and request an upgrade to a better card. Note that whether they accept your request will likely be based on your Bank of America borrowing history and current credit standing.

Request a credit limit increase

Considering canceling your Bank of America credit card because you need more credit? Don’t pull the trigger until you’ve first tried requesting a credit limit increase.

To get a Bank of America credit limit increase, call the number on the back of your credit card.

Negotiate your interest rate

If a high interest rate is what’s giving you pause about your Bank of America credit card, consider calling the number on the back of the card and negotiating your credit card interest rate. You may be able to get a lower interest rate if your credit score has improved or if you’re facing unexpected difficulties (like job loss or divorce).

Freeze your card

You may want to cancel your card to resist the temptation of overspending on credit. If you’ve been purchasing past your limit, putting your card away for a while is a great idea. However, you may want to freeze your card rather than close your Bank of America account entirely.

Freezing, or locking, your Bank of America credit card renders the card unusable until you choose to unfreeze it. There are no charges or penalties for freezing a Bank of America credit card.