How to Cancel a Chase Credit Card

You can close your Chase credit card account in multiple ways, including online or over the phone. 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 Chase account, there are alternatives you can explore.

What to know before canceling your Chase credit card

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

• You’ll lose your points: According to Chase, you’ll forfeit any unredeemed rewards on your Chase 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. If you’re unable to redeem your points, Chase says you can transfer them to a partner or another credit card before closing your account.
• You won’t get your annual fee back: If you’ve already paid an annual fee for your Chase 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 Chase credit card’s benefits in the meantime.
• Your balance must be paid: Chase requires you to pay your balance in full before closing a credit card account. Make sure your balance is $0 on the account before proceeding to one of the following closure methods.
• 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 Chase credit account.

How to close a Chase credit card account

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

How to cancel a Chase credit card online

To cancel your Chase credit card online, follow these steps:

1. Go to www.chase.com
2. Log in to your Chase account
3. Once you’re inside the online account management page, go to the dropdown menu on the left side of your screen and select “Secure Messages”
4. Click “I have a question about one of my accounts”
5. Select which credit card you want to close
6. Follow instructions for closing the account

How to cancel a Chase credit card by phone

To cancel your Chase credit card by phone, follow these steps:

1. Call Chase phone support at: (800) 432-3117
2. Request to cancel your credit card
3. Be prepared to be given a counter-offer to keep the card open
4. If you’re sure you want to close the account, say “no” and continue with the process
5. You’ll be asked to confirm that you don’t have an existing balance on the card

How to cancel a Chase credit card by mail

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

Chase Card Services

201 N. Walnut Street

De1-0153

Wilmington, DE 19801

Alternatives to canceling your Chase credit card

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

Request a different card

If your current Chase 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 Chase credit card and ask if you can downgrade to a less expensive card.

If your current Chase 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 Chase borrowing history and current credit standing.

Request a credit limit increase

Considering canceling your Chase 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 Chase 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 Chase 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 Chase account entirely.

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