The basic steps to close a Chase credit card

Call Chase customer service at the number on the back of your card. Tell them you want to close the account. They will ask why you're leaving and may offer you a retention offer — a lower interest rate, waived annual fee, or bonus points — to keep the card open. You can accept, decline, or ask for time to think about it. If you decline or don't want to negotiate, they will process the cancellation over the phone.

After you hang up, the card is closed. Chase will send you a written confirmation in the mail within a few days. Keep this letter. Your account will show as "closed by consumer request" on your credit report, which is the cleanest way for a closed account to appear.

You can also close the account online through your Chase login, though calling gives you the chance to hear retention offers before the account shuts down. Online closure is faster if you've already decided and don't want to talk to anyone.

Key Takeaways

  • Call the number on your card or log into your Chase account online; both methods close the account when ready, though calling lets you hear retention offers first.
  • Pay off your full balance before closing, because interest will continue to accrue on any remaining balance after the account closes.
  • A closed account stays on your credit report for up to 10 years and can lower your credit score temporarily because it reduces your available credit.
  • If you have an annual fee, call before the renewal date; Chase sometimes refunds the fee if you close within 30 to 60 days of being charged.
  • Do not destroy the card until Chase confirms the account is closed, in case there are pending charges or disputes.

What to do with your balance before you close

Pay the full balance to zero before you call to close the account. If you have a balance remaining when the account closes, Chase will continue to charge you interest on that balance until you pay it off. The interest rate does not change just because the account is closed — you still owe it.

If you have a promotional rate (like 0% APR for 12 months), closing the account does not end the promotion early. You keep the rate for the remaining promotional period. However, if you miss a payment after closing, Chase may end the promotion and charge you the regular rate retroactively, so set up automatic payments if you're carrying a balance through a promotional period.

How closing a card affects your credit score

Closing a credit card usually lowers your credit score in the short term, typically by 5 to 50 points depending on your overall credit profile. The main reason is that closing an account reduces your total available credit. If you had a $5,000 limit on the Chase card and $10,000 in total limits across all your cards, closing it drops your total available credit to $5,000. Credit scoring models reward you for using only a small percentage of your available credit, so losing available credit makes your remaining balances look larger by comparison.

The impact is usually temporary. Your score typically recovers within a few months as long as you keep your other accounts in good standing and pay on time. The closed account will remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, but its weight on your score decreases over time.

If you want to minimize the impact, close the card with the lowest credit limit or the newest account, not your oldest card. Older accounts help your credit score because they show a longer history of responsible credit use.

Annual fees and refund timing

If your Chase card has an annual fee and you've been charged it recently, call before you close the account. Chase sometimes refunds the annual fee if you close the account within 30 to 60 days of being charged, though this is not may provide and depends on the specific card and your account history. Ask the representative directly: "Can you refund the annual fee if I close the account today?"

If the annual fee is coming up but hasn't been charged yet, you can close the account before the renewal date to avoid the charge altogether. Check your statement or account online to see when your annual fee renews. Most cards renew on the anniversary of when you opened the account.

If you've already been charged and Chase won't refund it, you can dispute the charge with your bank, though this is rarely successful if you knowingly held the card past the renewal date. The better strategy is to close before the renewal date if you know you don't want to keep the card.

What happens to rewards points and cash back

Any rewards points or cash back you've already earned stay in your account after you close the card. You can redeem them before closing, or you can redeem them after closing — Chase does not take them away just because the account is closed. Log into your account and check your rewards balance before you call to close, so you know what you have to work with.

Redeeming before closing is often simpler because you can do it in the same session, but it's not required. If you close first and then want to redeem later, you can still log in with your username and password to access your rewards, even though the card itself is no longer active.

Pending charges and dispute windows

Do not close the account if you have pending charges that haven't posted yet. A pending charge is a transaction that has been authorized but not yet settled — common examples are hotel holds, rental car deposits, or online orders that haven't shipped. If you close the account before a pending charge posts, the charge may still go through, but you'll have a closed account with an outstanding balance, which complicates things.

Wait until all pending charges have posted and cleared, then close the account. This usually takes 3 to 5 business days after your last transaction.

Also keep the account open for at least 30 days after your last transaction if there's any chance you might need to dispute a charge. Disputing a charge is easier when the account is still active, and you have stronger protections under your cardholder agreement while the account is open. Once an account is closed, disputing a charge is still possible but requires more documentation and takes longer.

Retention offers and when to accept them

When you call to close, Chase will often offer you something to stay: a lower interest rate for 6 months, a waived annual fee for a year, bonus points, or a statement credit. These offers are real and negotiable. You can ask for something different if what they offer doesn't appeal to you.

A retention offer makes sense if you were planning to keep the card anyway but were annoyed by the fee or rate, or if the offer is genuinely valuable to you. It does not make sense if you're closing because you don't use the card — keeping an unused card open just to avoid closing it costs you nothing, but it also doesn't help you, and it clutters your credit profile.

If you're unsure, ask for time to think about it. Chase will usually give you 24 to 48 hours to call back and accept. Do not feel pressured to decide on the spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my Chase card online, or do I have to call?

You can close it online through your Chase account dashboard, though the exact location varies by card type. Calling is often faster because you reach someone when ready and can ask about retention offers. Online closure takes a few clicks but gives you no chance to negotiate.

Will closing my card hurt my credit score?

Yes, usually by 5 to 50 points in the short term, because it reduces your available credit. The impact is temporary and your score typically recovers within a few months. Closing your oldest card or your card with the highest limit has a bigger impact than closing a newer card with a low limit.

What if I have a balance when I close the account?

You can still close the account, but you'll continue to owe the balance and Chase will keep charging you interest. Pay the balance to zero first if you can, or at least pay it down before closing to reduce the interest you'll owe.

Do I lose my rewards points if I close the card?

No. Any points or cash back you've already earned stay in your account. You can redeem them before or after closing — Chase does not take them away. Check your rewards balance before you call so you know what you have.

Can Chase refund my annual fee if I just paid it?

Sometimes, if you close within 30 to 60 days of being charged. Ask the representative directly when you call. There's no may provide, but it's worth asking, especially if you've been a long-term customer in good standing.