You can cancel a Chase credit card by calling 1-800-432-3117, sending a secure message through your online account, or mailing a written request. The process itself takes only a few minutes, but the steps you take before and after closing the account matter just as much as the cancellation itself.
Before You Cancel: Protect Your Rewards
Any Chase Ultimate Rewards points, cash back, or other rewards sitting in your account need to be redeemed before you close the card. Chase does not automatically send you a check or statement credit for unused rewards. Once the account is closed, those points are typically gone for good.
If you have another Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards, you can transfer your points to that card before canceling. If the card you’re closing is your only Ultimate Rewards card, redeem your points for cash back, travel, gift cards, or statement credits first. Log into your Chase account and check your rewards balance so nothing slips through.
Many premium Chase cards also come with annual statement credits for travel, dining, or streaming services. If you have unused credits for the current year, use them before you close the account.
Ask About a Retention Offer
If you’re canceling because the annual fee doesn’t feel worth it, call Chase and tell them you’re considering closing the card. Customer service representatives sometimes have retention offers available, such as bonus points or a statement credit that offsets the annual fee. These offers typically require you to hit a spending threshold within a set timeframe. You’re not guaranteed an offer, but it costs nothing to ask, and it could save you from losing an account you otherwise like.
Consider a Product Change Instead
Rather than closing the account entirely, you can ask Chase to switch your card to a different product with no annual fee. This is called a product change or downgrade. The key advantage is that your account stays open, your credit history on that account stays intact, and your credit utilization ratio (how much of your available credit you’re using) doesn’t take a hit.
To be eligible, your account generally needs to be in good standing with no late payments. Chase may offer you several card options to switch to. After the change is approved, Chase sends you the new card, and in many cases, your account number stays the same. Any automatic payments tied to that card number should continue working, though it’s worth confirming. Call the number on the back of your card or reach out through secure messaging to ask what downgrade options are available for your specific card.
Pay Off Your Balance First
Close your card with a zero balance whenever possible. Canceling a card doesn’t erase what you owe. You’ll still be responsible for any remaining balance, and interest will continue to accrue until it’s paid in full. If you can’t pay the balance off right away, consider transferring it to a card with a lower interest rate before you cancel.
Also review your recent statements for any recurring subscriptions or automatic payments tied to the card. Streaming services, gym memberships, insurance premiums, and similar charges can post after you think you’re done with the card. Move those payments to another card or payment method before you cancel so you don’t end up with surprise charges on a closed account.
Three Ways to Cancel
By Phone
Call the customer service number on the back of your card, or dial 1-800-432-3117. Tell the representative you want to close your account. They may ask why you’re canceling and offer alternatives. If you’ve already decided, you can politely decline and confirm the closure. Ask for written confirmation that the account has been closed with a zero balance.
By Secure Message
Log into your Chase account online. Open the menu and go to “Secure Messages.” Select “I have a question about one of my accounts,” then choose the credit card you want to close. Write a brief message stating that you’d like to close the account. Chase will respond through the same messaging thread, which gives you a written record of the request.
By Mail
Send a letter that includes your full name, account number, mailing address, and a clear statement that you want the account closed. Mail it to:
Chase Card Services
P.O. Box 15298
Wilmington, DE 19850
This is the slowest method. Phone or secure message will get the job done faster and give you quicker confirmation.
What Happens to Your Credit Score
Closing a credit card can affect your credit score in two ways. First, it reduces your total available credit. If you carry balances on other cards, your credit utilization ratio goes up, which can lower your score. For example, if you have $10,000 in total credit across all cards and you close a card with a $5,000 limit, your available credit drops to $5,000. Any balance you’re carrying now represents a larger percentage of your limit.
Second, closing a card shortens your credit history over time. The closed account stays on your credit report for up to 10 years, but once it falls off, you lose the age associated with that account. If the card you’re closing is one of your oldest accounts, this effect is more significant.
Neither of these impacts is catastrophic, especially if you have other cards with long histories and low balances. But if minimizing the credit score impact matters to you, a product change to a no-fee card is the safer move.
After You Cancel
Once Chase confirms the closure, check your credit report in 30 to 60 days to verify the account shows as “closed by consumer” with a zero balance. You can pull your report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. If anything looks inaccurate, dispute it directly with the credit bureau.
Keep any written confirmation from Chase, whether it’s a secure message reply, a letter, or notes from your phone call, including the date and the representative’s name. If a billing issue or reporting error comes up later, that documentation makes resolving it straightforward.