You can cancel an American Express card by calling the number on the back of your card or by using the online chat feature after logging into your account. The process itself takes just a few minutes, but there are a few things worth handling first to avoid losing rewards points, missing an annual fee refund, or taking an unnecessary hit to your credit score.
Two Ways to Cancel
Amex gives you two options for closing a card: phone or chat. There’s no way to cancel by simply clicking a button in your account settings.
By phone: Call the customer service number printed on the back of your card. When you’re connected to a representative, tell them you want to close your account. Have your credit card account number and your billing address (including ZIP code) ready. The call typically takes 5 to 15 minutes, partly because the representative may ask why you’re leaving and offer you incentives to stay.
By online chat: Log into your account at AmericanExpress.com or through the Amex mobile app. Look for the “Chat” button in the bottom right corner of the screen. Click it and tell the representative you’d like to close your account. Chat works the same way as the phone call, just in text form, and some people find it easier to stay firm about canceling when they’re typing rather than talking.
Whichever method you choose, ask for written confirmation that the account has been closed. Follow up by checking your account online a few days later to make sure the status shows as closed.
Redeem Your Membership Rewards First
If your card earns Membership Rewards points, those points disappear the moment your account closes. American Express is explicit about this: if you cancel and don’t have another Amex card or checking account enrolled in the Membership Rewards program, your unredeemed points are forfeited immediately.
You have two ways to protect your points before canceling. The simplest is to redeem everything. Transfer points to an airline or hotel partner, use them for statement credits, or cash them out through the Amex portal. The other option is to keep a second Amex card that also earns Membership Rewards. As long as you hold at least one enrolled card, your points pool stays intact even after you close the other card. If you’re canceling a high-fee card like the Platinum, for instance, you could keep a no-annual-fee Amex card and your points will roll over to that account.
For cards that earn co-branded rewards (like Delta SkyMiles or Hilton Honors points), those points live in the airline or hotel loyalty program, not with Amex. Closing the card won’t erase them.
Timing Around the Annual Fee
If you’re canceling because you don’t want to pay the annual fee, timing matters. Amex typically posts the annual fee to your statement about a month before the card’s anniversary date. Once you see it on your statement, cancel promptly. Amex generally refunds the annual fee if you close the account within about 30 days of it posting, though the exact window can vary. If you wait too long, you may be stuck paying for a full year you don’t plan to use.
Set a calendar reminder a month or two before your annual fee is due so you have time to redeem rewards, evaluate whether the card is still worth keeping, and cancel if it isn’t.
Ask About a Retention Offer
Before you finalize the cancellation, it’s worth hearing what Amex will offer to keep you. When you tell a representative you want to cancel, they’ll often present a retention offer. These incentives come in a few forms:
- Annual fee waiver: Amex waives the fee entirely for the next year, letting you keep the card’s benefits at no cost.
- Statement credit: A one-time credit applied to your account, usually less than the annual fee but sometimes enough to make the math work in your favor.
- Statement credit with a spending requirement: A larger credit, sometimes exceeding the annual fee, but you need to hit a spending threshold within a set timeframe to earn it.
- Bonus points: An extra deposit of Membership Rewards points for keeping the card open another year.
Not every cardholder gets an offer, and the value varies. If you’re on the fence about canceling, a strong retention offer can tip the scales. If you’ve already decided to leave, you’re free to decline and proceed with the closure.
How Canceling Affects Your Credit Score
Closing any credit card can affect your credit score in two ways, and both are worth understanding before you pull the trigger.
The bigger factor is credit utilization, which is the percentage of your total available credit you’re currently using. It’s one of the most influential components of your credit score. Say you have three cards with a combined credit limit of $20,000 and you carry $2,000 in balances. Your utilization is 10%. If you cancel a card with a $10,000 limit, your total available credit drops to $10,000 and that same $2,000 balance now represents 20% utilization. Keeping utilization below 30% is a common guideline, so a big drop in available credit can push you past that threshold quickly.
The second factor is average age of accounts. Closing an older card can lower the average age of your credit history, which scoring models interpret as a sign of less experience with credit. This effect is more gradual and less dramatic than the utilization shift, but it adds up if the card you’re closing is one of your oldest accounts.
If you’re worried about the credit impact, pay down balances on your other cards before canceling so your utilization stays low even with reduced available credit.
After You Cancel
Pay off any remaining balance on the card. Closing the account doesn’t erase what you owe. Amex will continue sending statements until the balance is paid in full, and interest will keep accruing on any unpaid amount.
Check your next statement or two to confirm no new charges appear. If you used the card for any recurring subscriptions or automatic payments, update those with a different payment method before you cancel. It’s easy to forget a streaming service or insurance payment that’s been auto-charging for years. A missed payment on a subscription you forgot about won’t hit your closed Amex card, but it could result in a lapsed service or a collections notice from the merchant.
Once the account shows as closed and the balance is zero, you’re done. The account will remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, continuing to contribute to your credit history length during that time.