Just reposting this for those not aware of this resource.Yesterday we posted about the easiest way to close bank accounts, I thought it would properly be helpful to build a reference list with the ways you can close an account with each bank. This will require your contributions, so please put them in the comments below. You might also find the following bank pages helpful:
- Best Bank Bonuses
- Complete list of bank bonuses
- Bank accounts that can be funded with a credit card
- List of data points that trigger the direct deposit requirement for each bank
- Is opening a bank account a soft or hard pull? List of data points for each bank
I’d also recommend never relying on your account being automatically closed after zeroing a balance. Sometimes even if this has worked for other people it won’t work for you and you might be caught paying inactivity fees.
Contents
- 1 1st United Bank
- 2 Alliant
- 3 All America Bank/Redneck Bank
- 4 Ally
- 5 Amalgamated Bank
- 6 Amboy
- 7 Andigo Credit Union
- 8 Associated Bank
- 9 Astoria Bank
- 10 Bank of America
- 11 BB&T
- 12 Bank Of The West
- 13 Bank & Trust
- 14 BB&T
- 15 BBVA
- 16 Blue Hills Bank
- 17 Bluevine
- 18 BMO Harris
- 19 BMT (Bryn Mawr Trust)
- 20 Bridgeview Bank
- 21 Cambridge Savings Bank
- 22 CampusUSA
- 23 Capital Bank
- 24 Capital One 360
- 25 Chase
- 26 Chime
- 27 Christian Community Credit Union
- 28 CIT Bank
- 29 Citi
- 30 Citadel Credit Union
- 31 Citizens Bank
- 32 City National Bank (WV)
- 33 Columbia Bank (NJ)
- 34 Columbia Bank (WA, OR, ID)
- 35 Comerica
- 36 Credit Union West
- 37 Dollar Bank
- 38 Discover
- 39 Elements
- 40 FCB South County Bank
- 41 Fidelity Bank
- 42 Fifth Third
- 43 First America Bank
- 44 FirstBank
- 45 First Citizens Bank
- 46 First Federal Bank
- 47 First Horizon
- 48 First Merchants Bank
- 49 First National Bank
- 50 First National Bank of PA
- 51 First Niagara
- 52 First Tech Federal Credit Union
- 53 First Tennessee
- 54 Five Star Bank
- 55 Flushing Bank
- 56 Fulton Bank
- 57 Gesa Credit Union
- 58 Hancock Whitney
- 59 Hanmi Bank
- 60 Home Savings Bank
- 61 HomeStreet
- 62 HSBC
- 63 Huntington
- 64 Iberia Bank
- 65 Incredible Bank
- 66 Investors Bank
- 67 KeyBank
- 68 Lakeland Bank
- 69 LegacyTexas Bank
- 70 LevelOne Bank
- 71 Liberty Bank
- 72 Lili
- 73 Marcus By Goldman Sachs
- 74 MECU Credit Union
- 75 Memory Bank
- 76 MidFirst Bank
- 77 Midland States Bank
- 78 Monifi
- 79 Mountain America Credit Union
- 80 M&T
- 81 Nationwide
- 82 Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU)
- 83 NBKC
- 84 Northpointe
- 85 Northshore Credit Union
- 86 Northwest
- 87 NYCB Family Of Banks
- 88 Ocean First
- 89 Old National Bank
- 90 Orion Federal Credit Union
- 91 PeoplesBank
- 92 Pinnacle Bank
- 93 Pinnacle Bank (Texas)
- 94 PNC
- 95 Popular Community
- 96 Provident Bank
- 97 Quontic
- 98 Quorum FCU
- 99 Radius Bank
- 100 Regions Bank
- 101 Republic Bank
- 102 Ridgewood Savings Bank
- 103 Rockland Trust Bank
- 104 Salem Five
- 105 Sandy Spring Bank
- 106 Santander
- 107 Seacoast Bank
- 108 SEFCU
- 109 SFGI
- 110 SkyOne Federal Credit Union
- 111 South Shore Bank
- 112 S&T Bank
- 113 SunTrust
- 114 Synovus
- 115 Talmer Bank
- 116 TCF Bank
- 117 Tech CU
- 118 TD Bank
- 119 TIAA Direct
- 120 Truist
- 121 UFB Direct
- 122 Unify
- 123 Union Bank
- 124 Union Bank & Trust
- 125 United Bank
- 126 USAA
- 127 U.S Bank
- 128 Valley National Bank
- 129 VantageWest
- 130 Varo Money
- 131 Verity Credit Union
- 132 Webster Bank
- 133 Wells Fargo
- 134 Westfield Bank (MA)
- 135 Wings Credit Union
- 136 Wintrust Bank
1st United Bank
- Secured message: 1
Alliant
- Secured message: 1,
All America Bank/Redneck Bank
- Secured message: 1 (zero balance)
Ally
- Secured message: 1,
Amalgamated Bank
- Letter: 1
- Live chat: 1, 2
- Phone: 1
- Message: 1
- Will close if balance is at $0 for thirty days: 1 (not backed up by this datapoint)
Amboy
- Secured message: 1
Andigo Credit Union
- Secured message: 1,
Associated Bank
- Automatically after a few months of zero balance: 1 (somebody else reported they were hit with a charge for this)
- In branch: 1
- Phone: 1
- Secured message: 1 (balance was $0), 2,
Astoria Bank
Bank of America
Personal
Business
- Phone: 1
BB&T
- Chat: 1,
- Secured message: 1, 2, 3 (didn’t work)
- Phone: 1, 2, 3 (business account)
- In branch: 1 (business account. Other methods didn’t work)
Bank Of The West
Bank & Trust
BB&T
BBVA
Blue Hills Bank
Bluevine
BMO Harris
- In branch: 1
- Live chat: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, (live chat no longer an option)
- Phone: 1, 2, 3, 4,
- Secured message doesn’t work: 1,
- Closed after 60 days with no balance: 1,
BMT (Bryn Mawr Trust)
- Branch visit: 1,
Bridgeview Bank
- Phone: 1,
Cambridge Savings Bank
- Secured message: 1,
CampusUSA
- Secured message: 1,
Capital Bank
- Phone: 1,
Capital One 360
Checking
Savings/Money Market
- Click close account button (found here): 1
- Chat: 1, 2,
Chase
Thanks to reader Andrew for the following thresholds:
- Under $50: Secure Message (tell them if you want the balance transferred to another account, or if you want a check mailed). 1, 2, 3,
- Under $5,000: Through phone call (again, any balance remaining they will mail or can transfer to another account).
- Under $100,000: Via written request, including the name as it appears on the account, full account numbers, full social security number, current address and phone numbers and how you want to receive the balance remaining (mail or transfer to another account). Note, that if your balance is over $1,000, the letter must be notarized.
- Secured message: 1 (business banking might not work), 2 (this was for savings and they transferred funds to checking to close), 3 (doesn’t work for business), 4,
- Phone: 1, 2,
- Automatic: after 60 days with zero balance, they will close the account (1)
Chime
- Via app: 1,
Christian Community Credit Union
CIT Bank
- Secured message: 1,
Citi
Checking:
- Chat: 1, 2, 3, 4 (downgrade), 5, 6, 7,
- Secured message: 1, 2, 3 (downgrade), 4, 5, 6,
- Phone: 1, 2, 3, 4,
Downgrade to basic checking:
- Phone: 1
Savings:
Citadel Credit Union
Citizens Bank
- Chat: 1, 2, 3,
- Phone: 1
- Letter: 1
- Secured message: 1, 2 (didn’t show as closed but was closed), 3, 4,
City National Bank (WV)
- Fax: 1,
Columbia Bank (NJ)
Columbia Bank (WA, OR, ID)
- In branch: 1,
Comerica
- Secured message: 1,
Credit Union West
- Secured message: 1,
Dollar Bank
Discover
Elements
FCB South County Bank
- Closed automatically after zero balance for 10 days: 1
Fidelity Bank
Fifth Third
- In-branch only: 1, 2 (business account)
- Letter: 1
- Phone: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
- Secured Message didn’t work: 1
- Secured message did work: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
First America Bank
- Secured message: 1,
FirstBank
- Chat: 1
First Citizens Bank
- Cannot close by phone, have to go in branch or fax in form: 1
First Federal Bank
First Horizon
- Closed by secured message: 1 (4/25/21 via e-mail)
First Merchants Bank
- In branch only, will also be auto closed after 4 months of $0 in account: 1
First National Bank
- Must close in branch.
First National Bank of PA
- SM: 1
First Niagara
First Tech Federal Credit Union
- Secured message: 1,
First Tennessee
Five Star Bank
- Automatically closed if requested by phone and balance is zero for 10 business days: 1
Flushing Bank
Fulton Bank
Gesa Credit Union
- Phone: 1,
Hancock Whitney
Hanmi Bank
- Closed after a week of zero balance: 1,
Home Savings Bank
- In branch: 1
HomeStreet
HSBC
- Chat: 1, 2,
- Phone: 1 (some good advice as well), 2, 3, 4 (business account)
- Secured message: 1, 2, 3,
Huntington
- Chat: 1, 2 (no longer an option), 3 (it’s an option again, under contact us), 4 (didn’t work), 5,
- Branch: 1
- Phone: 1 (balance must be $0), 2, 3,
- Secured message: 1, 2 (no longer an option)
Iberia Bank
- In branch only: 1
Incredible Bank
Investors Bank
KeyBank
Lakeland Bank
- Closed after zeroing balance: 1,
LegacyTexas Bank
LevelOne Bank
- Fax or mail: 1 (also has some useful details)
Liberty Bank
- Secured message: 1,
Lili
- Secured message: 1,
Marcus By Goldman Sachs
- Phone: 1,
MECU Credit Union
- In-branch, mail, fax, or secure message, but you have to upload/send a signed letter and “photocopy” of the ID card. I sent a photo of it: 1,
Memory Bank
MidFirst Bank
Midland States Bank
Monifi
- Phone: 1,
Mountain America Credit Union
M&T
You have to have a balance of $0 to close via phone.
Nationwide
- Secured message: 1,
NBKC
- Secured message: 1 (after zeroing out)
Northpointe
- Phone: 1
Northshore Credit Union
- Must close in branch and it’s a long process: 1
Northwest
NYCB Family Of Banks
- In branch: 1
Ocean First
Old National Bank
Orion Federal Credit Union
- Secured message: 1 (with zero balance. Sent via e-mail on 4/3/20)
PeoplesBank
- Send secured message: 1
Pinnacle Bank
Pinnacle Bank (Texas)
PNC
- Chat: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
- Phone: 1,
- Secured message: 1 (via Travel with Grant), 2, 3, 4, (no longer available?)
Popular Community
- Secured message: 1,
Provident Bank
Quontic
- Secured message: 1,
Quorum FCU
Radius Bank
- Secured message: 1
Regions Bank
Republic Bank
- Secured message: 1,
Ridgewood Savings Bank
- In branch or write a letter: 1,
Rockland Trust Bank
- Secured message: 1,
Salem Five
- Secured message: 1 (after zeroing balance)
Sandy Spring Bank
- Secured message: 1,
Santander
Seacoast Bank
SEFCU
- Phone: 1,
SFGI
- Reduce balance to $0 and wait 60 days: 1
SkyOne Federal Credit Union
- Secured message: 1,
South Shore Bank
- Chat: 1,
S&T Bank
- Direct message: Didn’t work
- Live chat: 1,
- Phone: 1
SunTrust
Synovus
- Branch visit required: 1
Talmer Bank
TCF Bank
Tech CU
- Secured message: 1
TD Bank
Business
- In branch: 1
TIAA Direct
Truist
- In branch: 1 (business)
UFB Direct
Unify
Union Bank
- Mail: 1 ($2 fee was charged)
Union Bank & Trust
- Secured message: 1,
United Bank
- Secured message: 1,
USAA
U.S Bank
According to U.S. Bank need to call in.
Valley National Bank
- Secured message: 1,
VantageWest
- Secured message: 1,
Varo Money
- E-mail: 1,
Verity Credit Union
- Online chat: 1,
Webster Bank
Wells Fargo
- Secured message: 1, 2, 3 (business account), 4, 5 (business account), 6 (business account), 7 (business account), 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (personal), 14,
- Closed with zero balance: 1 (business), 2,
- Online banking: 1,
- Phone: 1 (savings), 2,
Westfield Bank (MA)
- In branch or notarized signature: 1,
Wings Credit Union
- Secured message: 1,
Suffolk CU – closed via SM. Asked to include member number and copy of DL in message.
Northwest Federal Credit Union – closed via SM
Premier Bank (OH) closed via SM with 0 balance
Truist personal checking closed via live chat 8/26/2024.
Service Credit Union: Closed via online chat. Took just a few minutes. Agent asked some verification questions and submitted the request to close. Quick and easy, no filler questions (e.g., why are you closing?).
Wells Fargo: closed P1 & P2 personal accounts today. At first, I thought I’d have to call, because there isn’t any online chat, and there wasn’t a way to compose a new message in the Message center. But then, when hovering over the “Accounts” drop down, there’s an option right there for “Close an Account.” Super easy. You do have to zero the account balance before it lets you do it. Note: we also have business accounts, which we actively use, so I wasn’t closing those – but, they were listed alongside the personal accounts, in the “close an account” window, so it looks like those would be just as easy.
Axos Bank: chat bot “EVO” let me process an account closure. Received the following message at the end:
“OK, I’ve submitted a request to close the following accounts:
• Savings *XXXX
Please be aware that an Axos Bank team member may reach out to confirm how you’d like any remaining funds to be issued. It typically takes 2 to 3 business days to close an account.”
Will update if I encounter any delays.
I know this is probably a silly question for most of you – but I am just getting started on bank bonuses. Do you all zero out the account first by ACH transfer and then do the account closure request? I want to make sure I don’t zero it out but then get charged any account fees.
It’s not a silly question at all. I handle the closure process differently depending on the situation.
If the account has monthly fees (even if they are waivable), I leave money in the account and request a check to be sent after it’s closed. Sometimes, they tell me to zero out the account and I do so.
However, if there are no fees to worry about at all, I sometimes do zero out the account and then request closure.
Wonderful – thank you so much for your response. That makes sense – I think after the bonus is paid then I will transfer the excess out and maintain the balance or whatever it is for no monthly fee and then request the closure and see what they say. Thank you!
I always zero out the account and then request closure. Two main reasons: (1) some banks may charge a fee for the closing check; (2) some banks require you to have zero balance anyway before they can close your account.
Just pay attention to your statement dates. If you do this too close to the statement date, by the time everything is processed, the statement is already produced, and you may be charged a monthly fee if your account does not fulfill the requirements for waiving it in that statement period. That’s why I always start zeroing out my account and then request closure right after a statement is closed, so that the account would be closed already before the next statement cuts. Amanda
Amanda,
To be clear, before requesting closure, I confirm with the rep that there will no fees for closing my account. I do a print screen of the chat just in case. However, I don’t recall ever running into any issues.
ShawntheShawn👈🏾,
Which FIs have you encountered that charged a fee for issuing a check for your account balance? I have closed hundreds of accounts through the years and don’t remember ever having that experience.
Porte is one example.
Account Closure Fee: $15. This fee is per check requested to return funds at Account closure.
Anyway, I would prefer to take matters into my own hands and utilize the money as soon as possible.
That’s interesting. I still have my Porte account open.
Anyway, your plan is sound. I’d just rather not have to worry about the scenario that you presented in your 2nd paragraph.
Besides avoiding that with my plan, receiving a check makes me sure that my account is actually closed and I know what date it was closed on. However, to each their own.
Fifth Third: Closed in branch with teller. Zeroed out with Zelle. Statements available for 90 days I believe on 53 website but account disappears from app when account closed. App Login still works.
I was able to close my checking and savings account at NWFCU (Northwest Federal Credit Union) through a Secure Message on their website.