Posted by William Charles on October 10, 2018
Bank Account Bonuses

Published on October 10th, 2018 | by William Charles

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Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank

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:

always be closing

Picture idea via Amol

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

1st United Bank

  • Secured message: 1

Alliant

  • Secured message: 1,

All America Bank/Redneck Bank

  • Secured message: 1 (zero balance)

Amalgamated Bank

Amboy

  • Secured message: 1

Andigo Credit Union

  • Secured message: 1,

Associated Bank

Astoria Bank

  • Phone: 1
  • Secured message: 1, 2

Bank of America

Personal

  • Secured message/chat: 1, 2, 3, 4 (didn’t work)
  • Over the phone: 1, 2, 3
  • In branch: 1
  • In app: 1,

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

  • Secured message: 1

Bank & Trust

  • Phone: 1
  • Secured message: 1,

BB&T

  • Phone: 1,
  • Secured message: 1, 2, 3,

BBVA

  • Secured message: 1, 2,

Blue Hills Bank

  • Notarized letter or in branch: 1
  • Close automatically with zero balance after a few months: 1

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,

BMT (Bryn Mawr Trust)

  • Branch visit: 1,

Bridgeview Bank

  • Phone: 1,

Capital One 360

Checking

Savings/Money Market

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,
  • 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.

Christian Community Credit Union

  • Call: 1,
  • Secured message: 1

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:

  • Chat: 1, 2

Citadel Credit Union

  • Secured message: 1, 2,

Citizens Bank

  • Phone: 1
  • Letter: 1
  • Secured message: 1, 2 (didn’t show as closed but was closed), 3,

City National Bank (WV)

  • Fax: 1,

Columbia Bank (NJ)

  • Phone: 1, 2,
  • Mail: 1, 2,

Columbia Bank  (WA, OR, ID)

  • In branch: 1,

Dollar Bank

  • FAX, Mail, or In-Branch: 1

Discover

  • Secured message: 1, 2, 3,

Elements

  • Chat: 1,
  • Phone: 1,
  • Secured message: 1,

FCB South County Bank

  • Closed automatically after zero balance for 10 days: 1

Fidelity Bank

  • Online if balance is zero: 1

Fifth Third

  • In-branch only: 1, 2 (business account)
  • Letter: 1
  • Phone: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
  • Secured Message didn’t work: 1
  • Secured message did work: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

FirstBank

  • Chat: 1

First Citizens Bank

  • Cannot close by phone, have to go in branch or fax in form: 1

First Federal Bank

  • Cannot be closed by phone if the account has a balance: 1
  • By phone: 1

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

  • Mail: 1
  • Phone: 1, 2

First Tennessee

  • Phone: 1
  • Secured message: 1, 2, 3

Five Star Bank

  • Automatically closed if requested by phone and balance is zero for 10 business days: 1

Flushing Bank

  • Phone : 1 (had to call the branch they opened the account with)
  • Secured message: 1, 2,

Fulton Bank

  • In branch: 1, 2, 3,
  • Secured message: 1 (didn’t work), 2 (didn’t work)

Hancock Whitney

  • Fax: 1
  • Phone: 1 (zero balance), 2 (secured message wasn’t allowed), 3, 4,

Home Savings Bank

  • In branch: 1

HomeStreet

  • E-mail: 1, 2 (written request scanned in)
  • Mail: 1

HSBC

  • Chat: 1, 2,
  • Phone: 1 (some good advice as well), 2, 3,
  • 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)
  • 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

  • Call: 1,
  • Chat: 1,
  • Secured message: 1,

KeyBank

  • Secured message: 1, 2, 3
  • Phone: 1 (was told it couldn’t be done over SM), 2, 3, 4

Lakeland Bank

  • Closed after zeroing balance: 1,

LegacyTexas Bank

  • Phone: 1
  • Closed with zero balance after ~ 2 months: 1
  • Secured message: 1,

LevelOne Bank

  • Fax or mail: 1 (also has some useful details)

Marcus By Goldman Sachs

  • Phone: 1,

Memory Bank

  • Live chat: 1, 2,
  • By phone: 1,
  • Secured message: 1, 2,

Mountain America Credit Union

  • By phone: 1
  • Chat: 1,
  • Secured message did not work: 1,

M&T

You have to have a balance of $0 to close via phone.

  • In person: 1, 2
  • Mail: 1
  • Phone: 1, 2, 3
  • Secured Message: 1, 2, 3, 4 (more info), 5, 6, 7, 8,

Nationwide

  • Secured message: 1, 2

Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU)

  • 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

  • Must send in a letter or go in branch: 1
  • Secured message: 1,

NYCB Family Of Banks

  • In branch: 1

Ocean First

  • In branch: 1
  • Mailed letter: 1
  • Secured message does not work: 1

Old National Bank

  • Phone: 1 (balance must be $0)
  • Secured chat: 1, 2,

PeoplesBank

  • Send secured message: 1

Pinnacle Bank

  • Chat: 1 (didn’t work: 1), 2 (didn’t work)
  • Phone: 1,
  • Closed in branch: 1

Pinnacle Bank (Texas)

  • In branch: 1
  • Closed after 30 days of no balance: 1

PNC

Popular Community

  • Secured message: 1,

Provident Bank

  • Secured message: 1,

Quorum FCU

  • Phone: 1 2,

Radius Bank

  • Secured message: 1

Regions Bank

  • Secured message: 1, 2, 3,

Ridgewood Savings Bank

  • In branch or write a letter: 1,

Salem Five

  • Secured message: 1 (after zeroing balance)

Sandy Spring Bank

  • Secured message: 1,

Santander

Seacoast Bank

  • Phone: 1, 2

SEFCU

  • Phone: 1,

SFGI

  • Reduce balance to $0 and wait 60 days: 1

S&T Bank

SunTrust

  • Chat: 1,
  • Phone: 1, 2
  • Secured message: 1, 2, 3

Synovus

  • Branch visit required: 1

Talmer Bank

  • In branch or notarized: 1
  • Notarized in branch: 1

TCF Bank

  • Phone: 1,

Tech CU

  • Secured message: 1

TD Bank

  • Secured message: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
  • Phone: 1, 2,
  • Notarized letter: 1

Business

  • In branch: 1

TIAA Direct

  • Phone: 1, 2 (lots of useful information)
  • Secured messsage: 1 (with $0 account balance), 2,

UFB Direct

  • Secured message: 1

Unify

  • Secured message: 1, 2,

Union Bank

  • Mail: 1 ($2 fee was charged)

Union Bank & Trust

  • Secured message: 1,

United Bank

  • Secured message: 1,

USAA

  • Automatically closes with $0 statement balance: 1,

U.S Bank

  • Phone: 1, 2, 3
  • Mail: 1

Valley National Bank

  • Secured message: 1,

Webster Bank

  • Secured message: 1, 2,

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)
  • Closed with zero balance: 1 (business)

Westfield Bank (MA)

  • In branch or notarized signature: 1,


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Brandon
Brandon

M&T Bank – Sent them a secured message and they responded with they needed a signature from me. You can mail them a signed request, but you will be charged a $4 mail closing fee and a $10 official check fee. You can also close the account in branch for I assume no fees.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 11:36 am
Kyle
Kyle

I filed CFPB complaint over their lack of options to close an account. They didn’t need a signature to open it so why do they need one to close it. All of a sudden they had no problems closing it for me.

I didn’t have luck getting $20 in fees reimbursed after they changed the terms of the account and slipped it in the electronic statement that they were doing that.

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January 21, 2016 1:04 pm
Missjenniferd1
Missjenniferd1

This happened with me with m&t a few years back and i raked them over the coals on twitter, and my account was closed within an hour… Not sure how they found my account by my twitter name, but it was handled in short order, lol!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
July 30, 2018 5:34 pm
Joe
Joe

Citi has allowed me to close a citigold checking by chat in the past.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 11:38 am
BC
BC

I tried this past week via chat and was told I had to call in to close a citigold account.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 29, 2016 2:04 pm
Jeremy
Jeremy

U.S. Bank will not do it over Secured Message. They’d rather do it over the phone or through U.S. Mail.

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 12:31 pm
TCW
TCW

I tried to get an address to send a letter and was told mail is not an option. Have to call instead. (My wife hates calling in, and the account is in her name. More precisely, I opened accounts for both of us to get two bonuses; closed mine via phone but wanted to do hers via letter to save her the trouble of calling).

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October 5, 2017 3:15 pm
John
John

That is why I always request an address when I open a new bank account, just in case it’s necessary.

US Bank
P.O. Box 1800
St. Paul, MN 55101-0800

But I closed mine over phone.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
October 5, 2017 3:26 pm
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt

This is not true, I closed my account via secure message 3 months ago. The guy said they don’t normally do it, but since I had a zero balance it wouldn’t be a problem

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
October 10, 2018 9:05 am
The Man
The Man

You can close PNC accounts via chat for those who sign up for their bonuses.

I did this in Jan. 2016 after my $400 bonus posted.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 12:32 pm
Jay
Jay

Doesnt the account need to be open 6 months before closing to avoid a ETF? Or did you wait 6 months to close?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 3:41 pm
William Charles
William Charles

Added, thanks.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 6:39 pm
James
James

I’ve closed citi and BoA accounts in person at a branch. Cashed out at the teller and spoke with a banker for 5 minutes and got the paper work as a proof of closure. Seems easier than secure message or through the phone and less chance for any possible fee disputes.

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January 21, 2016 12:57 pm
William Charles
William Charles

Added data point, most people find it easier to close over phone/chat/secured message so they don’t need to go in branch.

Vote Up3Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 6:38 pm
Drew R
Drew R

PNC allowed me to close my checking account via live chat.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 1:03 pm
Shaun
Shaun

I closed a PNC Virtual Wallet account via live chat and it took about 8 minutes. Very easy.

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
April 21, 2017 6:42 pm
Paul
Paul

Bofa- chat
Chase- secure msg
Citi- phone, if I remember correctly, when attempting to close through chat, they told me I had to call

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January 21, 2016 1:11 pm
William Charles
William Charles

Added data points, thanks.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 6:37 pm
Victor
Victor

My experience closing, how I got the funds and how easy it was. Note that before closing, I always first confirm with the bank that there will be no early termination fee (if I have had the account open longer than the min).
Chase – secure message, ACH’d the remaining balance (easy)
CapitalOne 360 – called, ACH’d the remaining balance (easy)
Nationwide – secure message, ACH’d the remaining balance (easy)
Amboy – secure message, ACH’d the remaining balance (easy)
SunTrust – sent 2 secure messages, mailed me a check for outstanding balance (okay)
Discover – sent 3 secure messages, keep getting reply that there is an error in their processing (hard)
FirstCitizens – it was a nightmare, avoid these folks if possible, had my funds locked up for 2+ months, eventually got a check (hard)
Homestreet – you have to mail a letter to the branch (hard)
Everbank – called, they offered me another 6 months at 1.6%, so I kept it open

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 2:18 pm
William Charles
William Charles

Thanks for the amazing data points, Victor. Added them all

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 6:20 pm
Dillon Welch
Dillon Welch

I was able to close my BofA Business Checking account over the phone.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 2:54 pm
Drew
Drew

Confirmed, I just did as well.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
March 3, 2018 11:47 am
HORACE
HORACE

US BANK???

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 2:54 pm
Rubic
Rubic

Yesterday I just closed my Citi Savings account via SM. Last month I downgraded my Citigold to Basic checking with a phone call — Citi wouldn’t proceed with the downgrade via SM or chat.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 3:01 pm
William Charles
William Charles

Added those data points, thanks.

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January 21, 2016 6:15 pm
cw
cw

After I got the bonus from Huntington bank and Fifth Third bank, I transferred all the money in there and never used it again. Interestingly, six months passed, they closed my accounts. I don’t have to bother myself to close them.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 3:40 pm
William Charles
William Charles

Problem is some financial institutions have an inactivity fee, so I wouldn’t do that for all of them.

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January 21, 2016 6:13 pm
Bill
Bill

Depending on the institution, reducing your balance to $0 may incur additional charges. If those additional charges are not paid, that could result in negative information posted to Chex, thereby stopping you from opening other accounts.
I seem to remember that while Huntington offered a bonus on their Asterisk Free checking, Fifth Third required a minimum balance in the account to avoid fees.

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January 21, 2016 10:30 pm
cw
cw

You guys are right. But my Fifth Third bank account monthly fee got waived because I am a college student. I was just stating that some financial institutions will close your account if it is inactive for a period time which may be useful to add into the list since you don’t have to waste the time to do it.

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January 21, 2016 11:06 pm
Andrew
Andrew

Plus better to close faster so you can churn them again.

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
October 11, 2018 6:23 am
jay
jay

my experience:

Citizens bank: Phone
TD Bank: secure message and/or phone
First Niagara: Mail
Huntington: Chat
Citadel CU: Secure message
Nationwide: Secure message
US Bank: Phone
Capital One checking: Phone
Capital One Saving: Online/self
Santander: Phone
M&T: In Person and/or Mail

Vote Up7Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 4:15 pm
William Charles
William Charles

Thanks, amazing data points added them all. Are capital one for capital one for capital one 360?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 6:11 pm
jay
jay

For 360

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 11:53 pm
Paul
Paul

UFB Direct – Repeatedly deposit money orders and then transfer the balance out. They’ll close it for you. 😉

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January 21, 2016 5:14 pm
Gary
Gary

Same goes for plenty of banks, but don’t do that if you ever want to have a relationship with them again. Many people don’t like getting blacklisted.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
January 21, 2016 6:03 pm
John
John

I was not able to close my Key bank account via SM. I was required to call in.

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January 21, 2016 7:50 pm
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