How does closing a bank account affect your credit

(NerdWallet) – Ready to close a bank account but worried you could ding your credit score? Don’t be.

By taking a few simple steps and practicing good banking habits, you can avoid having your credit affected by a bank account closure. Here’s what you need to know.

Generally, closing a bank account doesn’t affect your credit

The mere act of closing a bank account doesn’t have a direct impact on your credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau confirms that the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — don’t typically include checking account history in their credit reports. But your credit could suffer if you’re not careful when you close an account.

Your credit score could drop if your bank account isn’t in good standing

Some blemishes in your bank account history could affect your credit. For example, if you close an account while the balance is negative or a bank closes your account because it’s overdrawn for an extended period, the negative balance could go to a third-party collection agency. That could lead to your credit report being marred.

“If the bank sends this outstanding debt to a collection agency, it could be reported to any of the three credit bureaus,” Marguerita Cheng, certified financial planner and CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth in Gaithersburg, Maryland, said in an email. “Collections can trigger a drop in your credit score.”

How to close your bank account so your credit isn’t affected

You’ll need to make sure that your account is in good standing and remains that way even as you close it. Here are the steps to close your bank account properly:

1. Make a list of recurring deposits and withdrawals. Note the bills and payments paid by direct debit from your account periodically. It’s just as important to note any deposits you get, even if they’re only occasional. You don’t want your tax refund to go to a closed bank account, for example, said Miguel Gomez in an email. Gomez is a wealth advisor at Lauterbach Financial Advisors in El Paso, Texas, and host of the podcast “Dinero en Español.”

2. Open your new account and move money and automatic transactions to it. “If you have automatic payments drawn from the account you’re closing and you don’t update them before closing the account, that can affect your credit due to missed payments,” Gomez said.

3. Settle any balances on your old account. You should leave some cash in your old account to cover any pending transactions you might have overlooked, Cheng said. You can also contact your bank to ask if you have any outstanding balances. If you opened an account to take advantage of a cash bonus, make sure your account has been open for the minimum time required to avoid an early closure penalty fee.

4. Close your old account and confirm its closure. Once you’ve ensured there are no pending transactions, you can close your account. You might be able to complete the closure online, but some financial institutions require that you fill out a mail-in form, visit a branch or call to close your account.

The bank may send you an email to confirm the account closure, or you can contact a representative by phone or in person to confirm the account has been closed and request confirmation in writing.

Note that if your account earned interest or a cash bonus over the year, you’ll need to get the proper paperwork from the bank for your taxes.

Follow these steps when you close your bank account and you’ll avoid fees, missed bills and credit woes.

Bank accounts don't have to be forever. You might want to close an account because you've found a better account, you're relocating to a new state where your bank has no branches, or you're dissatisfied with your old bank's customer service. Before you move on from your bank, you want to know whether closing a bank account affects credit scores, so you can take precautions if necessary.

Your credit score affects many of your financial decisions. It impacts your ability to get a credit card, rent an apartment, buy a house or car, have utilities turned on in your name, and more. Of course, you want to avoid doing anything that would negatively affect your credit score, even if it means sticking out a bad relationship with a bank.

How Closing a Bank Account Affects Your Credit Score

The good news is that closing a bank account doesn't affect your credit score. As long as there are no issues with your account, you can switch to a new bank without worrying about damaging your credit score.

While banks may check your credit when you apply to open an account, under normal circumstances your bank activity isn't factored into your credit score at all. That means your bank deposits, withdrawals, and daily transactions don't help or hurt your credit score. Even overdrafts don't affect your credit score, assuming you pay the overdraft fee and clear up any outstanding negative balance before the bank takes action.

Note

Many people mistakenly believe that all financial information, including bank account activity, is factored into their credit scores. That's not the case. Your credit score is calculated based only on information included in your credit report, and your bank details aren't reported to the credit bureaus.

Credit scores are based on borrowing activities, like credit cards and loans, serious delinquencies, and public records. You can check for free to see the types of accounts on your credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. (However, this service reports no credit scores.) You can also use a free service like Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, or WalletHub to keep tabs on changes to your credit information.

Note

While closing a savings or checking account won't affect your credit score, closing a credit card account can. Credit card accounts are regularly reported to the credit bureaus and factor into your credit score.

When Closing a Bank Account Can Hurt Your Credit

There is a situation where closing a bank account could affect your credit score, in a bad way. If your account is overdrafted and has a negative balance when you close it (or when the bank closes it because you haven't caught up), the negative balance may be sent to a collection agency for further action. Third-party collection agencies collect debts on behalf of other businesses.

Once a collection agency takes over your account, they will likely report the account to the credit bureaus. At that point, it will go on your credit report and be factored into your credit score. Unfortunately, collections remain on your credit report for seven years from the first date of negative activity, even after payment is made.

Note

Mishandling your checking account can also land you in ChexSystems, which is a consumer reporting agency for financial institutions. Banks often use ChexSystems to determine whether to allow you to open a checking account. Any negative reports made to ChexSystems, including overdrafts you never cleared up, will remain in the system for up to five years. You may have a hard time opening a checking or savings account if you have a negative record with ChexSystems, but these records aren't included in your consumer credit score.

How to Close Your Bank Account the Right Way

If you're planning to close your bank account and want to avoid affecting your credit score, make sure to clear up any negative balance first. Talk to the bank to make payment arrangements if you can't afford to pay the balance right away.

Don't assume that your old account is "out of sight, out of mind" just because you've already moved on to a new bank. You'll have to take care of any outstanding checks, pending transactions, or autodrafts that post to your account after it's been closed. Your old bank will likely notify you of any outstanding balance by mail, so be sure to open up anything you receive from them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it bad to close a bank account?

Closing all of your bank accounts at once could be a bad idea, because having at least one bank account makes your financial life a lot easier. As long as you keep at least one account open, and the account you're closing is in good standing, then there won't be any negative effects when you close a bank account. Closing credit accounts—like credit cards—can hurt your credit score, but that doesn't apply to standard deposit accounts.

What happens when your bank closes?

If your banking institution shuts its doors altogether, you're protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). A bank will likely handle its closure responsibly, giving you plenty of notice and opportunities to transfer your funds to another institution. However, even if it closes suddenly without notice, the FDIC will insure your funds up to $250,000.

How much does your credit score go down when you close an account?

Does closing a bank checking account hurt your credit?

What happens when you close an account at a bank?