How to Cancel a Chase Credit Card Without Hurting Your Credit Score

Thinking about canceling your Chase credit card? Whether it’s to avoid the annual fee, reduce open accounts, or simplify your finances, you’ll want to do it carefully. Closing a card the wrong way could negatively affect your credit score. This 2025 guide walks you through the smartest way to cancel a Chase card—without damaging your credit.

🔍 Quick Summary

TL;DR: Pay off your balance, redeem any rewards, and contact Chase via phone or Secure Message to close the card. Consider alternatives like product changes to protect your credit score.

✅ Step 1: Pay Off the Full Balance

  • Make sure your statement balance is $0. You can’t cancel with a remaining balance.
  • Don’t forget about pending charges or recurring subscriptions—cancel those first.

🎁 Step 2: Redeem Your Rewards

  • Use up all your Chase Ultimate Rewards points or cash back before closing.
  • Closing the card may forfeit unredeemed points, depending on the account type.
  • If you have a premium card, consider transferring points to another Chase card first.

📞 Step 3: Contact Chase to Cancel

Call Chase directly or use their Secure Messaging system:

  • 📞 Chase Customer Service: 1-800-432-3117
  • 🔒 Or log into secure.chase.com > “Secure Messages”
  • Request card cancellation and ask for confirmation in writing.

💡 Alternative: Downgrade Instead of Canceling

Worried about your credit score? Ask Chase to convert your card to a no-annual-fee version:

  • Maintain your credit history and account age.
  • Avoid losing available credit (which impacts utilization).
  • No hard credit pull or new account required.

Popular downgrade paths include Chase Sapphire Preferred → Chase Freedom Flex, or Chase Ink Preferred → Chase Ink Cash.

📉 How Cancellation Affects Your Credit Score

  • Credit utilization: Closing the card may lower your total available credit, increasing your usage ratio.
  • Account age: Closed accounts stay on your credit report for up to 10 years but stop aging positively.
  • Credit mix: Having fewer types of credit could slightly lower your score, but this is minor.

❓ FAQs

Will closing my Chase card immediately drop my credit score?

Not necessarily. If your utilization remains low and you have other cards, the impact may be minimal.

Can I reopen a Chase card after closing it?

In most cases, no. You’ll have to reapply as a new customer.

Will I still get a 1099 for rewards?

Chase only issues tax forms for promotional bonuses over $600. Points and cash back are generally not taxable.