How to cancel the citibank credit card?

If you don’t prefer to pay with a credit card, it can be a good idea to cancel your credit card to avoid damaging your credit. While you need to consider the big-picture related to your credit rating, anyone can cancel their Citibank credit card in just a few steps.

Whether you’re canceling your own credit card or a loved one’s on their behalf, you’re in the right place. Follow these clear steps below to make sure your account is closed with confidence.

First, if you’re trying to cancel your own Citibank credit card, it’s a relatively easy process. Citibank is known for its mobile banking, customer service, and cashback rewards. While this might be a great fit, it isn’t for everyone. If you’ve decided it’s time to cancel your own Citibank card, consider the steps below.

Before you cancel your credit card, you need to pay any remaining balance. While sometimes you’re able to cancel an account while still paying the existing balance, this isn’t recommended. It’s better to pay it in full so you avoid any late fees or forgotten balances.

If you don’t have the funds right away to pay your Citibank card fully, there are other options. You can complete a balance transfer to a different credit card or personal loan. Many specific lending options are designed for those looking to consolidate credit, and this can mean a lower interest rate.

Many of the most popular Citibank cards come with reward perks. These include travel miles, cashback, and more. Before you close your account, it’s a good idea to use these rewards or transfer them. You might be able to transfer rewards to a loyalty program or travel program, for example. When in doubt, check the fine print on your card to see how to redeem your rewards.

Another important concern before you close your credit card is your automatic payments. If you have any bills set up to auto-pay through this credit card, change this payment method. The last thing you want to worry about is any unexpected late fees or cancelations. Check your credit card statement to see what automated payments are set up using this card.

When you’re ready to cancel, you have to contact Citibank directly. You can go in person to a bank location near you, but it’s usually easier to just call. Contact the number on the back of your credit card for the fastest service, and ask to speak to a representative.

Tell the representative on the phone that you wish to permanently close your account. They might have a retention offer to keep you around, but stay firm in your decision. You might need to confirm your personal details, card number, or account info for identity purposes.

One of the last steps is to destroy your credit card. If there are any authorized users on your account, make sure you remove these as well. If your card information is attached to any password manager, also be sure to erase this. Your card information could still be a threat to your identity and credit if it falls into the wrong hands.

Even though your card is closed, still continue to check your card statement for up to 90 days. It can take a while for your credit report to reflect a canceled credit card. Make sure your credit report reflects that this account was closed per your request since this is the best-case scenario for your credit score.

Ultimately, canceling a line of credit has a negative impact on your overall credit score. This is why it’s important to consider whether this is the right move for you before you cancel your Citibank card.

Knowing what to do when someone dies isn’t always easy. If you’ve lost a loved one, you might have to cancel their credit cards as part of your executor duties. Follow these steps below to learn how to cancel a deceased loved one’s Citibank credit card.

The first step is to make sure you have a full list of your loved one’s accounts and key information. Not only is this important for your own records, but it will protect your loved one’s identity. Unfortunately, many scammers target information from the recently deceased for identity theft and fraud.

One of the best ways to find credit cards in a loved one’s name is to check his or her wallet. From there, locate key information like their account number, full name, address, and social security number.

Next, you will need to contact the same Citibank support number as before. This number can be found on the back of their credit card. Once talking to a representative, let them know you’d like to notify the bank of a death. There is typically a specific team to handle this.

You typically need to share evidence of someone’s death. This usually means sharing the death certificate with Citibank. You can learn how to get a death certificate quickly depending on your state. From there, submit a copy of the certificate using Citibank’s guidelines.

One of the last steps is to make sure your loved one’s credit cards are destroyed safely. You can run them through a shredding machine, use scissors, or bring the credit cards into any Citibank location. It’s important to keep these credit cards from falling into the wrong hands, even if the account is closed.

Keep in mind that some people might have multiple credit cards per account, like if there are any authorized users. All cards need to be destroyed safely and securely. When in doubt, talk to Citibank about the best way to destroy your canceled cards.

Last but not least, hold onto any of your loved one’s account statements for up to 90 days. There are a lot of important bank documents you’ll want to keep an eye on, and this is true especially for credit cards. If your loved one had a balance on their account at their time of death, you’ll need to ensure these funds are taken from the estate.

Keeping an eye on your loved one’s credit is an act of remembrance, and it keeps their identity safe. When you keep this safe, your loved one’s legacy stays protected for years to come. Continue to check their account statement and keep copies of any official documentation for your records.

Citi offers several different types of credit cards, including cash back credit cards, cards that earn points in the Citi ThankYou program and a selection of popular balance transfer credit cards. There are plenty of ways you can use any of their credit cards to accomplish specific goals, yet there are also situations where you may not want to keep your Citi card for the long haul.

Maybe you are tired of paying your Citi card’s annual fee, or maybe you just need an option with a lower fee requirement. Perhaps you used a Citi balance transfer credit card to pay down debt, but now you’re done and know you’ll never use the card again.

Whatever the reason, you should know it’s fairly easy to close a Citi credit card if that’s what you prefer.

Here are the steps you can take to close your Citi credit card for good:

To close your Citi credit card account online, all you have to do is log into your Citi account and open the online chat feature. From there, tell the representative that you want to close your account and answer any questions they have.

It’s possible Citi will let you cancel online, but the chat representative may also require you to call and cancel your account over the phone.

You can also cancel your Citi credit card account by calling the number on the back of your credit card. When you get the chance to speak with a representative, tell them you want to close your account and provide any information they require.

You’ll likely be required to prove your identity before you can close your account. To make sure you’re prepared, be ready to offer information such as your name, account number, address, ZIP code and security code or account PIN if you have one.

After you close your Citi credit card, you’ll need to continue making payments on any remaining balance you have. After all, any remaining debt you have on your Citi credit card won’t disappear just because you close your account.

Once your account balance is down to zero, you can unlink your card from your online account management page if you prefer. This step is fairly easy within your online Citi account page. All you have to do is find the closed account you want to unlink and click on the prompt that says “Unlink this account from my User ID.”

If you’re not entirely sure you want to close your Citi credit card, there are a few alternatives to consider instead. These options could help you reach your goal, whether that includes getting away from credit cards with an annual fee or avoiding an impact to your credit score caused by account closure.

Citi is one of the most flexible card issuers when it comes to product changes, which describes any time you switch between multiple credit card types from a single issuer. With a product change, you could drop a card like the Citi Prestige® Card with its $495 annual fee and switch to one with a lower fee, like the Citi Premier® Card. You could also switch from a card that earns points in the Citi ThankYou program to a cash back credit card like the Citi® Double Cash Card.

Regardless of what you hope to accomplish, you can call Citi using the number on the back of your card to request a product change. The customer service representative you’re speaking with can let you know your options, and you can decide from there whether you want to move forward.

If you have a Citi credit card with no balance and no annual fee, you can also consider stashing your card away somewhere safe. Doing so can help boost your credit score since the length of your credit history is one of the factors credit bureaus consider. Also, keep in mind that the available credit on your card is likely helping your credit utilization rate if you’re carrying debt on other cards.

Before you close your Citi credit card account, you should arm yourself with information. The following frequently asked questions and answers can help.

Closing a credit card account can impact your credit score in a negative way, and for more reasons than one. First off, closing your credit card can reduce the average length of your credit history, which makes up 15 percent of your FICO score. Second, closing a credit card account can reduce the amount of available credit you have. If you carry debt on other cards, this can lead to a substantial increase in your credit utilization rate—another determining factor that makes up 30 percent of your FICO credit score.

Citi doesn’t let you reopen credit card accounts that have been closed. However, you may be able to reapply for a card you have had in the past. You can even earn the sign-up bonus on the same rewards credit card multiple times provided you follow Citi sign-up bonus rules, which vary by card family. For example, the Citi Premier says this in its fine print:

“Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you received a new cardmember bonus for Citi Rewards+®, Citi ThankYou® Preferred, Citi ThankYou® Premier/Citi Premier® or Citi Prestige®, or if you have closed any of these accounts, in the past 24 months.”

If you close your Citi credit card account, your Citi ThankYou points are automatically forfeited unless you have another Citi credit card that offers this rewards currency. Also note that, when you close a Citi ThankYou card and have another one, points earned with the closed account will still expire once 60 days have passed if you haven’t redeemed them.

• Fill in all relevant fields on the Account Closure Form.
• Transfer funds via CitiDirect to zero the account balance.

The easiest way you can cancel your Citi credit card is online, either through the Citibank website or the mobile app. Alternatively, you may close your credit card account over the phone at (800) 950-5114, in person at a Citibank branch, or via mail.