The Impact of Closing Credit Cards on Your Credit Score

By: Nuriska
On: 07/16/2023

Closing a credit card account can have both immediate and long-term impacts on your credit score. While there may be valid reasons for wanting to close a credit card, such as avoiding high fees or simplifying your financial life, it’s important to understand the potential consequences.

This article will explore the impact of closing credit cards on your credit score and provide insights into making informed decisions.

Understanding Credit Utilization and Length of Credit History

To comprehend the impact of closing credit cards, it’s crucial to understand two key factors that play a significant role in calculating your credit score: credit utilization and length of credit history.

Credit Utilization: Credit utilization refers to the percentage of your available credit that you’re currently using. It’s calculated by dividing your credit card balances by your credit limits. A lower credit utilization ratio is generally favorable for your credit score. Closing a credit card can affect this ratio, potentially increasing your credit utilization if you have outstanding balances on other cards.
Length of Credit History: The length of your credit history is an essential factor in determining your credit score. It includes the age of your oldest credit account, the average age of all your accounts, and the age of your newest account. Closing an older credit card account can shorten your credit history, potentially impacting your score, especially if you don’t have other well-established credit accounts.

Short-Term Impact on Credit Score

Closing a credit card account can have immediate effects on your credit score:

Credit Utilization Increase: If you have balances on other credit cards and close one of them, your overall credit utilization ratio may increase. This can have a negative impact on your credit score, especially if your utilization ratio exceeds 30%. Higher credit utilization suggests a higher risk of overextending credit and potential financial instability.
Loss of Available Credit: Closing a credit card reduces your overall available credit. This reduction can also increase your credit utilization ratio if you maintain the same balances on your remaining cards. Losing available credit may raise concerns for lenders and impact your creditworthiness.
Potential Score Drop: Depending on your unique credit profile and the specific scoring model used, closing a credit card account can lead to a temporary decrease in your credit score. However, the impact may vary, and individuals with a strong credit history and other active credit accounts may experience a smaller or negligible score change.

Long-Term Impact on Credit Score

While the short-term impact of closing a credit card account can be immediate, the long-term effects depend on several factors:

Credit Utilization Adjustments: If you maintain low credit card balances and manage your credit responsibly after closing a card, the negative impact on your credit utilization ratio may diminish over time. Making consistent, on-time payments and keeping balances low can help mitigate any negative effects.
Length of Credit History: Closing an older credit card account can eventually affect the length of your credit history. As time passes, the closed account will no longer contribute to the average age of your accounts. This can potentially reduce the positive impact of your credit history on your credit score.
Impact on Credit Mix: Closing a credit card account can also impact your credit mix, which refers to the diversity of credit types in your credit profile. Having a mix of credit accounts, such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages, can be beneficial for your credit score. Closing a credit card might reduce the variety of credit types in your profile.

Considerations and Mitigation Strategies

Before closing a credit card, consider the following factors and explore strategies to mitigate the potential impact on your credit score:

Evaluate Your Credit Utilization: If you have low credit card balances and closing a card would not significantly increase your credit utilization ratio, the impact on your credit score may be minimal. On the other hand, if closing the card would significantly raise your utilization ratio, it may be prudent to pay down balances first or reconsider closing the account.
Consider Alternatives: Instead of closing a credit card, explore alternatives like downgrading to a no-annual-fee card or reducing the credit limit. This allows you to maintain the account’s positive credit history and available credit while addressing any concerns you may have.
Maintain Active Credit: If you decide to close a credit card, ensure that you maintain active credit accounts to continue building a positive credit history. Having a mix of credit types, such as loans or mortgages, can help mitigate the impact of closing a credit card.
Monitor Your Credit Score: Regularly monitor your credit score and credit reports to stay informed about any changes or potential issues. This allows you to address any negative impacts and take appropriate actions to maintain a healthy credit profile.

Final Thoughts

Closing a credit card can have both short-term and long-term effects on your credit score. The impact primarily revolves around credit utilization and length of credit history.

While the immediate impact may result in a temporary score decrease, responsible credit management and maintaining a healthy credit mix can help mitigate any negative effects over time.

Before closing a credit card, carefully evaluate your individual circumstances and consider alternative options to minimize potential consequences. Making informed decisions regarding your credit cards and overall credit management is essential for maintaining a strong credit score and overall financial health.