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Can You Reopen a Closed Credit Card Account?

5 min read
Published January 22, 2025
Getting a credit card

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Key Takeaways

  1. Whether or not you can reopen a closed credit card depends on your card issuer’s policies.

  2. Your issuer may close your credit card account for a number of reasons, including inactivity, fraud, missed payments, or changes to your credit score.

  3. Closing a credit card may lower your credit score if it increases your credit utilization ratio.

Are you considering closing a credit card account, but don’t know what impact it may have on your finances? Or did your credit card issuer suddenly close your account? After a credit card account has closed, you may miss the rewards or spending power the card granted you. In some circumstances, you may be able to reopen a closed credit card–it all depends on your card issuer and the reason your account closed. Read on to learn more about why your card account may close, how to reopen your account, and alternatives if reopening an account isn’t possible.

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Why your credit card may close

To reopen your account, you should understand exactly why it closed in the first place. If your card issuer has made a mistake, you could appeal their decision. Some reasons for closing your account may include:

  • Inactivity: If you haven’t used your credit card for several months, your card issuer may close your account. One way you can keep a credit card account active is by using it to pay for your monthly subscriptions.
  • Delinquent payments: Missing one payment doesn’t usually lead to your credit card closing. However, if you’ve gone months without paying, your balance may go to collections, and your card issuer may close your account. This process is known as a “charge-off” and could have severe consequences for your credit.
  • Fraud on your account: Your credit card issuer may close your account if they suspect fraud. Signs of fraud could include sudden withdrawals of large sums, expensive charges, or purchases in parts of the world where you haven’t previously shopped.
  • You're over-limit: If you exceed your card’s credit limit, your issuer may charge you a fee. If you don’t pay down your balance until it no longer exceeds your credit limit, you may continue receiving fees until your account ultimately closes.
  • Your credit score dropped: Some credit cards have specific score requirements. If a change in your finances results in a sudden drop in your credit score, your card issuer may close your account to avoid any additional risk.
  • Your card's terms changed: Your credit card issuer may change your card’s fees, interest rate, terms, or rewards program. If you’re unsatisfied with those changes, you may close your credit card account yourself. If you don’t agree to the new terms, your credit card company may close your account.

How a closed credit card account may impact your credit score

A closed credit card may have consequences for your credit score and can impact your score in several ways. Typically, an account in good standing remains on your report for 10 years after closing, while one with negative information falls off after seven years. That means closing a credit card doesn’t necessarily affect the length of your credit history right away. However, closing an older card may bring down the average ages of your accounts.

Your credit utilization ratio plays a key role in determining your credit scores. When a credit card account closes, you decrease your overall available credit (usually by that card’s credit limit). If you have any balances on any credit cards, your credit utilization ratio increases when your available credit decreases. This could lower your credit score.

How to reopen a closed credit card account

Some issuers may allow you to reopen a closed credit card account by following these steps:

  1. Determine why your account closed. You may have to contact your credit card issuer if you’re not sure.
  2. Address the issues that led to the card’s closure. Be prepared to cover any missed payments or fees, if applicable. You may also have to accept new terms.
  3. Gather necessary documents. If you have the closed credit card or a card statement, keep that on hand for your account information. You may also have to provide your Social Security number and address.
  4. Contact your card issuer. You may call customer service or write a letter. In either case, explain why you hope to reopen your card and any changes you may make to managing your credit. 
  5. Ask questions. You might inquire about concerns like changes to your account number, the status of your rewards, annual fees, or new applications.
  6. Use your card responsibly. Try to maintain a low balance, stay on top of monthly payments, and keep your card active to avoid future issues. You may be able to set up automatic payments in your mobile banking app.

Can you reopen a closed Discover® credit card account?

Once a Discover credit card account has closed, you can’t reopen it. Instead, you could re-apply for the same type of credit card or apply for a new credit card. If you qualify for a new credit card, you may benefit from introductory bonuses, like Cashback Match. We’ll automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There is no limit to how much we’ll match.2

Did you know?

Instead of closing your account you can prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers in seconds with Freeze it®. Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.3

Learn More

Your credit card account could close for various reasons, from missed payments to inactivity. For some credit card companies, the decision to close your account doesn’t necessarily last forever. You may be able to reopen your account by speaking with a customer service representative. With other credit card companies, like Discover, you could instead re-apply for the same credit card type or switch to a new card.

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  1. There is no hard inquiry to your credit report to check if you’re pre-approved. If you’re pre-approved, and you move forward with submitting an application for the credit card, it will result in a hard inquiry which may impact your credit score. Receiving a pre-approval offer does not guarantee approval. Applicants applying without a social security number are not eligible to receive pre-approval offers. Card applicants cannot be pre-approved for the NHL Discover Card.

  2. Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn cash back only when they’re processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.

  3. Freeze it®: When you freeze your account, Discover will not authorize new purchases, cash advances or balance transfers (including checks). However, some activity will continue including charges from merchants where your card is stored or billed regularly, as well as returns, credits, dispute adjustments, delayed authorizations (such as some transit purchases), payments, Discover protection product fees, other account fees, interest, rewards redemptions and certain other exempted transactions.

  • Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.