What Happens to My Miles If I Close My Credit Card?

It depends on where your miles or points actually live. Before you close a card, take a minute to check, because some balances disappear the day the card is closed.

Points that live with the card

Bank programs keep your points inside the card account. That includes American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Capital One.

• Amex: if you close your last Membership Rewards card, the points are lost.
• Chase: if you have no other Ultimate Rewards card, the points go with the card.
• Citi: you usually have only 60 days after closing to use them.
• Capital One: closing the card can mean losing the rewards unless you use or move them first.

Miles that live with the airline or hotel

With a co-branded card, such as a Delta, United or Hilton card, the miles or points sit in your airline or hotel account, not the card. Closing the card does not remove them. Watch for expiry though: some programs expire points after a period with no activity, and Hilton and Marriott expire them after 24 months with no activity.

Before you close a card

1. Check which program your points belong to.
2. Use them, move them to another card in the same program, or sell them.
3. Close the card only once the balance is safe.

If you are not going to use your points, selling them before you close the card turns them into cash instead of losing them. See your offer on our Amex page, or for Chase or Citi.

The SellMyMiles team