An important part of everyone’s climate journey is changing to a sustainable bank. Most traditional banks around the globe use customers’ deposits to fund carbon-intensive industries and businesses that force a heavy carbon burden on your money.
More and more people are realizing that big banks aren’t the way to go when it comes to making the most of your money, especially when it comes to making an impactful change on the climate. More than just impact, emerging options are offering fee-free banking so that more of your money stays yours.
It’s time to cut the cord, and we’ll show you how to do it.
While it sounds like a pain, switching your bank is far easier than you might think. And by choosing one of various new digital offerings, you'll likely find that you’ll save more money and gain in other conveniences and features too!
Before Closing Your Bank of America Account
There are a couple of things you should do before closing your Bank of America account. Don’t jump the gun by closing your Bank of America account too early. Make sure you take these necessary steps so that important things don’t fall through the cracks.
1. Open your new account at a climate-positive bank
The first thing you’ll want to do is identify your new financial institution. Whether it’s banking on climate with Atmos or supporting your local economy (credit union or community bank), there are lots of options out there to support your values.
Once you have identified your new financial institution, open an account. Opening a bank account has gotten a lot easier than it used to be. Many digital offerings are designed for your convenience and usually enable new checking and savings accounts in just a few minutes. Look for an option with no monthly maintenance or service fees.
2. Fund your new account
You don’t need to close your Bank of America account before using your new climate-positive account! Funding your new account allows you to order your debit cards and start using your new account immediately.
The important thing to remember is to leave some money in that old Bank of America account for a short while to keep covering those recurring bills before you transfer them over. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to cut ties completely soon enough!
3. Transfer recurring bills and deposits
You probably have some recurring bills attached to your old Bank of America checking account or subscriptions that auto-deduct from it. Take a look at a recent Bank of America statement to see what subscriptions are auto-deducting and make a list.
Pro Tip: It might also be a good time to look at your credit card statement if you have one of those too! For many people, it’s great practice to review these statements regularly to ensure you’re not paying for services you aren’t using anymore.
Once you have your list, start moving those recurring bills over to your new account. You don’t need to do this all at once if it’s a drag, or better yet, pop on a netflix show in the background. Chances are you’ll be able to get through this step before the credits roll.
Remember to make sure you have enough in your new account to cover the expenses.
Pro tip: Using a feature like a digital debit card is a great way to manage those subscriptions in the future too! If you lose or misplace your physical debit card (and we’ve all been there!) you can cancel it and have a new card sent without needing to worry about any of those recurring subscriptions. Digital debit cards have a different customized card number than a physical debit card so your information and ongoing payments are never at risk.
4. Move your money
Once your new account is open, you’ve started to use it as your primary source of payment and you’ve moved over all of your automatic debits and credits, it’s time to move the rest of your money. This is the last step you’ll need to take before closing that old fossil-fuel funding Bank of America account.
Moving your money is easy in the new age of digital banking. You can send your account balance to your new account with an ACH. Many new digital banking options offer ACH transfers for free!
Closing a Bank of America Account
Congratulations, you’re nearly there! Now that you have moved your money and have set up your recurring debits and credits in your new account, you can finally move to permanently close your Bank of America account. With a zero balance and no recent account activity, closing your account will be a breeze.
Customer service representatives may try to incentivize you to keep your account open. Too little, too late, No thanks! Here are a few ways to close your account.
Closing Your Bank of America Account Over the Phone
Bank of America has customer service representatives working all hours every day of the week, which makes closing your account by phone an easy option. Call Bank of America’s service number (800-432-1000) to connect with a service agent. Inform the agent that you wish to close your account with them. Be sure to have your account number ready.
Closing your Bank of America Account at a Branch
If you’re feeling motivated and prefer to close your account in-person, head over to your local branch during business hours. Make sure you bring a valid government-issued ID, and remember to zero out your account balance before you head in.
*Unfortunately, Bank of America has not made closing your account possible online so either a phone call or visit in person is required.
FAQs
How is Bank of America funding the climate crisis?
Bank of America has poured over $250Billion into fossil fuels and is funding fracked oil and gas. Using money deposited in Bank of America accounts, your money, they are able to keep fossil fuel companies afloat and expanding.
How much does it cost to close an account?
It doesn’t cost anything to close a Bank of America account, but it might cost you money to keep that account if they’re charging you monthly maintenance fees. You can transfer money out of your account by way of ACH. Consider a new option that offers free ACH transfers and no monthly service fees.
Will closing my Bank of America account affect my credit score?
Rest assured that closing your Bank of America account will not affect your credit score in any way.
Conclusion
Saying goodbye to big banks can be quite liberating and save you a bundle of cash. While you’re closing that account, consider using an eco-friendly banking provider that can help to reduce your carbon footprint. Atmos is building the most climate-positive banking option on the planet. With Atmos, you can maximize your positive environmental and social impact while benefiting from higher returns, rewards and leading technology.
