To cancel a credit card in Canada, call your card issuer or write to them and ask to close the account. Cutting up the card, letting it expire or not using it doesn’t cancel it. Before you call, pay off the balance, use up your rewards points and move any bills charged to the card. Here are the steps, what to check first, and how cancelling can affect your credit score.
How to cancel a credit card in Canada, step by step
- Pay off the balance. Interest keeps applying to any balance left on the account, even after it’s closed. Some issuers, like Wealthsimple, won’t close a card until it’s paid in full.
- Use your rewards. Redeem or transfer your points before you call. Check your program’s rules for what happens to points when the card is closed.
- Move automatic payments. Switch phone, internet, insurance, streaming and gym bills to another card or bank account.
- Call your card issuer. The number is on the back of your card, on your statement and on the issuer’s website. You can also cancel in writing, using the mailing address on your statement.
- Get written confirmation. Ask the issuer to confirm in writing that the account is closed. Keep it, then destroy the card.
- Check your last statements. Charges you approved before closing, and some recurring charges, can still appear.
- Check your credit report. After about 30 days, make sure it shows the card as closed.
These steps follow the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s guidance on cancelling a credit card.
How to cancel with each card issuer
| Card issuer | How to cancel | From the issuer |
|---|---|---|
| RBC | Call 1-800-769-2512 (24 hours) | You can also ask to switch to a different RBC card online instead |
| Scotiabank | Call 1-866-267-4935 | |
| Tangerine | Call 1-888-826-4374 | |
| American Express | Call the number on the back of your card | |
| Wealthsimple | Chat, call 1-855-585-2672 or email creditcardsupport@wealthsimple.com | Pay the balance in full first. Closing is permanent |
| TD, BMO, CIBC and others | Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement |
Phone numbers and steps come from each issuer’s own help page, checked in October 2026. Have your card and ID handy when you call.
What happens to your rewards points
- Bank points can be lost. Points in a bank’s own program are usually tied to the card. RBC’s Avion Rewards terms say points are forfeited 12 months after you voluntarily close your RBC credit card.
- Partner points usually stay with you. Programs like Aeroplan and Scene+ keep their own accounts, but they can have activity rules once you stop earning. See do Aeroplan points expire? and do Scene+ points expire?.
- Cash back: redeem it first if your card lets you, or check when it’s paid out. Some cards pay once a year.
Does cancelling a credit card hurt your credit score?
It can. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says closing an older account means you lose older credit history and reduce your available credit, and both can lower your score. It also says lenders may see you as a higher risk if you use a lot of your available credit, even when you pay in full every month.
Use the calculator to see how cancelling changes the share of your credit you use. For more detail, try our credit utilization calculator.
Calculator: your credit use after cancelling
Credit utilization checkSee how cancelling a card changes the share of your available credit you’re using.
Your credit cards
After cancelling
of your credit used
Today
of your credit used
Credit left
after cancelling
Cancel, or switch to another card?
If you’re cancelling because of an annual fee, ask your bank about switching (sometimes called a product change) to a no-fee card from the same bank. RBC, for example, lets you request a switch to a different RBC card online or by phone. A switch may let you keep the account open. Ask your bank what happens to your credit limit and points before you switch. See our best no-fee credit cards and our annual fee calculator.
It can still make sense to cancel. Wealthsimple notes that an unused card left open can be a fraud risk.
Frequently asked questions
How do I cancel my credit card in Canada?
Call your card issuer, or write to them, and ask to close the account. The phone number is on the back of your card and on your statement. Pay off the balance first and ask for written confirmation that the account is closed.
Can I cancel a credit card online?
Usually not. The banks we checked, including RBC, Scotiabank and Tangerine, ask you to call. Wealthsimple also lets you ask by chat or email.
Does cutting up my credit card cancel it?
No. Cutting up the card, letting it expire or not using it doesn’t close the account. You have to contact the issuer.
Can I cancel a credit card with a balance?
Some issuers require you to pay it off first. Wealthsimple won’t close a card with a balance. Where an issuer does close it, interest keeps applying to the balance until it’s paid.
Does cancelling a credit card hurt my credit score?
It can. You lose available credit, which raises the share of credit you use, and closing an older card shortens your credit history.
What happens to my points when I cancel?
It depends on the program. RBC forfeits Avion points 12 months after you close your RBC card. Points in partner programs like Aeroplan or Scene+ stay in that program’s account.
How long does it take for a cancelled card to show on my credit report?
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says it usually takes about 30 days for your issuer to report the change to the credit bureaus.
Related reading
- Credit utilization calculator: how much of your credit you use
- Annual fee calculator: is your card worth its fee?
- Best no-fee credit cards: cards to switch to
- Statement balance vs current balance: what to pay before you cancel
How we checked: The steps, the 30-day credit report timing and the credit score effects come from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. Phone numbers and rules for each issuer come from RBC, Scotiabank, Tangerine, American Express Canada and Wealthsimple help pages. The Avion points rule comes from RBC’s Avion Rewards terms. We list a phone number only where the issuer’s own help page gives one for cancelling. The calculator divides your balances by your credit limits and is an estimate, not a credit score. This article is general information, not financial advice. Sources: FCAC: Cancelling your credit card; FCAC: Using your credit card; FCAC: Improve your credit score; RBC: credit card FAQ; Avion Rewards terms; Scotiabank: cancel my credit card; Tangerine: close my credit card; American Express Canada: close or cancel; Wealthsimple: close your credit card. Last checked October 2026.
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