Do I Lose My Rewards When My Credit Card Closes?

What Happens to Your Rewards if You Cancel a Credit Card?

What ultimately happens to your rewards can depend on why the card was closed and your card's terms. There also may be a big difference depending on the type of rewards card.

General Rewards Cards

General rewards credit cards offer cash back or points in the card issuer's rewards program. In either case, the rewards accrue within your credit card account. They're part of the credit card issuer's rewards program—sometimes, you even earn "cash back" as points in the card issuer's program.

You may be able to redeem cash back rewards by requesting a check, statement credit or money transfer to a linked bank account. With card issuers' rewards programs, you'll often have a long list of redemption opportunities, including cash back, travel, merchandise and gift cards.

Because your rewards are managed by the card issuer, closing the credit card could result in losing the rewards. However, you'll often have a small window of time when you can redeem your rewards after closing your card—it just depends on the card issuer's rules and the card's terms.

Best rewards cards of 2026

Compare cards from our partners that earn points, cash back or miles on everyday spending.

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(569)Rated 4.56 out of 5 stars, 569 reviews

90%

would recommend

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

Intro bonus:

As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.

You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.

Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable

Rewards:

1% - 3% (cash back)

Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.

Annual Fee:$0

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(287)Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars, 287 reviews

92%

would recommend

American Express^® Gold Card

Intro bonus:

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Ongoing APR:See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards:

1x - 5x (Points per dollar)

Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines. Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Annual Fee:$325

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(24)Rated 4.75 out of 5 stars, 24 reviews

96%

would recommend

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Rewards:

1x - 6x (Miles per dollar)

Earn 6 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com. Earn 3 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Earn 1 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Annual Fee:$350

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(53)Rated 4.62 out of 5 stars, 53 reviews

90%

would recommend

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Intro bonus:

As High As 80K Miles + $250 Statement Credit

You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles and a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.

Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable

Rewards:

1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)

When you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.

Annual Fee:$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

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(65)Rated 4.58 out of 5 stars, 65 reviews

88%

would recommend

Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card

Intro bonus:

10,000 Miles

Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable

Rewards:

1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)

Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Annual Fee:$0

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Credit One Bank^® Platinum X5 Visa Signature^® Metal Card

Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable

Rewards:

1% - 5% (cash back)

Earn 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 of eligible gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile phone service purchases each year, and then 1% thereafter. Plus 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, terms apply.

Annual Fee:$95

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Terms Apply

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Intro bonus:

200,000 Points

Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.

Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable

Rewards:

3x - 14x (Points per dollar)

Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants. Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.

Annual Fee:$550

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(87)Rated 4.31 out of 5 stars, 87 reviews

Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Intro bonus:

$200

$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

Intro APR:See Terms

Ongoing APR:See Terms

Rewards:

1% - 6% (cash back)

Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category. Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.

Annual Fee:$0

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Airline and Hotel Rewards Credit Cards

With airline credit cards and hotel credit cards, the points or miles that you earn are automatically added to your loyalty program account. As a result, you can keep the rewards even if you close your credit card. However, review the program's rules because they might expire due to inactivity.

How to Cancel a Card Without Losing Your Points

There are four options if you want to close your credit card without losing your rewards:

1. Switch to a different card. Some credit card issuers let you "product change," or switch between cards in the same rewards program without closing your account. It can be a good option if you're not getting enough value from a card to justify its annual fee, or if another card's bonus rewards categories better align with your spending.
2. Transfer the points to another card. If you have multiple cards in the same program, you can sometimes move rewards between accounts. Make sure you move the rewards from the card before closing it.
3. Transfer the points to partner travel programs. Similarly, some card issuers' rewards programs let you transfer rewards to partners' frequent travel programs. Transfer the rewards before closing the card, and you can redeem your points or miles later.
4. Use your points. You also won't lose any rewards if your rewards balance is at zero. Research the best way to use that program's points and enjoy the rewards you earned.

Some card issuers give you a grace period to use or transfer your rewards after closing your credit card. But review your card's terms before closing it.

Also, if you opened a credit card primarily to earn an intro bonus, think twice about quickly using the rewards and closing the card. Card issuers might consider that gaming the system and take back the rewards.

If you want to close the card because of an annual fee, ask about product changes and retention offers. Some card issuers offer additional rewards or a statement credit if you keep your card open. However, you may need to call (and sometimes say you're considering closing the card) to find out if you qualify for a retention offer.

Reasons Your Issuer Could Cancel Your Credit Card

Although you can take steps to use or transfer your points before closing a card, you won't necessarily have time to react if the card issuer closes your account. This can happen for various reasons, including:

• You don't use the card. Card issuers may close inactive accounts to help limit their costs and risk. Try to use your card every few months to keep it active. Or, consider using it to pay for a low-cost subscription and use autopay to pay off the balance each month.
• Your credit score drops. A lower credit score indicates the person is more likely to miss a payment in the future. Credit card issuers might decrease your credit limit or completely close your account if your score drops significantly.
• You fall behind on payments. Card issuers might close your account if you haven't made your payments on time. You may also lose promotional interest rates and have to pay late payment fees.
• The card issuer thinks you're gaming the rewards program. A card issuer might close your account and void your rewards if it thinks you're trying to game the rewards program.
• The card is discontinued. Some credit cards get discontinued or replaced and you may have to close your account or switch to the new card.

Depending on why the card issuer wants to close your account, you might receive a warning about the closure or grace period.

Does Closing a Rewards Card Affect Your Credit Score?

Closing a credit card might hurt your credit scores because it decreases your available revolving credit, which can lead to a higher credit utilization rate.

A lower utilization rate is generally better for your credit scores, which is why closing a card can hurt your credit. However, if you can maintain a low utilization rate (such as below 10%) after you close your card, you might not see a big score change.

There's also often a myth that closing an account will immediately lower the average age of your credit accounts, which could hurt your scores. But closed credit cards can stay on your credit reports for up to 10 years and are still included in age-related credit scoring factors.

Review Your Options Before Closing a Card

If you're considering closing a credit card and worried about losing rewards, review the program's terms carefully to see what can happen. You might want to use or transfer the points to a different loyalty program if you'll forfeit your rewards right away, or have a plan for using them if you receive a grace period.

When you want to hold on to your points but cancel your card, ask the card issuer if there are any options for a product change. Or, look into opening a new card that's part of the program and then transferring your points. Experian can show you credit card offers based on your unique credit profile and filter the results by card issuer and type.