How to Close Out a Joint Checking Account

Some people believe that both people on the joint account need to be present to close out a joint checking account and that is not true.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your I.D.

1. Go to the bank and tell the teller that you would like to close out an account.

2. The teller will then point you to a waiting area or an office. A financial specialist or a manager will come out and get you.

3. Tell the financial specialist that you would like to close out a joint checking account, show them your I.D. so that they can verify your identity. Make sure you inform them that it is a joint account.

4. They will review your account, have you sign a few papers and then hand you a check with the balance that was left in the checking account. It is as simple as that. They will ask you to inform the other person on the account that it has been closed.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that you do not have any checks out before you close the account. If you do, you can either wait for them to clear to tell the bank to stop payment. (For stop payment there is a fee- usually somewhere around $30.)
• Your account cannot be in the negative if you want to close it out.