How To Close an HDFC Credit Card: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you want to close an HDFC credit card, send a closure request through NetBanking or any other HDFC Bank channel. The bank completes the closure once all dues on the card are cleared. The 7-working-day closure timeline applies when the card has no outstanding amount. RBI rules give the bank 7 working days to close a card with zero dues. HDFC Bank has to pay the cardholder ₹500 for each day of delay.

Key Takeaways

• HDFC Bank’s MITC lists a MyCards route for closure: www.hdfc.bank.in > Log in > Credit Cards > Card Control > Services > Other Action > Card Closure. 
• A delay beyond 7 working days costs HDFC Bank ₹500 for every extra day, as long as the card has nothing outstanding.
• The closure should be confirmed by checking Net Banking or reading the confirmation message. 

Cardholders decide to close a card for different reasons. For some, the yearly fee is higher than what they get back. Others rarely use the card at all. Some cardholders simply want fewer cards to track. 

This manual is for HDFC Bank cardholders wishing to close an existing card. This will include instructions on closing a card, the timing involved, payment priorities, and how closing a card could impact one’s credit score. Given that banks often change the terms of their agreements, please read the current MITC before applying.

How can you close your HDFC Credit Card?

Start by paying everything you owe on the card. After that, send the closure request through Net Banking or any other channel HDFC Bank offers. Keep the request number until the bank confirms closure.

HDFC Bank's MITC gives this Net Banking path for closing a card:

1. Sign in to HDFC Bank Net Banking on hdfc.bank.in.
2. Open the Credit Cards section and pick the card to be closed.
3. Open Card Control.
4. Choose Closure and submit the request.

The bank may rename these menus over time, so look for the closest matching option on the site.

Net Banking is only one of the options. RBI requires card issuers to accept closure requests through several channels, such as a helpline, a dedicated email address, internet banking and a mobile app. RBI also bars issuers from insisting that you send the request only by post.

Here's a quick comparison of the main channels:

Save the request number and the date you raised it. You'll need both if the closure gets delayed.

What should you do before Closing an HDFC Credit Card?

Your outstanding balance should read zero, with no transaction still waiting to post. HDFC Bank's 7-day timeline counts only for cards that carry no dues.

Check the following points before sending your request:

• Clear the entire outstanding. Pay the minimum due and there will be a balance on the card. Any such balance can accrue interest and fees until you pay it off. 
• Close any EMIs on the card. Purchases converted to EMI still count as dues. Ask HDFC Bank about foreclosing them first.
• Wait for pending transactions to post. Some purchases and refunds can take a couple of days to appear on the card. Send the request after your statement shows the final amount.
• Cancel all standing orders. 

Stop using the card after the request goes in. Avoid making new transactions after submitting the closure request, as they may create additional dues.

How long does HDFC Bank take to close a Credit Card?

HDFC Bank should close your card within 7 working days of your closure request. If your card still has dues when you raise the request, the time you take to clear them doesn’t count towards these 7 working days, as RBI has clarified. If the bank misses the deadline, it owes you a daily penalty.

HDFC Bank’s MITC states that failing to close the card within seven working days leads to a penalty of ₹500 per day of delay. The bank pays this to the customer until the card is closed, provided there is no outstanding on the account. This follows RBI’s credit card directions.

Here's how the timeline works:

The 7-day clock is counted in working days, not calendar days, so weekends and bank holidays don't count.

What happens to the Credit Balance after Closing the Card?

If you've paid more than you owed, the extra amount should come back to you. RBI requires issuers to move any credit balance to your bank account after closure.

A credit balance can build up if you overpay a bill or get a refund after paying in full. The issuer must transfer this balance to the cardholder's bank account once the card is closed under RBI's credit card directions.

Check your final statement after closure to avoid delays. If your final statement shows a credit balance, HDFC Bank refunds it to your bank account. If the bank doesn’t have your account details, it may ask you for them. HDFC Bank’s MITC notes that cardholders who haven’t shared an account number can contact phone banking or visit a branch to update it.

Does closing an HDFC credit card impact CIBIL Score?

Closing a card can reduce your overall available credit limit, which may increase your credit utilisation ratio if you have balances on other cards.

Your utilisation ratio shows how much of your total card limit you use. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank suggests keeping it below 30%. Losing one card's limit can push this ratio up even if your spending stays the same.