Paddy Sullivan, WalletHub Credit Card Advisor
@PaddySully
You should use your credit card at least once every three months to keep it active (but more often than that if you want your credit score to improve at a faster rate). Not all issuers are the same when it comes to credit card inactivity. Some might never close an inactive card, while others might do it after only a few months. But there aren’t any major credit card companies that state they’ll close your account before it’s been inactive for three months.
Here’s how often you should use your credit card to keep it active:
- Amex: No disclosed time limit but will sometimes close based on inactivity. They’ll notify you first and give you a chance to use your card to prevent it, though.
- Barclays: Will close accounts after 6 months of inactivity. They will notify you 2 months in advance and will give you a chance to use your card.
- Capital One: Will close as soon after 12 months of inactivity. They will notify you beforehand and give you a chance to use your card.
- Chase: Will close after 6 months of inactivity. They will send you a letter inviting you to use your card to prevent it from being closed.
- Citi: Will close accounts after 15 months of inactivity. They may notify you beforehand.
- U.S. Bank: Will close account after 18 months of inactivity. May notify you beforehand.
- Wells Fargo: No disclosed time limit but will sometimes close based on inactivity. They will always send a letter ahead of time notifying the cardholder and giving them an opportunity to become active and avoid the closure.
- Bank of America: Will close accounts after 24 months of inactivity. They will send you a letter inviting you to use your card to prevent it from being closed.
Keep in mind that “activity” could be as little as making a $1 purchase. Making a payment or a balance transfer usually counts too, depending on the issuer. And issuers will often contact you if they’re planning to close your account based on inactivity, in order to give you a chance to keep your card by using it. Just make a small charge and you should be all set.
As long as you can afford to, though, you really should use your credit card every month. It’s not a bad thing to have zero balance, but your credit score won’t improve as quickly as it would if you make charges and pay them off. Don’t feel forced to spend, but consider charging at least one small thing.

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@jmiller87
Every institution is different, i have had 2 cards closed because if forgot about them and it ended up hurting my credit. I started using CardSaver though which lets me charge $1 to my idle cards to keep them open (https://cardsaver.app). They don't charge anything other than the $1 to keep your card active.
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