How To Cancel SBI Credit Card

SBI credit cards bring you a host of benefits ranging from attractive rewards and lifestyle offers to complimentary lounge access and fuel surcharge waivers. However, if you’re unable to manage the card or wish to upgrade to a better variant, you can always opt to close the account. Closing the card is also a prudent choice when you rarely use it. However, to do so, you need to know how to cancel an SBI credit card.

 

The good news is that the process is pretty straightforward and can be completed via the customer care helpline or by posting a written request to the bank. However, when deciding to close your credit card, you also need to be mindful of various dos and don'ts and the impact of the decision on your credit score.

Currently, you cannot close an SBI credit card online. However, you can register a cancellation request via the bank’s customer care helpline or by posting a written letter addressed to the bank. We cover both these routes in detail below:

 

1. Give them a ring

To cancel your credit card, you can call any one of the following toll-free SBI credit card customer care numbers:

• 18601801290

• 18605001290

• 39020202 (prefix the applicable STD code)

 

You will need to share certain details pertaining to your card. Once the customer care representative verifies your identity as the cardholder with these details, your cancellation request will be registered. 

2. Write to them 

Alternatively, you can also submit a credit card account closure request in writing to the below-mentioned address:

 

SBI Card, 

 

PO Bag 28, GPO, 

 

New Delhi 110 001

 

The letter must include your name, date of birth, address, card number, and contact details. However, to safeguard yourself from fraudulent transactions, you should refrain from including confidential information like your CVV or PIN in the letter.

Knowing how to close an SBI credit card is helpful, especially in dire situations. But there are a few points you should keep in mind before deactivating your card. These points include: 

 

• Clear any and all the outstanding due amounts since termination of the card will only be effective after all remaining dues are cleared. Failing to do so keeps the card active and the outstanding amount may attract penalties. 

• Cancel any automatic payments you may have set on the card. 

• Check the latest credit card statement to ensure no fraudulent transactions have been made on the card.

• Refrain from making new purchases on the credit card you want to close. Doing so generates a fresh statement of payment that needs to be cleared. 

• Redeem all the accumulated reward points on the card to cash in your benefits. 

• Request/save the confirmation received after your request is successfully processed. 

To ensure that you make an informed decision and one that prioritises your financial health, knowing what can happen is key. Listed below are some of the effects of closing a credit card:

• Impact on your credit score: Closing one of your credit cards would lead to a lower total credit limit. Assuming your expenses remain the same, you may have to use more of the available credit limit from your other credit cards. This will push your credit utilisation ratio, negatively impacting your credit score. 

• Impact on your credit history: Cancelling your credit card also cancels the credit history linked to the card. In other words, when you cancel a card, your credit history gets shortened. This too can negatively impact your credit score and the possibility of secure future lines of credit.  

• Reduced total credit: Closing your SBI credit card takes away a line of instant credit. Without this instant financing option, you can also lose out on buy-now-pay-later, and EMI payment perks if you have just one credit card. 

• Termination of add-on cards and other benefits: Most SBI credit cards offer free add-on cards. However, once you cancel the primary card, all other cards stand to be cancelled as well. Additionally, upon the card’s cancellation, you won’t qualify for its attractive merchant discounts, offers, rewards, fuel surcharge waivers, and other perks.

You can register a reactivation request for your closed SBI credit card account by:

• Calling the toll-free SBI credit card customer care helpline at 1860-180-1290/1860-500-1290/(STD prefix) 39020202.

• Using the ‘Write to Us’ portal and filling-up an online query form outlining your reactivation request. 

 

Note: that your card will only be reactivated after all the documentation work and other formalities (as per the bank’s policies) have been concluded.