Is it OK to Keep Credit Cards Open If I’m Not Using Them? - Experian (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to Keep Credit Cards Open If I’m Not Using Them? - Experian? ›

You should generally keep unused credit cards open so your credit score benefits from a long credit history and large amount of available credit. But there are exceptions, like if you're paying a high annual fee. At Experian, one of our priorities is consumer credit and finance education.

Canceling a credit card will cause a direct hit to your credit score, so more often than not, you'll want to keep the account open.

You may be wondering if it hurts your credit score to not use a credit card. Generally speaking, it does not. In fact, the opposite may be true. Keeping an unused credit card open can help keep your credit score higher.

Your credit utilization

Opening new cards could benefit your credit scores by increasing your overall credit limit. That will decrease your credit utilization as long as you don't spend more and send your balances up.

How does this affect my credit history? A credit card canceled for inactivity may impact you in the following ways: The cancellation may affect your debt to credit utilization ratio, which is the amount of credit you're using as compared to the amount of credit available to you.

If you don't use your card, your credit card issuer may lower your credit limit or close your account due to inactivity. Closing a credit card account can affect your credit scores by decreasing your available credit and increasing your credit utilization ratio.

Unused credit cards don't make any money -- and an open credit card account costs money to maintain and monitor. Rather than pay for you to not use your card, the card issuer may simply cancel your unused credit card and close the account.

Owning more than two or three credit cards can become unmanageable for many people. However, your credit needs and financial situation are unique, so there's no hard and fast rule about how many credit cards are too many. The important thing is to make sure that you use your credit cards responsibly.

How often should I use my card to keep it active? While it depends on the issuer, you should use your card at least once every few months to keep it active. Even a small purchase is enough to show your card company that you're still interested in the card.

There's no such thing as “too long” to keep a credit card. If you're happy with your card and getting a lot of value out of the rewards, there's no harm in sticking with it. Likewise, if you've stopped using a card and it doesn't charge an annual fee, in most cases it's preferable to keep the account open.

Is having a zero balance on credit cards bad? ›

Keeping a zero balance is a sign that you're being responsible with the credit extended to you. As long as you keep utilization low and continue on-time payments with a zero balance, there's a good chance you'll see your credit score rise, as well.

When possible, avoid closing your credit cards and look for alternative options to reign in your spending. If you are trying to save on interest, consider a balance transfer or 0% APR credit card. “In general, it's a good idea to keep all of your credit cards open, even if you aren't using them,” advises Tayne.

There is no right number of credit cards to own, and owning multiple cards gives you access to different rewards programs that various cards offer. Owning five cards, for example, would give you a bigger total line of credit and lower your credit utilization ratio.

That's because the credit card issuer makes money in the form of interchange fees (sometimes known as "swipe" fees) when you use your card. If you stop using the card, the issuer may choose to shut it down because they're not making enough money to justify keeping the account open.

In general, it's better to leave your credit cards open with a zero balance instead of canceling them. This is true even if they aren't being used as open credit cards allow you to maintain a lower overall credit utilization ratio and will allow your credit history to stay on your report for longer.

“In general, it's a good idea to keep all of your credit cards open, even if you aren't using them,” advises Tayne. “That's especially true if you carry a balance across your cards or are working on repairing your credit. You can always cut up the physical card and keep the account active.”

Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following. If you don't use a credit card for a year or more, the issuer may decide to close the account. In fact, inactivity is one of the most common reasons for account cancellations.