conversation: User (michellech): "I have had a checking account, savings account and rewards credit card through Bank of America since 2008, so 9.5 years now. Those are my oldest accounts, cards, etc. on my credit report. Four to five years ago I opened a second checking account with them. \n\nI'd like to get away from BOA and switch my accounts/money to a local credit union without fees, etc. but worry that closing those four accounts will have a big impact on my "age of credit history" and mean a negative hit on my credit report/score, which is currently 790s depending on if you look at TransUnion or Equifax.\n\nDo you have any idea what kind of impact that would have in terms of points on my credit score? And more importantly, what would you do? Take the hit? Close some, but not all accounts at BOA (like maybe keep the CC but close the 3 checking and saving accounts)? I've done a search but haven't been able to find much specifically about when you're looking to switch banks and get out of the corporate BOA situation."
  Self: "Unless you have an overdraft line of credit on your checking account it doesn't affect your credit at all. \nBank accounts are on ChexSystems reports instead of your credit reports. And closing them to switch banks won't have any effect at all as long as you're in good standing. \n\nKeep the credit card open though. Even if you barely use it you want to keep that available credit up. (EDIT: And also keep that length of credit history up)"
  