Nowadays, it seems there are credit cards for just about anything. These are designed to make it easy to score rewards for everyday purchases, helping people reach their financial goals. One of the most common personal, small business, and commercial credit cards are from First Premier Bank. However, if you’re wondering how to cancel a First Premier credit card, it can be a bit tricky.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- How to Cancel Your Own First Premier Credit Card
- How to Cancel a Deceased Loved One’s First Premier Credit Card
Locally headquartered in South Dakota, First Premier Bank is consistently named one of the best banks in the country. This Mastercard credit card has a lot of great benefits, including digital access, reliable security, and easy pricing. Ideal for people just building their credit for the first time, there might come a time when you’re ready to cancel your First Premier credit card.
How to Cancel Your Own First Premier Credit Card
If you’re trying to cancel your own First Premier credit card, this is a relatively easy process. As long as you have access to your banking and account details, it’s very straightforward using the steps below.
1. Consider if closing your account is right for you
There are a lot of reasons you might choose to close your credit card account. For many, these cards add up quickly. It might be tempting you to spend more money than you can afford, or you could be facing a high interest rate. Any of these reasons are valid when it comes to protecting your financial wellness.
However, still consider if canceling your own First Premier credit card is the right choice. Closing any line of credit typically results in a negative hit to your credit rating. In the long term, this won’t make a huge impact, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind.
2. Pay your card balance
Before you cancel your card, you need to pay off any existing balance. Stop using the card as soon as you know you plan to cancel to avoid unexpected fees and payments. If you’re unable to pay it off completely, you can transfer the balance to another card or line of credit. First Premier has a lot of options for this, so it’s a good option if you’re unable to pay the full balance at once.
3. Cash all of your rewards
Similarly, before you cancel your card with First Premier, make sure all of your rewards have been redeemed. If you have any cash rewards with First Premier, you will likely lose these when you cancel your account. They will be lost forever. To take full advantage of any rewards, redeem them in advance.
4. Contact First Premier directly
It’s easy to cancel your own First Premier card, but you need to contact the bank directly. The fastest way to do this is by calling the customer service number on the back of your card. You can also find this number on your most recent account statement. When you speak to an agent, let them know you wish to close your account.
The representative might ask for information to verify your identity. It’s a good idea to have your account number, statement, and credit card nearby when on the phone. You might be asked why you’re closing the account, but there is no “right” or “wrong” answer. You’re allowed to cancel a credit card account at any time as long as the balance is paid in full.
It’s very likely you’ll receive a counter-offer from First Premier. This is a way for the bank to keep you as a customer, even if you’re no longer happy with your credit card. If the offer is good, you might consider canceling another credit card instead. When in doubt, talk to a financial professional about the best way to meet your goals.
5. Check your account statement
Even after you cancel your First Premier credit card, you still have additional steps to protect your credit. Look at your account statement for up to 90 days after canceling your card. Make sure there are no missed fees. Your new account statement should reflect that this account was closed by your request, not by issuer request.
If you notice any errors on your account statement or your credit report, contact customer service again. These small issues can add up to a big problem for your credit score long-term.
6. Destroy your canceled cards
Last but not least, destroy your canceled credit cards. You can use a paper shredder, scissors, or mail the card back to your bank. Similarly, if you have any authorized users on your account, be sure these cards are destroyed. They can’t be used once your account is closed for good.
Remove your card information from any password manager tools. Finally, be sure you don’t have any automatic payments scheduled for this credit card. If so, you could risk fees. Though it’s a lot of steps to cancel a credit card, this is an important way to protect your finances.
How to Cancel a Deceased Loved One’s First Premier Credit Card
Are you wondering what to do when someone dies? If so, you’re not alone. There are a lot of steps that come after a loss, and many of these are legal or financial. Here’s how to cancel a deceased loved one’s First Premier credit card.
1. Review their account statement
The first step is to take a look at your loved one’s account statement. You can find this through their email, mail, important documents, or mobile banking app. If the account has a balance, this is something that needs to be taken care of as part of your executor duties. However, only the estate is responsible for paying these debts in most cases.
2. Cancel any automatic payments
While reviewing their account statement, check for any automated, recurring, or scheduled payments. It’s common to charge regular bills or utilities to credit cards, for example. You will need to transfer or cancel these payments to avoid fees. The sooner you take action, the better.
3. Contact customer support
Again, you have to contact customer support at First Premier directly. When speaking to an agent on the phone, let them know that you wish to report the death of a cardholder. They will have a specific protocol for the next steps.
You’ll likely need to submit a death certificate or court documents for their records. Learn how to get a death certificate at your local record office or through your funeral home. Keep track of any confirmations for your records.
4. Destroy credit cards
One of the final steps is to destroy your loved one’s credit cards. This keeps them out of the wrong hands, and it also avoids them being used by accident. It’s considered fraud to use the credit card of a deceased person, even if that person is an authorized user on the account.
5. Monitor their bank statement
Lastly, continue to monitor your loved one’s bank statement for up to 90 days after closing their First Premier account. You want to be sure the account balance remains at zero (unless there is debt). Unfortunately, many scammers target the recently deceased for fraud. Keeping a close eye on this is the best way to protect your loved one’s financial legacy.
Close a First Premier Credit Card Account
As you can see, there are many reasons why one might choose to cancel a First Premier credit card. Whether you’re no longer in need of this specific credit card or you’re handling a loved one’s accounts, this is something you should take seriously.
Your financial legacy is no small matter. This is a way to make an impact on your estate, family, and so on. That means you should take care when closing your account or loved one’s accounts, especially when tied to credit scores.