How to close a deceased person's Citi account
Citi handles closing a deceased person's account through by phone. The steps below are Citi's own published process, taken from its official support pages — this page organizes them so you can see what the provider asks for; it doesn't add to them or recommend any particular action.
What you'll need
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- The account number, email, or phone number on the account
Steps
- Call the number on the back of the deceased's Citi card (or use the Estate Servicing Center, which requires signing in) to let Citi know the cardmember has passed away.
- You may need to send a copy of the death certificate for the account to be cancelled.
- Make sure any authorized users stop using the card — a card is no longer valid after the cardmember's death and use may be flagged as fraud.
- Cancel or transfer any recurring payments billed to the card, over the phone or online.
- Outstanding balances are paid from the estate's assets by the executor; surviving family are generally not responsible unless they were a joint account holder, co-signer, or spouse in a community-property state.
Closing one account is only part of the job — every recurring charge still draws on a card or bank account the estate will eventually claim. HeirLoft reads the recurring charges straight out of an inbox in one pass, so you can see everything that's still billing while you work down the list.
Surface every recurring charge in one place
How to contact Citi
Typical timeline
Citi does not publish a typical timeline for this process.
Notes
Citi's Estate Servicing Center page renders only after sign-in; the public citi.com article on credit-card debt after death is the only static guidance.
Sources
- https://online.citi.com/US/ag/estate-servicing-center
- https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/debt-management/what-happens-to-credit-card-debt-when-you-die
Last reviewed September 14, 2026 · Links verified September 14, 2026
Related guides
- Close a deceased person's account, provider by provider
- Accessing a deceased person's financial accounts
The simplest way to spare your own family this process is to keep an up-to-date list of your accounts somewhere they can find it. HeirLoft finds the recurring charges you've forgotten and keeps them in one place your heirs can actually use.