How can I get a refund for a credit balance on my credit card / personal line of credit / home equity line of credit account? How soon will I get it?
It depends on how you’d like to receive the refund. If your credit card account/line of credit has a credit balance—in other words, money is owed to you—of more than $1.00, you have two choices:
- Roll the balance over to the next billing cycle. The money owed to you will be applied to your new purchases in the new cycle.
- Send a written refund request to your bank or credit card company. Tell them how you want the refund paid (e.g., cash, check, money order, or credited to a deposit account). Once the written request is received, the bank must refund the money within seven business days.
Note that the bank or credit card company may choose to refund the money to you without your request. If you still have a credit balance on your account after six months, the money will be returned to you.
Last Reviewed: April 2021
Please note: The terms "bank" and "banks" used in these answers generally refer to national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations that are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Find out if the OCC regulates your bank. Information provided on HelpWithMyBank.gov should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion of the OCC.