 TITLE: How to Remove Your Name From a Joint Credit Card CONTENT: Can Closing a Joint Credit Card Hurt Your Credit?\n-------------------------------------------------\nIf you've got other credit card debt, closing a joint credit card can cause your credit scores to drop. Losing the available credit on the joint account will affect your credit utilization ratio, or the amount of credit you're using divided by the total amount available. A low utilization ratio helps credit scores, while ratios higher than 30% can hurt them. Credit utilization is the second most important factor in your FICO® Score☉ , behind only payment history.\nYour credit score may eventually take a small hit if you've had the joint credit card for many years. The age of your accounts plays a role in your credit scores, with a longer credit history contributing to a better score. However, if you close the joint account in good standing, it will remain on your account for up to 10 years, so the effect will not be immediate and should be minimal if you maintain good credit habits otherwise.\nThe good news is that while both of your credit scores may drop initially after you close the card, they can return to what they were before, as long as you keep making timely payments and open your own credit accounts that bring up your limit. END