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By Pedro Morillas
CALPIRG        

Step 1: Open a new account at a bank or credit union of your choice.  (For help finding a bank that you'll like, here are a few useful tools: findabetterbank.com, bankrate.com, moneyrates.com, bankfox.com, mybanktracker.com, and banxodus.org.

Step 2: Switch all automatic withdrawals and deposits to your new bank. (Things like direct deposit from your job, and auto bill pay for your cell phone.)

Step 3: Write a check to yourself for the amount remaining in your Bank of America account and deposit it in your new account. Don't forget to figure in any outstanding checks or automatic payments, and remember that if your account is at $0, automatic withdrawals or outstanding checks will overdraw your account. Be sure to stop automatic payments first.

(WARNING: Your account is not closed yet.)

Step 4: Once your account balance is at $0, call Bank of America at 1-800-622-8731 and let them know you would like to close your account. Have your account information ready when you call. (A bank statement should have most of the information you'll need).

If you bank with someone other than Bank of America, but want to close your account, steps 1 through 3 still apply. To find out your bank's specific process for closing an account, call their customer service line. Here are the phone numbers for some other major banks:
 
Wells Fargo: 1-800-869-3557
US Bank: 800-872-2657
Citibank: 1-800-627-3999
JP Morgan Chase: 1-800-935-9935

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Pedro Morillas is a Legislative Advocate with CALPIRG. Follow him on Twitter @CALPIRG_pedro.