Why timing matters
A bank bonus isn't truly yours the moment it posts. Most offers require you to keep the account open for a set window — and closing inside that window is the single most common way churners lose a bonus they already earned.
The keep-open window
Every offer states (often in fine print) how long the account must stay open. It's usually counted from the open date, sometimes from when the bonus posts. The tracker reads the day counts you enter and computes a concrete safe-to-close date so you don't have to.
What "safe to close" means here
When the tracker marks an account safe to close, the keep-open window has passed: closing should carry no clawback risk from that requirement. Always sanity-check against the offer's own terms — if anything is ambiguous, wait a few extra days.
Closing cleanly
- Confirm the bonus has actually posted and any maintenance requirement is met.
- Move the balance out; leave the account at $0 with no pending transactions.
- Close through the bank's official channel and keep written confirmation.
When it's still pending
If the bonus hasn't posted yet, the account isn't safe to close even if the calendar window has passed — you're still waiting on the money. The tracker flags this as a pending state.
Not financial or tax advice. Offers and terms change — verify with the bank before closing.