Will I Keep My Credit Cards if I Go Through Bankruptcy?

 Posted on October 21, 2026 in Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is one of the most common reasons people file for bankruptcy. Many filers want to know whether they’ll be able to keep using their cards afterward.

In most cases, the cards included in your bankruptcy will be closed. There may be ways to keep a card open, though, and you can start rebuilding credit after your case ends.

If you’re thinking about bankruptcy in 2026, an Arlington, TX bankruptcy lawyer can explain what to expect with your open lines of credit.

What Happens to Your Credit Cards When You File for Bankruptcy in Texas?

You have to list every creditor in your bankruptcy, including every credit card company you owe. Once you file, an automatic stay kicks in to stop collection calls and lawsuits. Card issuers receive notice of your case, and most close or freeze the accounts.

Most credit card debt is unsecured, which means it can often be discharged in Chapter 7, though someone who cosigned the card with you generally remains responsible for the debt even after your obligation is discharged. In Chapter 13, the balances are usually paid in part through a three- to five-year repayment plan. Chapter 13 offers co-signers on consumer debts some protection while your plan is active.

In either of these cases, the card issuer doesn’t have to keep the account open after you file.

Can You Keep a Credit Card With a Zero Balance in Bankruptcy?

A card with no balance isn’t a debt, so that issuer may not qualify as a creditor in your case. Some people keep these cards open through bankruptcy. Issuers check credit reports regularly, though, and may close the account once they see the filing. Cards where you’re only an authorized user may also stay open since you don’t own the debt.

Some store cards work differently. A card from a furniture or jewelry store may give the store a security interest in what you bought with it. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 521(a)(2), you’d need to state whether you plan to return the item, redeem it, or reaffirm the debt.

Don’t pay off a card right before filing just to keep it. Payments totaling $600 or more to a creditor within 90 days before filing could be treated as preferential transfers if they meet the law’s requirements. A preferential transfer is a payment made before bankruptcy that unfairly favors one creditor over others. However, ordinary payments may be protected. The trustee of the bankruptcy can recover qualifying payments from the creditor and divide the money among your other creditors.

Can You Use Your Credit Cards Right Before Filing for Bankruptcy in Texas?

Running up your cards right before filing can cause problems. Under federal law, some recent charges are presumed nondischargeable for cases filed in 2026. This includes more than $900 in luxury goods or services owed to one creditor within 90 days before filing, or more than $1,250 in total cash advances within 70 days before filing.

Luxury goods don’t include things you reasonably need to support yourself or your family. Using a card for groceries or gas a few weeks before filing is a different matter than a vacation or new electronics.

A card issuer can also object to discharging a debt if it can show you made charges with no intention of paying them back. If you’ve been using your cards heavily until now, tell your lawyer before you file. Waiting a few months before filing is sometimes an option.

Can You Get a Credit Card After Bankruptcy?

It’s possible to get credit cards after bankruptcy, but filers should proceed carefully. Many people get credit card offers soon after their discharge. These first offers often come with high interest rates, low limits, or annual fees. Instead, secured credit cards, which require a deposit and can help rebuild your credit through responsible use, are often better choices.

Remember that credit card debt that’s discharged in bankruptcy stays discharged. If an old collector contacts you about a previous card balance after your case ends, keep the messages and tell your lawyer.

Call a Wise County, TX Credit Card Debt Lawyer Today

It's important to understand how your bankruptcy filing will interact with your current and future lines of credit. We can help you avoid making time-consuming mistakes and advise you on how to safely reenter the world of credit cards after your case has closed.

At our firm, you’ll always talk directly with one of our Arlington, TX bankruptcy attorneys, never a paralegal. We can also handle your case completely virtually with an extremely fast turnaround.

Call Acker Warren P.C. at 817-752-9033 today for a free consultation.