Does it hurt your credit when you close a credit card account?

The answer above is incorrect. The MORE available credit your have the better your score will be. Think about it like a fraction. The numerator (top number) is how much you owe. The denominator (bottom number) is all of the available credit you have. If you reduce the denominator then it looks like you have more debt. Also another factor to take into account is the length of time you have had the card. A longer period of time looks better for your credit report. Bank cards usually do not help build credit unless they are actual credit cards that can be used to purchase items even if you do not have the money in your account to cover it. Stick with the Macy's card. This is your best bet for establishing credit.