<human>: So after having my bank for 19 years I finally left them.  They kept getting bought out again and again and their local advantage had vanished. 

Fast forward I join a credit union and move all but 100 bucks in my account to the credit union.  Left the hundred bucks and account open to wait for my direct deposit to drop at least once in the new account. 

Well I forgot to switch my autopay credit card.  Thought I was SCREWED.  My credit averages between 780 and 820 depending on the pull type. I was so frantic that my great credit would be ruined! 

Well what I found out (at least with amex) is that if you buy something and then your statement closes and you return that item,  well the credit for the return counts towards the minimum payment.  So I was not late!  Best part is that while they were explaining this,  they removed any interest,  penalties like it never happened and even gave me a $30 credit that my bank charged me for insufficient funds! 

Been a customer with them for 20 years with good credit.  My first cc out of college. 

So while I don't really want to say  it's an option,  I guess if you fell on hard times and wanted to keep good credit, you could buy something the last day of your statement period, then return it the first day of the next period. And have the minimum payment met by the return to avoid credit dings.  Again,  there's probably many other things you could do if you're in this situation though but I guess is a quick last minute "oh crap" thing.

Condense the text into a few key points
<bot>: changed banks,  forgot to update cc autopay,  something I happened to return counted as minimum payment and avoided credit dings!