United States · Store card

How to activate your My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa

Activate your My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa online or by phone — what you need, step-by-step instructions and fixes if activation fails.

Quick answer: Activate your My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa online at bestbuy.com, in the Best Buy app or by phone at 1-888-574-1301. Have ready: Your new card; Identity details. Use only bestbuy.com or the official app, never a link sent by text or email.

Official activation bestbuy.com Methods: Phone · Online Phone: 1-888-574-1301 — Best Buy credit card support number on bestbuy.com credit card pages
Good to know: LIMITED VERIFICATION: bestbuy.com pages redirected to a country selector during fetches. The phone number comes from a search excerpt of bestbuy.com.
Only activate on bestbuy.com or the official app. Type the address yourself. Citibank will never text or call asking for your full PIN or a one-time code.
A person sitting in a chair with a laptop and a credit card — activating a new My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa
Photo: SumUp / Unsplash

What you need

  • Your new card
  • Identity details

Activate your My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa online

  1. Follow the activation sticker on your card
  2. Or sign in through the Best Buy Credit Card Dashboard (bestbuy.com/services/ccdashboard), which connects to Citi Account Online
  3. Verify your identity
  4. Activate the card

Activate by phone

Call 1-888-574-1301 (Best Buy credit card support number on bestbuy.com credit card pages) and follow the automated prompts. You will usually be asked for the card number and a piece of identity information such as the last four digits of your Social Security number or your ZIP code.

After you activate

  • Turn on card offers under Member Offers in your My Best Buy account
  • Set up autopay in Citi Account Online
  • Note that the store card only works at Best Buy; the Visa works everywhere

If your Citibank card won't activate

  • Can't find activation on bestbuy.com: the card is serviced by Citi, so use the sticker instructions
  • Confusing gift card activation with credit card activation: gift cards are activated at the register

My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa activation FAQs

How do I activate my My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa?

You can activate it by phone, online at bestbuy.com. Online or in-app activation is usually fastest: sign in, choose the new card, and confirm the details requested.

Is there a phone number to activate a Citibank card?

Yes — Citibank lists 1-888-574-1301 for card activation (Best Buy credit card support number on bestbuy.com credit card pages). Only call numbers printed on your card, its sticker or bestbuy.com.

Can I use my Citibank card before activating it?

Generally no. A new card is blocked until it is activated, although some issuers activate a replacement automatically the first time you use it with your PIN, and some let you use a virtual card number in the app straight away.

Does activating a My Best Buy Credit Card / My Best Buy Visa affect my credit score?

No. Activation is not a credit check. Any hard inquiry happened when you applied; activating simply switches the card on. Not activating a new account does not close it, so it can still appear on your credit report.

Why won't my Citibank card activate?

Can't find activation on bestbuy.com: the card is serviced by Citi, so use the sticker instructions Confusing gift card activation with credit card activation: gift cards are activated at the register

Is it safe to activate my card online?

Yes, provided you are on the issuer's real website (bestbuy.com) or official app. Type the address yourself rather than following links in texts or emails. Your bank will never ask for your full PIN or a one-time passcode by phone or text.

Citibank cards we review

CardAnnual feeRewardsIntro APRForeign feeCredit neededRating
Citi Double Cash CardDisciplined payers and people consolidating balance-transfer debt
None 1% when you buy + 1% when you pay = up to 2% on all purchases 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months 3% Good (690+) 4.6
Citi Custom Cash CardPeople with one dominant monthly spending category
None 5% on your highest eligible category each cycle (up to $500), 1% after 0% intro APR for 15 months 3% Good (690+) 4.5
Citi Strata Premier CardBroad 3x earning on one mid-tier card
$95/yr 10x hotels, car rentals & attractions via Citi Travel, 3x air travel,… None None Good to Excellent (700+) 4.5
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MastercardAA flyers who check a bag a few times a year
$99/yr 2x miles on American Airlines, gas & restaurants, 1x on everything els… None None Good to Excellent (700+) 4.3

Sources: www.bestbuy.com · www.citi.com. Steps change; if your screen looks different, follow the official instructions.