How to activate your BMO Credit Card (Canada)
Activate your BMO credit card (Canada) online, in the app or by phone — what you need, step-by-step instructions and fixes if activation fails.
Quick answer: Activate your BMO Credit Card (Canada) online at bmo.com or in the BMO Mobile Banking app. Have ready: Card details (account details form); BMO Digital Banking login (optional). Use only bmo.com or the official app, never a link sent by text or email.
What you need
- Card details (account details form)
- BMO Digital Banking login (optional)
Activate your BMO Credit Card (Canada) online
- Go to BMO's Activate My BMO Credit Card page (bmo.com/online/creditcards/activate-credit-card)
- Enter your card and account details
- Verify your identity
- Confirm activation
Activate in the BMO Mobile Banking app
- Sign in to BMO Digital Banking
- From the Account summary, select the credit card
- Choose Manage card
- Choose Activate your card
Activate by phone
Call the activation number printed on the sticker on the front of your new card (or the customer-service number on the back) 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 SIN or date of birth.
After you activate
- Add the card to your mobile wallet
- Set up alerts
- Destroy the old card if this is a replacement
If your Bank of Montreal card won't activate
- Authorized user can't activate in digital banking: BMO doesn't allow it; use the sticker instructions
- Page won't load: try the sticker phone number
BMO Credit Card (Canada) activation FAQs
How do I activate my BMO Credit Card (Canada)?
You can activate it online at bmo.com, in the BMO Mobile Banking app. 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 Bank of Montreal card?
Use the activation number printed on the sticker on the front of your new card, or the number on the back of the card. Only call numbers shown on the card itself or on bmo.com — scammers publish look-alike numbers.
Can I use my Bank of Montreal 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 BMO Credit Card (Canada) 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 Bank of Montreal card activate?
Authorized user can't activate in digital banking: BMO doesn't allow it; use the sticker instructions Page won't load: try the sticker phone number
Is it safe to activate my card online?
Yes, provided you are on the issuer's real website (bmo.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.
Bank of Montreal cards we review
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Intro APR | Foreign fee | Credit needed | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bank of Montreal (BMO)BMO CashBack World Elite Ma… 5461 6543 8707 0295 VALID THRU 02/31ALEX MORGAN BMO CashBack World Elite MastercardGrocery households near the cap who'll use the insurance perks |
C$120/yr | 5% on groceries, 4% on transit, 3% on gas (capped) | Not applicable | 2.5% on foreign currency p… | Good to excellent credit |
Sources: www.bmo.com · www.bmo.com. Steps change; if your screen looks different, follow the official instructions.