How to activate your Macy's Credit Card / Macy's American Express
Activate your Macy's credit card / Macy's American Express online or by phone — what you need, step-by-step instructions and fixes if activation fails.
Quick answer: Activate your Macy's Credit Card / Macy's American Express online at macys.com, in the Macy's app or by phone at 1-888-257-6757. Have ready: Your new card; A macys.com account for online management. Use only macys.com or the official app, never a link sent by text or email.
What you need
- Your new card
- A macys.com account for online management
Activate your Macy's Credit Card / Macy's American Express online
- Follow the activation sticker on your card (call the number or use the web address shown)
- Create or sign in to your macys.com account
- Open the Credit Gateway (macys.com/my-credit/gateway) and link the card
- Check the card shows as active
Activate by phone
Call 1-888-257-6757 (Macy's credit card customer service number published on macys.com (TTY 711)) 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
- Check your balance, statements and payments online
- Add the card to Macy's Pay
- Set up autopay
If your Department Stores National Bank (Citi) card won't activate
- Online account set up in store not working: look for the 'Here's how to activate your account' email or a text from 38764
- Activation link expired: request a new one from the Create Account page
Macy's Credit Card / Macy's American Express activation FAQs
How do I activate my Macy's Credit Card / Macy's American Express?
You can activate it by phone, online at macys.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 Department Stores National Bank (Citi) card?
Yes — Department Stores National Bank (Citi) lists 1-888-257-6757 for card activation (Macy's credit card customer service number published on macys.com (TTY 711)). Only call numbers printed on your card, its sticker or macys.com.
Can I use my Department Stores National Bank (Citi) 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 Macy's Credit Card / Macy's American Express 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 Department Stores National Bank (Citi) card activate?
Online account set up in store not working: look for the 'Here's how to activate your account' email or a text from 38764 Activation link expired: request a new one from the Create Account page
Is it safe to activate my card online?
Yes, provided you are on the issuer's real website (macys.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.
Department Stores National Bank (Citi) cards we review
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Intro APR | Foreign fee | Credit needed | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CitiDouble Cash 5260 9341 4153 3686 VALID THRU 10/29ALEX MORGAN 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+) | |
CitiCustom Cash 5391 9349 9861 2908 VALID THRU 06/30MORGAN LEE 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+) | |
CitiStrata Premier 5559 6364 5551 8795 VALID THRU 07/32SAM RIVERA 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+) | |
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+) |
Sources: www.macys.com · www.macys.com. Steps change; if your screen looks different, follow the official instructions.