How to Activate a Credit Card Without the Sticker

You can activate most credit cards without the activation sticker. Sign in to your card issuer's official app or website and look for an Activate Card option, or call the customer service number printed on the back of the card. You'll usually need the card number, its security code and a few details that confirm your identity. The sticker is just a shortcut to the same process.

Can I activate my credit card without the sticker?

Yes. The sticker usually lists a phone number, and sometimes a web address, for activation. Chase and Capital One, for example, both put an activation phone number on the sticker. But the same activation is available through the issuer's app, its website or the number on the back of the card.

Chase also notes that not every card needs activation. If yours arrived without a sticker or activation instructions, call the number on the back of the card to check whether it's ready to use.

How do I activate a card if I lost the sticker?

1. Open your issuer's official app, or type the issuer's main website address into your browser. Don't search for an "activation number" and call the first result.
2. Sign in. If you don't have online access yet, enroll first.
3. Find the activation option, usually under card settings, card management or a banner about your new card.
4. Enter the security code when asked. Most cards use the 3-digit code on the back; American Express uses the 4-digit code on the front.
5. Confirm activation, then sign the back of the card.
6. If you can't activate online, call the customer service number on the back of the card.

Where is the activation option for each issuer?

Here's where the major US issuers put it. Type any web address below into your browser yourself.

For other banks, our card activation hub has step-by-step guides for 65 US and Canadian cards.

How do I activate a Canadian credit card without the sticker?

Canadian banks offer similar options, with a few exceptions:

• RBC: activate at rbc.com/activate, in the RBC Mobile app, or by calling 1-877-900-5900. See our RBC guide.
• CIBC: in CIBC Mobile Banking, open the More menu and select Activate Card.
• BMO: in BMO Digital Banking, select the card, choose Manage card, then Activate your card.
• Scotiabank: Visa and American Express cards can be activated online, but Scotiabank Mastercard cards can only be activated by phone, at 1-866-583-6289.
• TD Canada Trust: call the number on your card, or find TD's official contact numbers on td.com.

What if I'm an authorized user, or the card won't activate?

Some banks only let the primary cardholder activate. BMO says authorized users can't activate a card in digital banking, and Scotiabank says only the primary cardholder can activate a supplementary card. In these cases, ask the primary cardholder to activate it, or call the number on the back of the card.

If online activation keeps failing, check that you're entering the right code (for Amex, the 4 digits on the front) and try another method. Capital One suggests hanging up and starting again if phone activation goes wrong. If nothing works, call the number on the back of the card.

How do I know if my card is already active?

The quickest way is to call the number on the back of the card and ask. Chase lists three ways to check: call customer service, try a small purchase, or look at your credit report, since issuers generally report to the credit bureaus once a month. A declined purchase doesn't always mean the card is inactive, though. Chase notes it can also be caused by a credit limit or an expired card.

How do I stay safe while activating?

Activation is something you start yourself, never something a caller or a text starts for you. Chase warns that scammers pose as card issuers and claim they need to confirm details about a recently issued card, then ask for the card number, security code, PIN or a one-time passcode. Don't use activation links in texts or emails, and don't give those details to anyone who contacts you. Our guide to card activation call and text scams explains the warning signs.

What should I do after activating?

• Sign the back of the card.
• Add it to your phone's digital wallet if you use one.
• If it replaces an old card, update subscriptions and saved cards with the new details. Capital One recommends updating recurring charges and digital wallets before automatic payments are due.
• Destroy the old card. Capital One suggests cutting through the chip and the magnetic strip.