How to Activate a Credit Card

Getting approved for a new credit card is a great feeling, especially when there are lucrative rewards on the line. But before you grab your new card from the mail and attempt to make a purchase, make sure you activate it first.To get more news about CAD Activation, you can visit shine news official website.

The process should take just a few minutes. However, the exact steps and personal information required to verify your identity and activate the card vary by issuer. Read on to learn why you need to activate your credit card and how to do it.

Why Do You Have To Activate Credit Cards?
Unfortunately, credit cards aren't immune to theft and fraud. To protect your card information and ensure it ends up in the right hands, card issuers require you to activate your card before using it.

"If you don't activate your credit card, you won't be able to use it," says Nathan Clarke, owner of the personal finance blog Millionaire Dojo. However, that doesn't mean the account isn't open; your new credit card will show up on your credit reports as an active account right away.

Until you go through the card activation steps, though, swiping an inactive card means the transaction will be denied, he says.

How Do You Activate A Credit Card?
To take advantage of your new credit line and perks, activate your card right away. You can usually accomplish this in a couple of ways. "You might have to call a number and provide personal information, go to a webpage and confirm the card, or activate the card through the issuer's smartphone app," Clarke says.
When you're activating the card over the phone, the number you call from matters. It's best to use the phone number you provided on the application, otherwise activation might not work.

"The process is usually the same with each issuer, though sometimes the personal information they ask you to verify may be different," says Joyce Blue, a certified life coach who focuses on money. The entire process should take only a few minutes at most, she adds.

You should receive some sort of confirmation once your card is activated, either by phone or from the webpage or mobile app. Blue said that if you attempt to use your new card but the transaction doesn't go through, there might have been an issue with the activation process and you'll need to call customer service.
American Express Card Activation
To activate an American Express credit card, visit the AmEx website, and enter your card details to confirm and set up your new account. AmEx will ask for your card number and the four-digit security code on the front of your card.

Bank of America Card Activation
According to Bank of America, the fastest way to activate a personal credit card is by doing so online. Simply provide your online banking ID and password, and the issuer will verify your identity and activate your card. If you don't have online banking set up yet, enroll to activate your card.
Alternatively, you can verify your card by calling Bank of America at 800-276-9939. Provide your full account number plus the last four digits of your Social Security number or ZIP code, or you can enter your full Social Security number plus your ZIP code or the CVV code. Once you provide this information, your card will be active.

Barclays Card Activation
Barclays cardholders can activate their cards by visiting the issuer's activation webpage. If you're a new customer, you will need to provide personal details to activate your card, including your Social Security number, date of birth, account number, security code, occupation and citizenship status. If you're an existing customer, simply log into your online banking account to verify your identity and activate your card.