Credit Card Activation

Once issued, credit card activation becomes crucial in availing credit card services. A credit card is a financial tool with a pre-set limit which allows the customer to make purchases and pay for them later. It can be used for online and offline purchases and has many attractive offers. While it is a necessary step, the whole process is usually simple, quick and hassle-free. 

Without activation, you would not be able to use your credit card. This blog offers a comprehensive credit card activation guide covering all the important aspects, such as the different ways of activating your credit card, existing policies of major banks around credit card activation and much more. 

How To Activate A Credit Card?

The credit card activation process differs from bank to bank. There are a number of ways through which a credit card can be activated. Banks offer offline as well as online methods of card activation. While offline methods include physically swiping the card and following the bank’s customer care instructions, online methods include activating the card through your bank’s official app or using the net banking facilities. 

A credit card must be activated within 30 days of issue; if failed, a 7-day grace period is provided. A non-compliance with the activation process within these 37 days would result in the closure of the card by the bank.

How To Activate Your Credit Card Online?

Internet banking and mobile apps are the most commonly used ways of activating credit cards online. These methods require you to submit a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Banks provide PINs to their customers in a number of ways. While some banks discreetly allot the PIN to their customers at the time of the card’s delivery, most banks suggest that customers change their allotted PIN and guide them to generate a new PIN online, through SMS or a nearby ATM.  

Steps to Activate Credit Card via Internet Banking

Activating your credit card using the Internet banking facility is easy and simple. You can follow the given steps to activate your credit card.

• Visit your bank’s official website
• Log in to the Internet Banking page using your Username and Password
• Choose ‘card activation’
• Enter the details asked by the portal, such as the credit card number, expiry date, CVV and date of birth
• Click on ‘submit’
• Enter your PIN on the new page and click on ‘submit’
• The banks will send an OTP to your registered mobile number
• Enter the OTP and select ‘continue’

You can activate your credit card through Internet banking with these simple steps. 

Steps to Activate Credit Card via Mobile App

Banks today have mobile applications allowing customers to access many banking facilities through smartphones. Follow the steps below to activate your credit card using your bank’s official app.

• Download your bank’s official mobile application through The Google Play Store for Android phones and The App Store for iPhones.
• Choose ‘Register’
• Select ‘activate a card’
• Choose the ‘credit card’ option
• Enter the required details like the card number, expiry date, CVV and your date of birth
• The bank will send an OTP to your registered mobile number.
• Enter the OTP and select ‘submit’
• Create a user ID and password, and your card will be activated

How to Activate Your Credit Card Offline? 

If online logins and mobile applications are not your preferences, other ways to activate your credit card offline exist. One of the ways to activate your credit card is by visiting the nearest ATM. After inserting the card in the slot, you will be required to enter the PIN given by the bank. The machine will then ask you to set up a new PIN, following which your card will be activated.

Customer Care Service

Bank’s customer services can be availed by visiting the branch where you’ve opened your bank account. The service agents there can guide you through a number of available card activation options and help you figure out which one is best for you. Alternatively, the bank’s customer helpline can also be contacted to seek help regarding card activation. You will need the bank’s official customer helpline number, which can easily be obtained through their website. 

Some banks also have dedicated numbers on which you must send a missed call. The bank will respond to you through a message guiding you through the card activation process. 

Banks also provide credit card activation facilities via SMS. You can check with your bank if they offer this facility by visiting your nearest branch or checking the pamphlet provided in the card kit. In most cases, you must send a pre-defined SMS to the number provided by your bank. The bank will respond to your SMS request to guide you through the credit card activation process. 

Activation Process of Top Bank Credit Cards

As mentioned earlier, different banks offer different ways to ease the card activation process for their customers. The activation processes of some of the major Indian banks are listed below.

HDFC Bank 

HDFC offers regular, premium, super premium and many other credit cards. 

• Among the many ways to activate an HDFC credit card is an option to activate it by making at least one online or POS transaction. 
• Give a missed call on 9966027100 to initiate the card activation process. 
• HDFC also offers credit card activation through Whatsapp Banking. Send a message – “Manage my credit card” on 7070022222 to initiate the card activation process through Whatsapp. 
• SmartPay registration is also another way through which you can activate your HDFC credit card. 
• Alternatively, HDFC provides the above-mentioned ways of activating a credit card through the mobile application, Internet Banking and IVR facilities. More information regarding card activation can be found on the bank’s official website. 

SBI

• SBI Card Elite, SBI Card Pulse, and SBI Card Elite Advantage are some premium credit card options the State Bank of India offers. 
• To activate your credit card, you can log in to your account through sbicard.com or write to them at sbicard.com/email 
• SBI also offers assistance in credit card activation through its helpline number, which can be found on the back side of the card.
• The bank also has an official mobile application called YONO. You can also link your credit card to the YONO app to seamlessly access several card-related services through a touch of your phone screen. 

ICICI Bank 

• ICICI Bank allows credit card activation via Internet banking, OTP generation, and mobile application. 
• You can log onto ICICI Bank’s Internet Banking portal and choose to generate a card PIN under the ‘Cards and Loans’ category. Upon entering the required details, an OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number to activate the card. 
• You can also download the iMobile Pay app, the bank’s official mobile banking app. After logging into the app, the card activation option can be found in the Cards and Forex section. 
• Platinum Credit Card and Coral Credit Card are some of the options ICICI Bank offers. More information regarding card activation can be found on the bank’s official website. 

Yes Bank

• Among other categories, a wide range of Featured, Premium and Super-Premium cards are available at Yes Bank.
• Yes Bank credit cards can be activated through Internet Banking by visiting the bank’s website. 
• Yes Bank credit card activation can also be done via the registered mobile number. Further, you can call on the Yes Bank’s toll-free number for any guidance.

Axis Bank

• Axis Bank credit card can be activated using the bank’s mobile app, Internet Banking, ATM and IVR facility. 
• Under the ‘Credit Card’ option in the Banking menu of the ‘Axis Mobile’ app, credit card activation can be done by providing the necessary details and following the specified instructions. 
• Axis Bank’s website can be visited to access the bank’s Internet Banking facilities. 
• Using ATM services, a PIN can be set through an OTP, which will be sent to the registered mobile number. 
• Axis Bank’s IVR contact, which can be found on its website, can also assist in credit card activation. 

PNB 

• To activate a Punjab National Bank credit card, send an SMS to 7092200200. You must keep the last 6 digits of your credit card handy while sending the sms. 
• More details about the sms can be found on the bank’s website. Like other banks, PNB too offers a wide variety of credit cards to choose from as per your preference.