Quick Guide to Activating Your Credit Card

A credit card is a reliable spending tool that makes everyday financial transactions easy and hassle-free. But before you can maximize it, you need to activate it first. 

Whether you’re a credit spending novice or a cardholder who has plastics from different banks, here’s your guide to activating a new credit card. Covered below are its importance and steps to take depending on your bank. 

Credit Card Activation: Why It’s Important

The main purpose of credit card activation is security. When you activate your new credit card, it tells the issuing bank that the card has reached the right person. 

Credit card activation involves identity verification. Once your identity has been verified, you can start using the card and enjoy its perks and privileges.

What Will Happen if I Don’t Activate My Credit Card? 

Activation is an important and mandatory step in credit card ownership. If you don’t activate your credit card, you won’t be able to use it and enjoy its features. 

If you don’t activate your card and decide not to use it, you’ll be wasting money. That’s because the bank will still charge you the annual fee whether you activate your card or not. Depending on your bank, your credit card account may be closed after a year of inactivity. 

Credit card activation is also a required step when you get a card replacement. 

Read more: Credit Card Dos and Don’ts: What Should You Do and Not Do with Your Card?

How to Activate a Credit Card: Steps Per Bank 

The good news is, credit card activation is easy. Depending on your bank, you may be provided with different channels to do it. 

Here’s how to activate your new credit card based on your bank: 

UnionBank Credit Card Activation

You can conveniently activate your new UnionBank credit card via the UnionBank mobile app.^[1] Here are the steps: 

1. Download the UnionBank Online mobile app and register. 
2. Tap Sign Up with my Existing Account then choose Credit Card. 
3. Enter the required details and follow the succeeding prompts. 
4. On your app’s dashboard, click Activate Card. 
5. Input your 16-digit credit card number, card expiry date, and birthdate. Follow the succeeding steps to complete the activation. 

HSBC Credit Card Activation

You can activate your new HSBC credit card via the following methods: 

• Via phone – Call the HSBC hotline at hotline at (02) 8858-0000 or (02) 7976-8000 and follow the voice prompts. The bank will then send a one-time password (OTP) to your registered mobile number to complete the activation. 

• Via SMS – Text HSBC<space>LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR CARD<space>LAST NAME<space>BIRTH MONTH & YEAR in MMMYYYY format (ex. JUL1990) to 09221001010. Make sure to send this SMS using the mobile number registered with the bank. 

Metrobank Credit Card Activation

Metrobank offers four ways for credit card activation: 

• Via SMS – Type ACT<space>16-digit card number and send it to 225622.
• Via the official Metrobank website – Head to mbcpc.co/ActivateNow and enter your credit card details.
• Via the phone – Call (02) 8860-3030 and follow the instructions. 
• Via the Metrobank app – Download the Metrobank mobile app^[2] from the App Store, Google Play, or Huawei AppGallery. Launch the app, enroll your card, then activate it right away. 

Security Bank Credit Card Activation

Activating your Security Bank credit card requires you to just send a text message. Type SBCARDS<space>ACTIVATE<space>Birthdate(mmddyy)/ExpiryDate(mmyy)/(last four digits of your card number) and send it to 2086 (Globe and TM) or 4629 (Smart and TNT).

BPI Credit Card Activation

With the Bank of the Philippine Islands or BPI, you have two ways to activate your credit card: 

• Via the BPI Help & Support page – If you have an existing BPI online account, just scan the bank’s dedicated QR code^[3] that will lead you to a landing page where you can log into your BPI online account. From there, follow the activation instructions.
• Via SMS – If you don’t have a BPI online account, type BPIACT<space>last 10 digits of the card and send it to 22565060. Make sure that you’re using your registered mobile number. 

PNB Credit Card Activation

If you’re a Philippine National Bank (PNB) credit cardholder, here are two ways to activate your card: 

• Via phone – Contact the PNB Cards 24/7 Customer Service Hotline at (+632) 8818-9818 or DTF 1800-10-818-9818 and follow the instructions. 
• Via SMS – Type PNB ACTIVATE<space>16-digital Credit Card number and send it to 22566808. 

RCBC Credit Card Activation

If your credit card is issued by the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), you have four ways to activate it: 

• Via SMS – Type the LAST 6 DIGITS of your credit card and send it to 09191600402 using the mobile number registered with the bank.
• Via the RCBC Pulz app – Download the RCBC Pulz app,^[4] enroll your card, and activate it. 
• Via Chat with Erica – On the RCBC website, click Erica’s icon found on your screen’s lower right corner. Then, click Activate Credit Card.  
• Via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) – Contact the bank’s customer service hotline at (02) 8888-1888 and follow the in-call prompts.

Bank of Commerce Credit Card Activation

If you’re a new Bank of Commerce client, you have two ways to activate your credit card: 

• Via the Bank of Commerce website – Enroll first at Bank of Commerce’s client portal.^[5] Log in with your registered User ID and password. Once you’re logged in, the activation code page will be displayed. Enter the activation code sent to your mobile number and click Submit. Follow the succeeding prompts to complete the activation process. 

• Via the Bank of Commerce app – Log into your registered account. Input your device alias and registration code sent to your email. Click Submit. Then, tap the Turn On Now button to enable OTP generator. 

Credit Card for First-Timers	Features and Benefits
UnionBank Rewards Credit Card	Monthly income requirement: ₱15,000 Interest rate: 3% Perks: 3x points when you shop and dine here and abroad 1 never-expiring point per ₱30 spend
Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®	Monthly income requirement: ₱15,000 Interest rate: 3% Perks: 2x rewards points on dining, department store, and online purchases 1 point for every ₱20 spend
Security Bank Gold Mastercard	Monthly income requirement: ₱30,000 Interest rate: 3% Perks: 1 rewards point per ₱20 spend Secure online shopping with SecureCode
BPI Rewards Card	Monthly income requirement: ₱15,000 Interest rate: 3% Perks: 1 BPI Point per ₱35 spend Up to 36 months of installment terms Up to ₱2 million travel insurance coverage
BPI Edge Card	Monthly income requirement: ₱15,000 Interest rate: 3% Perks: 1 BPI point per ₱50 spend Flexible installment plans and payment options
PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard	Monthly income requirement: ₱10,000 Interest rate: 2.5% Perks: Zero annual fees for life No late payment or overlimit fees
AUB Easy Mastercard	Monthly income requirement: ₱50,000 Interest rate: 3% Perks: No annual fees for life 0% interest on new purchases Flexible credit card payment due date
AUB Classic Mastercard	Monthly income requirement: ₱50,000 Interest rate: 3% Perks: No annual fee for life 0% interest on new purchases 1 rewards point per ₱50 spend

Final Thoughts 

Congratulations on your new credit card! With it, you can streamline your expenses (with control and good habits, of course!) and you can unlock a world of exclusive perks and privileges. But before you get to that, you need to activate your card first. Thankfully, it’s as easy as 1-2-3! 

Should you encounter issues along the way, contact the bank’s customer service team right away. While you’re at it, be wary of representatives asking for sensitive information. 

Sources: 

• ^[1] UnionBank Online App
• ^[2] Metrobank App
• ^[3] BPI Credit Card Activation QR Code
• ^[4] RCBC Pulz App
• ^[5] Bank of Commerce Client Portal