How to Activate a New Citibank Card

Don't get caught at the register with a card you can't use. Activate your card as soon as you receive it. Activating your Citibank card, whether it is a Citibank-issued credit card, debit card or ATM card, is simple and can be done a couple of ways. You can call CitiPhone banking or activate your card online. Both options are available 24 hours a day.

You can activate Citi card online on Citibank's website (see Resources). Have the card you wish to activate at hand. You will be required to enter the card number, your name as it appears on the card, the security code from the back of the card, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date of birth.

If you are an authorized user, you will need the Social Security and birthdate information from the primary cardholder. You can also activate your card by phone by calling the number on the sticker on the front of your new card.

Call the number on the sticker on the front of your new card. You will be able to quickly activate the card. Just be sure to call from your home or mobile phone for the quickest service. If you have lost the sticker, you can find a number on the back of your debit card for service. Call the number and advise the Citibank representative that you wish to activate your card.

Have your card handy, as you may need to verify information from the card. You will need to provide your debit card number, Social Security number or your account number. You will also be asked for your telephone access code. If you don't have one, the Citibank representative will help you set one up.

Citibank savings account holders, including those with simple and money market savings accounts, can use a Citibank Banking Card to access their funds from ATMs all over the world. Activating your banking card is similar to activating your debit card. Just call the number on the sticker on the front of the card or the number on the back of the card. You might upgrade your ATM card to a debit card for easier access. This can also be done by calling the number on the back of your card.

Determine whether your card came activated. If there is no sticker on the front of it with a phone number to call, the card is ready to use and you do not need to activate it. If there is a sticker on the front of the card, call the phone number given and follow the prompts over the phone to activate your card.