Credit Cards

How to replace a lost or stolen credit card

1
AndreyPopov/Getty images
Written by
Raychelle Heath
  • /
  • 2 min read
  • /
  • 2 min read
Bankrate Logo

Why you can trust Bankrate

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for . The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page.

Bankrate Logo

Why you can trust Bankrate

At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to:

  • Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options.
  • Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you\'re well-equipped to make confident decisions.
  • Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you.

At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next.

Bankrate Logo

Editorial Integrity

Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.

Key Principles

We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.

Editorial Independence

Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.

Bankrate Logo

How We Make Money

You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.

Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.

We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.

Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.

Bankrate Logo

Insurance Disclosure

This content is powered by HomeInsurance.com, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate.com. HomeInsurance.com LLC services are only available in states were it is licensed and insurance coverage through HomeInsurance.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

If you’ve ever gone to reach for your credit card and found that it wasn’t there, you know the panic a lost credit card can cause. Or maybe your card has seen better days and in need of replacement. Whatever the reason, here’s how to get a new card replacement.

First step: Lock your card if lost or stolen

If you’re dealing with a lost card, the first thing you want to do is contact your issuer to lock the card. While you may have lost the card somewhere in your house or car, it’s also possible that the lost card is in the hands of a stranger. Locking your card will make sure that no one will be able to use it if it’s found. If you find your card, you can simply unlock it to resume use. Locking your card is easy to do by calling your issuer, and many issuers allow you to lock your card through their website or mobile app.

Issuers that allow you to lock through web or mobile:

  • Discover
  • American Express
  • Chase
  • Barclay’s
  • Capital One
  • Citi
  • Wells Fargo

Second step: Call your issuer to report the card

If you’ve looked everywhere and still can find your card, it’s time to contact your issuer and report the card lost. This is also the case if your card is damaged and no longer usable. Once you report your card, your issuer can cancel the lost or damaged card and start the credit card replacement process. Some card issuers may also be able to give you access to a virtual card that you can use while you wait for your physical card to arrive. The average wait time for a replacement card is three to seven business days.

Third step: Ask for a replacement

Once you’ve reported your card lost or damaged, it’s time to request a replacement. Requesting a replacement card is also an opportunity to upgrade your card. During your request, you can ask to have your new card upgraded with the latest features like contactless pay or possibly even a card that offers better or different rewards that match your spending.  Other things you can request are to go paperless, to get purchase notifications, and to even get credit report alerts.

Fourth step: Review your statements

Whenever you lose a credit card, even if you freeze it right away, it’s smart to review your credit card statements for any unauthorized charges. Issuers have measures in place to make sure that only you and people you allow can use your card, but sometimes errors can happen. If you notice any unauthorized charges on your statements, report it to your issuer immediately. They can work with you to get the charges removed and continue to monitor for suspicious charges.

You may also like