How to activate a credit card chase

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Nobody likes to wait. But waiting for a new credit card to arrive in the mail seems inevitable after opening a new credit card. After all, the bank needs to print a personalized card and mail it to you. But what if there was a quicker way? Maybe some sort of digital card for a digital wallet.

It turns out that technology is available, and Chase is using digital wallets to make it easy for new cardholders to start spending on a new card right after you open it. Chase has aptly dubbed this feature “Spend Instantly.”

Eligible Chase cardholders can start using a new Chase card just after being approved by adding the new card to a digital wallet—such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. However, you’ll need to have an eligible Chase card and know the process to add it. Let’s show you how.

Choose which digital wallet you want to use. Chase will display a list of cards that are eligible to add to a digital wallet. Tap on the card you want to add. Finally, read and accept any terms and conditions to add the card to your digital wallet.

Currently, Chase cards can be added to three digital wallets:

• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Samsung Pay

Read More: Going Touch-Free: How To Set-Up and Use a Mobile Wallet

Which Chase Cards Let You Spend Instantly

Most Chase consumer cards can be used right after approval through Chase Spend Instantly. These include Forbes Advisor favorites such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, United℠ Explorer Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card*.

In fact, it’s easiest to just share which Chase cards aren’t eligible for Spend Instantly:

You can still add these ineligible cards to a digital wallet. However, you’ll need to wait until your physical card arrives in the mail before you can do so.

Read more: The Best Chase Credit Cards

Benefits of Chase Spend Instantly

Chase Spend Instantly solves a problem that most credit cardholders are all too familiar with: waiting for a new credit card to arrive in the mail.

Whether you’re excited to use new benefits or just want to start spending toward the welcome bonus, it can be frustrating to wait for up to two weeks for your new Chase card to arrive. New Chase cardholders can request expedited processing, but it will still take a few days for your new Chase card to arrive in the mail.

While you’re waiting, the clock is ticking. Chase welcome bonuses typically award bonus points or miles after you spend a certain amount in a defined time period. And that time period starts the day you open your card—regardless of how long it takes for your card to arrive in the mail.

By adding your new Chase card to a digital wallet, you can start using that card the day you opened it. For example, new Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can get approved for a card and then utilize the $300 Annual Travel Credit to book a trip that same day. And, by booking that trip through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, you can earn up to 10 points per dollar spent—after the first $300 is wiped out by the travel credit. The card earns 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Best of all, purchases will help you work toward earning the 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening .

The Best Chase Credit Cards Of 2022

Find the best Chase credit card for your needs.

Bottom Line

Chase has an option to “Spend Instantly” on newly approved Chase cards. To set this up, you’ll need to add your new card to a digital wallet via the Chase Mobile app. Then you can instantly start spending on the card to work your way toward earning the sign-up bonus.

Since only a few cards are ineligible for this option, the odds are good that your next Chase card is eligible.

Activate your Chase card in order to use it. The process is simple and can be done online or by calling Chase. The activation process may take up to a few minutes, but once activated, you can use your credit card right away.

Activate your Chase card online if you’d rather not be stuck on the phone. Follow these simple steps:

1. Go to the Chase Verify webpage.
2. Enter your login details or sign up if you’re a first-time Chase cardholder.
3. To sign up, you’ll need your Social Security number and your card, account or application number.
4. Once you log in, navigate to My accounts.
5. Select your new card and choose the activation button.

If you prefer getting things done by phone, make sure you have your Social Security number, your credit card number and your security questions ready. Once you have all the information you need, here’s how to activate your card by phone:

1. Call 800-432-3117 for personal cards or 888-269-8690 for business cards.
2. Enter the last four credit card digits
3. Follow the prompts to activate the card.

Now that you have activated your Chase credit card, you’ll want to know how to optimize your card use so you can get the highest value out of it.

1. Download the mobile app. Downloading the Chase mobile app helps you track your rewards, monitor your accounts, make payments or activate Chase Offers.
2. Set up digital wallets. Simplify your online and in-store purchases using your smartphone or a smartwatch. To use it, you need to set up a digital wallet.
3. Enroll in online banking. Enroll in Chase online banking to control your finances, monitor your account, redeem rewards and more. To enroll, you need to provide your personal information such as your SSN or tax ID, your bank account and your mobile phone number.
4. Set up a PIN. If you didn’t get a personal identification number (PIN) with your card or if you want to reset your old one — call 800-297-4970. Follow the automated instructions to set it up. You need a PIN for ATM cash withdrawals and credit card purchases abroad.
5. Set up autopay. Access your Chase online account or your mobile app and select the card you want. Select Set up next to automated payments. Chose the amount you wish to pay each month and from which account you wish to pay.
6. Maximize rewards. The Chase Freedom and Chase Sapphire cards are part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. This means that even though some of the cards are marketed as cashback cards, you actually earn points. Check out our guide on earning Chase points, on Chase points redemption and even how to transfer your points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.

Activating your Chase credit card is easy — either by phone or online. But now that you have a Chase credit card, consider adding a great alternative credit card to your wallet, which can get you additional perks or expand your credit limit.

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