Activate your New Credit Card

We are sending blocked or deactivated cards to comply with BSP Circular No. 808 on Information Technology Risk Management. This requires that all Citi credit cards and Citibank Debit Cards will be delivered deactivated and should only be activated by the cardholder.

No. A deactivated card is a credit card that has not yet been activated. For safety, any transaction (retail, cash, and installment) that will be made using a deactivated card will be declined. The deactivated status only applies per card which means that if the Principal Card is active, the Supplementary Card may still be deactivated.

An inactive card, on the other hand, is a credit card that has not had any transactions for the past 24 months. Inactive status impacts both Principal and Supplementary Cards under one (1) account.

For reference:

For existing Citi cardholders, you may activate your card through the following steps:

1) Log in to your Citi Mobile App. For existing cardholders who are not yet enrolled in the Citi Mobile App, download the Citi Mobile App and enroll your existing credit card information.

2) A pop-up message will appear to notify you to view your card details digitally. In case you have more than 1 card for renewal / replacement, you can choose from the list of your credit cards that which you wish to activate first. Then, click on “Activate to view card details”.

3) You can now view your card details digitally.

For new Citi Cardholders, you may activate your card through the following steps:

1) Download the Citi Mobile App from the link sent to you through SMS or email from Citi PH. You may also download the Citi Mobile App and click "Activate card" and "Don't have a physical card yet?"

o Note that this registration is only accessible up to 30 days after card approval.

2) Register by inputting the ID used in your application form, Date of Birth, and a One-Time PIN sent to your registered mobile number.

3) Set up your Citi Mobile App login credentials.

4) A pop-up message will appear to notify you that you may activate your credit card. Click on “Activate to view card details”.

5) You can now view your card details digitally.

1) Log in to your Citi Mobile App.

2) On your home screen, click on “Manage”.

3) You will be able to view your card number and expiry date. Click on “Copy” to copy your card number and you can paste it for your online and recurring payments.

4) To view your temporary card CVV number, click on “View”.

5) Enter your registered Citi Mobile Token, or the One-Time PIN sent to your registered mobile number. For your card protection, never give your Credit, Debit, or ATM Card, PIN, One-Time PIN/Password, mobile SIM or online username to anyone.

• Your temporary CVV number is valid until 90 days after card approval or until you activate your physical card, whichever is sooner.

For existing cardholders, you may download the Citi Mobile App and enroll your existing Citi credit card information.

1) Once logged into the Citi Mobile App, a pop-up message will appear to notify you to view your card details digitally. In case you have more than 1 card for renewal / replacement, you can choose from the list of your credit cards that which you wish to activate first. Then, click on “Activate to view card details”.

2) You can now view your card details digitally.

For new Citi Cardholders, you may activate your card through the following steps:

1) Download the Citi Mobile App from the link sent to you through SMS or email from Citi PH. You may also download the Citi Mobile App and click “Activate card” and “Don’t have a physical card yet?”

o Note that this registration is only accessible up to 30 days after card approval.

2) Register by inputting the ID used in your application form, Date of Birth, and a One-Time PIN sent to your registered mobile number.

3) Set up your Citi Mobile App login credentials.

4) A pop-up message will appear to notify you that you may activate your credit card. Click on “Activate to view card details”.

5) You can now view your card details digitally.

1) Log in to your Citi Mobile App.

2) On your home screen, click on “Activate your physical credit card” button. A pop-up message will appear to notify you to activate your physical card

3) Enter the 3-digit CVV number found at the back of your physical credit card. Click on “Activate”.

4) Your physical card is now activated.

Yes. Annual Membership Fee will continue to be charged as long as your credit card account is open, even if it is not activated yet.

No. Any existing One Bill and monthly installments such as Call for Cash, PayLite, Balance Conversion, Retail Conversion, or Balance Transfer will continue to be billed to your account even if you have not activated your card.

However, any new retail purchases, cash advances, PayLite transactions or other installment bookings will be declined while the credit card is not yet activated.

No, you must first activate your card in order to proceed with new retail, Call for Cash, Balance Transfer, PayLite, or New OneBill transaction.

• All enrollments made through Citibank (i.e. One Bill, PayAll) need not be re-enrolled. However, you may check with your merchants and utilities as some may require you to enter the CVV found on your physical card.

Yes, if the mobile number registered for your supplementary cards is the same as yours. If your supplementary cards have other numbers registered for their accounts, they will need to use their registered numbers to activate their cards.

If you wish to activate via Citibank Online, Citi Mobile App, and CitiPhone, you will be required to provide a One-time PIN or OTP. Your OTP will be sent to the primary mobile number registered in our system. However, if you are registered for Citi Mobile App OTP, you may easily proceed within Citi Mobile App as OTP will be provided for you during the process.

As a security measure, new Citi cardholders using the digital card will have restricted access in the Citi Mobile App, disabling features such as Add Payee and PayAll. However, you will have full access to all features upon activation of your physical card.