If you don’t happen to have your card on hand, you can also call the company directly and ask to be connected to the customer service department.
Listen carefully—if you press the wrong button, you may be forced to start over from the beginning. If you’re uncertain about what to do next, choose the option to be connected with a customer service agent.
Getting in touch with a live customer service rep may be your best bet if it’s your first time experiencing an issue with your card, or if you’re running into technical difficulties with the automated service system.
Steer clear of obvious go-tos like your birth year, your zip code, or the last 4 digits of your street address. Anyone could figure out one of these numbers if they were to get hold of your wallet. You may be asked to input your new PIN multiple times in order to confirm that it’s correct.
It’s a good idea to pop in for a face-to-face chat if you discover that your PIN has been blocked or invalidated inexplicably.
If you’re not sure how to find a particular bank or company’s website, simply type their name into Google. You’ll also typically find an organization’s web address printed somewhere on the back of the card itself. In some cases, you might be able to reset your PIN from your card issuer’s mobile app, as well. [6] X Research source
If you’ve never made use of your bank or card issuer’s online services before, you’ll need to register an account. This will require you to provide information like your name, email address, date of birth, and social security number. It may also be necessary for you to supply your card or bank account number. [8] X Research source Be prepared to answer one or more security questions if you haven’t signed in in a while. These generally take the form of highly-specific personal questions that only the account holder would know the answer to, such as, “What was the name of your first childhood pet?”[9] X Research source
The user hub on the website of your bank or card issuer could also be labelled “Account Settings,” “Preferences,” “Controls,” or something similar.
If you don’t have any luck tracking down this option, you’ll have no choice but to complete the process over the phone or in person.
Some banks send out helpful PIN reminders to forgetful members. Check to see if you have the option to receive a confidential reminder if you just need a little help remembering your PIN and don’t want a different one. [13] X Research source Not all banks and card issuers permit their users to change their PINs online. If you hit a dead end, pick up the phone or head down to your bank.
Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to type out your new PIN more than once. This just helps to ensure that you don’t end up with the wrong number in the event that you accidentally make a typo. Assuming your bank or card issuer doesn’t give its users the freedom to create their own custom PINs, they’ll randomly generate a new number for you and send it to you by mail within 7-10 business days. [15] X Research source
