By Ben Luthi
Edited by Samuel MountjoyHow to Set Up Credit Card Alerts
By Ben LuthiEdited by Samuel Mountjoy
Quick Answer
Credit card alerts notify you of account activity via text, email or push notification. You can set them up through your card issuer's mobile app to help detect fraud, track spending and avoid missed payments.
Credit card fraud is the most common identity theft scam, affecting more than half a million Americans last year, according to Federal Trade Commission data. Fortunately, taking some simple precautions can help protect your identity—and your bank account—from credit card criminals.
Setting up credit card alerts on your card issuer's mobile app ensures you get notified of account activity on your smartphone so you can take immediate action if you see something suspicious. Here's how to set up credit card alerts for cards from each of the major credit card issuers.
What Are Credit Card Alerts?
Credit card alerts are notifications sent by your card issuer to keep you informed about activity on your account. Depending on your card and issuer, these alerts can be delivered via text message, email or push notification through your bank's mobile app.
Most credit card issuers let you customize which alerts you receive and how you get them. You might opt in to get notified any time a purchase is made, when your balance crosses a certain threshold, when a payment is due or when suspicious activity is detected on your account.
Alerts serve as a real-time window into your finances. They can help you catch unauthorized charges quickly, stay on top of your spending and avoid missing payment due dates—all of which can go a long way toward protecting your credit health.
Learn more: What Is Credit Card Fraud?
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Types of Credit Card Alerts
There are several different types of alerts you can set on your credit cards. While these may vary slightly from one issuer to another, most credit card companies allow you to set the following alerts:
- Purchase alert: Get alerted every time a purchase is made, or only for purchases over a certain dollar amount. You may also be able to get more details; for example, Capital One lets you enable notifications, including the amount of the purchase and information about the merchant.
- Bill due date reminders: Avoid missing a payment by signing up for reminders that let you know when your next payment is due.
- Payments posted: Keep tabs on your payments to make sure they post on time.
- Balance updates: Monitor your spending by receiving balance updates when you reach a certain threshold.
- Foreign purchases: A purchase in another country when you're in the U.S. is a warning sign of fraud.
- Cash advances: Crooks may take cash advances on your account.
- Balance transfers: Identity thieves might try to transfer their high-interest balances to your card, leaving you responsible for payment.
How to Set Up Mobile Credit Card Alerts
You can receive credit card alerts via text, email and/or push notification. Using the credit card issuer's mobile app to set up alerts and enabling push notifications ensures you're alerted quickly. Here's how to set up credit card alerts for the major card issuers in their mobile apps.
American Express
- Tap Account
- Under Settings, tap the card you want notifications for
- Tap Notifications, then select the alerts you want to receive
Bank of America
- Select the account you want notifications for
- Tap Alerts
- Choose Quick Setup for essential alerts or Custom Setup for more control
Capital One
- Tap your profile icon
- Tap Alerts and Notifications
- Select your account, then the alerts you want to receive
Citi
- Tap your profile icon
- Under Settings, tap Account Alerts
- Select your account, then the alerts you want to receive
Chase
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner
- Tap Alerts and Messages
- Select your account, then the alerts you want to receive
Discover
- Select the card you want notifications for
- Tap more in the bottom right corner, then tap Alerts
- Select Allow Push Notifications, then the alerts you want to receive
How Can Credit Card Alerts Help You?
Credit card alerts can be a powerful tool for managing your finances and protecting your credit health. Here are some of the key ways they can benefit you:
- Fraud protection: Alerts notify you of account activity in real time, so if an unauthorized charge appears, you can act fast. Contact your card issuer immediately to report the transaction, dispute the charge and request a new card.
- Spending awareness: Balance and purchase alerts make it easier to track your spending as it happens, helping you stick to a budget or keep tabs on an authorized user's purchases.
- On-time payments: Your payment history is the single biggest factor in your FICO® ScoreΘ. Setting up due date reminders can help ensure you never miss a payment—a simple habit that can have a meaningful impact on your credit score over time.
What to Do if You're Alerted to Potential Fraud
If you receive a credit card alert about suspicious activity, acting quickly can help limit the damage. Here are the steps to take:
- Review the transaction. Check your account to confirm whether the charge is one you recognize. Sometimes a legitimate purchase can appear under an unfamiliar merchant name.
- Contact your card issuer. If the charge looks fraudulent, call the number on the back of your card or log in to your issuer's app or website to report it. Your issuer can lock your account and begin an investigation.
- Request a new card. Your issuer will typically cancel the compromised card and send you a replacement with a new account number.
- Check your credit report. Review your credit report for any unfamiliar accounts or inquiries that could indicate identity theft. You can access your report for free with Experian.
- Place a fraud alert. Consider adding a fraud alert to your credit report (something you have a right to do), which prompts lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit in your name.
- File a report if necessary. For more serious cases of identity theft, you can file a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and contact your local police department.
Learn more: Steps to Take After Identity Theft
Monitor Your Credit and Stay Alert
A good credit score can work in your favor in more ways than one. It can help you get approved for credit cards and loans, qualify for lower interest rates and better terms, and even make it easier to rent an apartment or land a job. In other words, protecting your credit is worth the effort.
One easy way to do that is by signing up for free credit monitoring from Experian, which tracks your credit score, keeps you on top of your spending and sends real-time alerts for key changes to your credit report. Pair that with credit card alerts through your issuer's mobile app, and you'll have a strong, two-layered defense against fraud.
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About the author
Ben Luthi
Ben Luthi has worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance, and writes about all aspects of money. His work has appeared in Time, Success, USA Today, Credit Karma, NerdWallet, Wirecutter and more.
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