Changing your name with your credit card company is an important step after legally changing your name. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of updating your name with your credit card company to ensure a smooth transition. Discover step-by-step instructions, essential documents you’ll need, and helpful tips to make the name change process hassle-free.

Your dad and mom may have debated your name lengthy before you were born, however
what you call yourself can also change later in life. Whether you’ve recently
gotten married or you choose to identify with a name of your choosing,
changing your criminal name is an important assignment when considering your
financial future.

In addition to inquiring for a change of legal files such as your Social Security card and driver’s license, you will want to update the title on your credit card.

Can You Put a Different Name on Your Credit Card?

Updating your credit card accounts with your new name requires proof that your identify was legally changed. This may be in the form of a reissued Social Security card that reflects your new name.

No, you cannot put a different name on your credit card in the United States. When applying for a credit card, you are typically required to provide your legal name as it appears on your identification documents, such as your driver’s license or passport. The name on your credit card is used to verify your identity when making purchases and to prevent fraud.

If you legally change your name, you can contact your credit card issuer and provide them with the necessary documentation to update your name on your credit card account. However, you cannot simply choose to have a different name on your credit card without a valid legal name change.

“Leaving your historic name on your credit card may additionally not have any negative effects,” says Leslie Tayne, economic attorney and founder and managing director of Tayne Law Group in New York. “But it could end result in some confusion on your credit report, particularly if you have changed your name in some locations and not others.”

How Changing Your Last Name Affects Your Credit

When you legally change your last name in the United States, it can have some impact on your credit. Here are a few key points to consider:

Updating personal information: After changing your last name, it is important to update your personal information with the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and with your creditors. This includes updating your name on your credit reports and notifying your creditors of the name change.
Credit report accuracy: It is crucial to ensure that your credit report accurately reflects your new last name. Request a copy of your credit report from each of the major credit bureaus and review it for any inaccuracies. If you find any discrepancies, such as your old name still being reported, you should contact the credit bureau to request a correction.
Continuity of credit history: Changing your last name should not impact your credit history or credit scores. Your credit history remains the same, and your accounts and payment history are typically linked to your Social Security number rather than your name. As long as your credit accounts remain open and in good standing, the history associated with those accounts will continue to be reported and considered in your credit scoring.
Co-signed accounts: If you have accounts where you are a co-signer or joint account holder, it is essential to update the name change with the primary account holder or lender. This ensures that the name change is reflected on those accounts as well.
Identity verification: It is important to note that when applying for new credit or financial services, you may be required to provide documentation to verify your identity, especially if there is a discrepancy between your new name and the information on your identification documents.

To ensure a smooth transition, promptly notify the credit bureaus, update your personal information with your creditors, and review your credit reports for accuracy. Taking these steps will help ensure that your credit information reflects your new last name accurately.

Changing Your Name With Your Credit Card Issuer

Each card issuer has a different set of procedures for changing your last name or full name, as well as deadlines.

You might be required to present specific proof that your name has changed. Here’s how to request a name change with some of the biggest card issuers.

American Express:

Utilise your online account to complete a name change authorization form. Click the “edit” button next to your name to bring up the form.

A copy of your state-issued ID card or driver’s licence with your new name on it must be annexed. A current U.S. passport can also serve as documentation of name changes.

After processing your request, AmEx will mail you a replacement card.

Bank of America:

You must go to a banking location to request a name change with Bank of America. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your name change, bring a copy of a supporting document and your updated government-issued photo ID.

Documents include:

A birth certificate for a misspelled legal name.
a marriage certificate for a name change associated with marriage.
a divorce judgement for a new divorce.
A legal court order for a court-mandated name change.
a certificate of adoption for a name change brought on by adoption.

Note that the account owner must go with you to a branch to change your name if you are a co-owner or authorised user on the account. If there isn’t a Bank of America branch close by, you can call for assistance if you need to change your name. Contact customer service at 800-432-1000 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.

Capital One:

You can ask to have a secure link emailed to you for uploading supporting documents by going to a Capital One location or calling 888-464-0727. Alternatively, you can fax documents to 888-464-3220 Attn: Capital One, or mail them to Capital One, P.O. Box 98707, Las Vegas, NV 89193.

A copy of your driver’s licence, marriage certificate, divorce decree, Social Security card, or other legal name change document is required as proof of your new name. Complete and sign an IRS W-9 form. It cannot be signed digitally.

By calling 888-464-0727, you might be able to make a small correction to your first or middle name.

Chase:

Call customer support at the number on the back of your card or visit a Chase bank location to alter the name on your credit card. After speaking with a customer service agent, you can send secure messages to provide documents even though you cannot request a name change on chase.com or the Chase mobile app.

If you call the bank, a representative will send a legal name change form to your address on record for you to fill out, sign, and date. Send the completed form and necessary documentation back to us by mail or secure message at chase.com. The form provides instructions. Send correspondence to Chase Card Services at PO Box 15298 in Wilmington, DE 19850-5298.

Provide a copy of these documents:

Completed IRS W-9 form with your signature and date.
Licence or other form of government-issued identification.
ID card for social security.
a court order or other type of legal record.

Citi:

Depending on the kind of name change you desire, the procedure will vary. For instance, you might be able to change your preferred first name online at https://online.citi.com. Call the number on the back of your credit card for advice on your circumstances, including the documentation needed.

Discover:

If you need help changing the name on your card, call Discover at 800-347-2683. For assistance online, you can also submit a secure message to a customer support agent.

USAA:

To start the process of changing the name on your account and requesting a new card, call 800-531-8722 or chat online with USAA.

Wells Fargo Credit Card:

Complete and sign the name change request form, and include the appropriate documentation for your request. You will require a duplicate of your

A marriage-related name change requires a marriage certificate, an updated driver’s licence, or a state-issued ID.
updated driver’s licence, state-issued ID, or divorce-related change to a divorce decree.
For a court-ordered name change, a court-confirmed name change document, an updated driver’s licence, or a state-issued ID are required.
Correction of a misspelt name on a driver’s licence or state-issued identification

Email the form to info@wellsfargocpipayments.com or mail it to Wells Fargo Auto CPI Payment Programme, PO Box 3145, Portland, OR 97208-3145.
From 8 am to 8 pm, dial 888-228-9735. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time with inquiries.

Confirming Your Name Change

Make sure to double-check your accounts and credit reports for accuracy after submitting your name change requests to each card issuer.

A misspelt name on a credit report could be the result of a typo or it could be a sign of something more serious, according to certified financial planner Brittney Castro. “Seeing your name misspelt could mean that someone has stolen your identity or that your records may have accidentally been mixed up with someone else’s,” the website says.

Castro also warns that failing to correct misspelt names could lead potential creditors to suspect that you are intentionally using different names.

You can get a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to make sure your new name is being reported correctly. Get in touch with your card’s issuer right away if you notice a mistake with your name.

Although updating your name with each credit card company can seem tedious, it’s the best way to maintain the accuracy of your financial history.

Will changing your name affect your credit score?

If you’re worried that changing your name will mean starting over with your credit report, you can breathe a sigh of relief. While there are other factors that can be used to identify you in your credit report, your name is one of them.Credit reporting agencies link your credit report to several pieces of personal data, such as your birth date and Social Security number. Due to this, your credit report should immediately change your name to reflect your new name in order to maintain credit reporting. However, you can obtain a credit report to confirm that there have been no mistakes made when updating your name in order to be certain.

FAQ – How to Change Your Name With Your Credit Card Company

How do I change my name on my credit card marriage?

To get an update, dial the number on the back of your card. In some cases, changes can be processed over the phone. Other times, you might be required to submit supporting documentation, which is typically handled within five days of receiving the request.

Does the name on my credit card have to be my legal name?

When registering for any kind of bank or credit account in the United States, you must enter your legal name.That is as a result of a clause (Section 326) in the USA Patriot Act, which became law in 2003.

How do I change my last name on my Chase credit card?

You can find instructions on how to send this request by Secure Message at www.chase.com/brokerageforms. Call our Client Service Centre at (800) 392-5749 if you need assistance, or send a secure message via chase.com.

How does changing your name affect credit?

Your credit history won’t be affected by a name change. Don’t worry; your Social Security number, which is linked to your credit history, hasn’t changed. In other words, unless you’ve done something like made a late payment, changing your name shouldn’t have an impact on your credit score if you have good credit.

What are the disadvantages of changing your name?

Cons Of Legally Changing Your Name: It’s Not A Free Process. You must undergo a legal procedure to change your name, as you are all aware, so there are associated fees that you will need to pay.
You Have To Tell Everyone About The Change. You will have to confront several queries after your change of name.