How to activate your credit card
If your card already has a PIN
If you’ve been sent a replacement card due to your other card expiring, getting damaged, lost or stolen, and you had a PIN loaded on that card, then your existing PIN will be transferred to your replacement card.
To activate your card, make a purchase in-store by inserting your new card into the eftpos machine and entering your current PIN. You’ll now be able to use your card for all types of transactions.
Alternatively, log in to internet banking, click on your credit card, then ‘Additional Options and Details’ then select ‘Activate’ next to ‘Card Status’. However, this option won’t fully activate your card. It will allow you to make online purchases but to enable contactless payments you must insert your new card into the eftpos machine and enter your current PIN when making your first in-person purchase.
If your card doesn't have a PIN
If your credit card is brand new, or if you’ve switched from one card type to another e.g. from a Zero Visa to an Airpoints Platinum Visa, then the new card won’t come with a PIN.
To activate your card:
- Add a PIN by logging into our mobile app or internet banking, or by visiting your nearest Kiwibank with valid photo ID (such as your passport or NZ driver licence). To add a PIN using the mobile app or internet banking. Log in, go to ‘Cards’, choose the card you want, select ‘Set/Change PIN’, enter your new PIN, and then re-enter your new PIN (to confirm it).
- Then make a purchase in-store by inserting your new card into the eftpos machine and entering your current PIN. You’ll now be able to use your card for all types of transactions.
If you don’t want to add a PIN, you can activate your card in internet banking which enables online purchases. Log in to internet banking, click on your credit card, then ‘Additional Options and Details’, then select ‘Activate’ next to ‘Card Status’. However, to enable contactless purchases, you’ll need to make an in-store purchase by inserting your new card into the eftpos machine, then pressing credit, and 'ok'. You may be asked to sign a receipt.
Update your regular payments and card details
If your replacement card has new card details i.e. the numbers on the front of your card, expiry date and security code on the back, you’ll need to update any regular payments from your card and anywhere you’ve saved your card details to make it easier to pay for things. To help with this, look through recent credit card statements and transactions. You might also want to check out the following common examples.
- Mobile phone companies – 2degrees, One NZ, Spark, Skinny
- Power companies – Genesis, Powershop, Meridian, Mercury, Flick, Contact, Nova Energy
- Insurance companies – Kiwi Insure, Tower, AIA, Vero, AA, Southern Cross, State Insurance, AMI
- Holiday bookings – booking.com, AirBnB, holidayhouses.co.nz, airlines e.g. airport parking bookings
- Online shopping sites – Trade Me, Groupon, Grabone, Amazon, MightyApe, New World, Countdown, TicketMaster, eBay
- TV and music subscriptions – Netflix, SkyTV, Spotify, Lightbox
- Food deliveries – My Food Bag, HelloFresh, Uber Eats, Delivereasy
- Fitness and gym subscriptions – Les Mills, City Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Snap Fitness, Jetts
- Ride sharing apps – Uber, Zoomy, Ola, Lime, Jump
- Buy Now Pay Later – AfterPay, Genoapay, Laybuy
- Charitable donations – Red Cross, Cancer Society, SPCA