How do I lock and unlock my business credit card?

Quick insights

• Locking a credit card temporarily disables the card meaning it cannot be used to make purchases.
• You can typically lock or unlock your card through your card issuer's website or mobile banking app.
• You may want to lock your card if it's misplaced, inactive or you spot unusual activity on your account.

Credit cards often come with features to help prevent unauthorized use. Locking — and in turn, unlocking—your card is one way you can try to keep your business credit card safe.

As a business owner, you may find it important to be able to stop usage of your card at a moment’s notice. You may appreciate the ability to lock your card if, for example, the card is misplaced, or you spot suspicious activity on your account. In this article, we’ll talk about this feature, plus when and how to use it.

What happens when you lock your business credit card

Locking a credit card temporarily disables your credit card. The card cannot be used to make purchases, cash advances or balance transfers.

Locking your card prevents its use but keeps the card and account open. This is essentially the same thing that happens when you lock a personal credit card.

When you lock a card, subscriptions, autopayments and other recurring monthly bills charged to the card may still be able to go through. You also may still be able to use the card if it has been saved to a digital wallet. This is because your card information is stored locally on your device.

If you find your credit card or feel safe using it once more, you can unlock it. This restores the full use of your card, and you can continue making purchases again.

You can usually lock and unlock your card without contacting your card issuer.

How to lock and unlock your business credit card

Most credit card issuers provide a way to lock and unlock your card from your online account or mobile app. For example, Chase business credit cards can be locked and unlocked in the account services section from a cardmembers’ online account. You may also be able to call your card’s customer service number to lock or unlock your card.

Card locking is typically instantaneous. Once the card is locked, it cannot be used to make new transactions. You are essentially turning off your card.

Unlocking it may be just as simple, especially if you’re locking and unlocking it from your online account.

Card issuers may not restrict how often you can lock or unlock your card. Banks and card issuers typically do not charge a fee for locking or unlocking a card.

When to lock your business card

You may want to consider locking your card in a few instances:

• Lost card: If your card is misplaced but you expect it may turn up soon, you can lock your card while you try to locate it. The same goes for employee credit cards on the same account.
• Unusual activity: If you’ve set up alerts on your accounts for suspicious activity, you can lock your card at the first sign of unusual or fraudulent transactions. This prevents activity on your card until you turn it back on.
• Inactive: You may have a business credit card that you don’t use but don’t want to close or cancel. If this is the case, you might consider locking the card so the line of credit remains open, but the card cannot be used for new purchases.
• Data breach: If your card’s numbers were included in a data breach, you may choose to lock the card if you’re concerned its information has been compromised.

Locking a credit card may be easier than cancelling it, especially if you misplaced the card and expect it may turn up soon.

When you lock your credit card, your card’s details and number stay the same. If you cancel your card and choose to open a new credit card, the numbers and card information won't be the same.

Locking vs. freezing

Locking your card is different than freezing your credit. Freezing your credit is a bigger step and restricts access to your credit files.

When you freeze your credit, new credit cards or lines of credit cannot be opened in your name until the freeze is over. Locking your card usually only restricts the use of that credit card.

In summary

Locking a credit card temporarily disables it and new transactions cannot be made using the locked credit card. However, reoccurring transactions scheduled with the card likely can still go through.

Cards can typically be locked and unlocked from your online account or mobile banking app. When you lock a card, it may be disabled almost immediately. You may want to lock your card if it's misplaced, inactive or you spot unusual activity on your account.