Can You Pause a Credit Card and How Does It Work?

Many card issuers offer features that allow cardholders to temporarily adjust access to their credit lines. This control helps individuals safeguard their financial accounts and manage spending habits.

Understanding Card Pausing

“Pausing” or “locking” a credit card refers to a temporary security feature offered by many card issuers that allows cardholders to instantly disable their card for new transactions. When a credit card is paused, it prevents new purchases and ATM withdrawals. This functionality serves as a quick measure to restrict unauthorized spending if a card is misplaced or to help manage personal spending by adding a barrier to impulse purchases.

Even when a card is paused, several aspects of the account remain unaffected. Existing balances continue to accrue interest, and payment due dates do not change. Cardholders are still responsible for making minimum payments or paying off their balance. Certain pre-authorized recurring payments, such as subscriptions or utility bills, may still process even when the card is paused, as these transactions often bypass the temporary lock feature.

The purpose of this feature is to offer immediate security and spending control without requiring permanent card cancellation. It differs from reporting a card as lost or stolen, which results in the old card being permanently deactivated and a new card issued. A card pause allows the cardholder to easily reactivate the card if it is found or if they wish to resume spending. Card issuers may also provide notifications if a transaction attempt is declined while the card is locked.

How to Temporarily Stop Card Use

Initiating a temporary pause or lock on a credit card is a straightforward process, primarily accessible through digital banking platforms. The most common method involves using the card issuer’s mobile banking application. Users typically navigate to a “Card Controls,” “Manage Card,” or “Security” section within the app. Within this section, there is usually a clear toggle switch or button labeled “Lock” or “Pause” that allows the cardholder to instantly disable new transactions. After selecting the desired card and toggling the feature, a confirmation step may be required to finalize the action.

Similarly, online banking portals provide a comparable process for managing card access. Cardholders can log into their account through a web browser and locate a section dedicated to card management or security settings. Here, options to lock or unlock the card are presented, often mirroring the functionality found in the mobile app. Selecting the appropriate option and confirming the choice will apply the temporary restriction to the card. These digital methods offer immediate control, allowing users to pause and unpause their cards as needed, often with no limit on how many times the feature can be used.

For individuals who prefer not to use digital platforms or require assistance, contacting customer service is another viable option. Cardholders can call the customer service number typically found on the back of their credit card. After verifying their identity through standard security questions, they can request a temporary lock on their card.

Customer service representatives can initiate the pause and provide details on how to reverse it, either by calling back or by instructing the cardholder on how to use online or mobile banking for future management. It is important to note that while pausing the card prevents most new transactions, it does not prevent the card from being monitored for fraudulent activity, and cardholders should still review their account statements regularly.