How to Change Your Name on a Chase Bank Account
Simplify changing your name on a Chase bank account. This guide provides clear, essential steps for a smooth update.
Changing your name on a bank account is a necessary step following significant life events such as marriage, divorce, or a legal name change. Maintaining accurate personal information with your financial institution ensures smooth transactions and proper identification. This guide provides clear steps to update your name on your Chase bank account.
Gathering Your Documents
You will need primary legal proof of your name change, such as a certified copy of your marriage certificate, a divorce decree, or a court order for a name change. These documents verify your new legal identity.
Along with legal proof, you must present a current government-issued photo identification that displays your new name. If your current ID still shows your old name, you will typically need to provide both the old identification and the legal document proving the name change. It is also advisable to have your Social Security card ready, though it alone cannot be used to process a name change.
Chase may require you to complete a specific “Account Holder Name Change Request Form” or a similar internal document. While this form may be available for download from the Chase website, it is often specific to investment accounts and may not apply to checking, savings, or credit card accounts. For these, you might receive the form directly from a bank representative. This form will ask for your former name, new name, account numbers, and signature.
Submitting Your Request
The most common and often recommended method for checking and savings accounts is to visit a Chase branch in person. When visiting a branch, ensure you bring all your original legal documents and identification, along with any pre-filled Chase forms. A bank representative will review your documents, verify your identity, and guide you through the process.
For credit cards or investment accounts, other submission methods may be available, including mail, fax, or secure message through online banking. If submitting by mail, you will typically send copies of your legal documents and the completed name change form to a designated mailing address. Using certified mail or a service with tracking is recommended for sensitive documents. For credit cards, you may be able to send documents via secure message through the Chase online banking portal by attaching scanned copies.
After Your Name Change
The processing time can vary, but generally, you should allow several business days for the change to reflect across all your accounts. For credit cards, a new card with your updated name typically arrives within five to seven business days.
Chase will usually confirm the name change through a notification, which could be an email, a mailed letter, or an update visible within your online banking profile. It is important to verify that your new name appears correctly on all your accounts, including checking, savings, and credit cards. Your existing debit and credit cards will likely be replaced with new ones displaying your updated name, and any outstanding checks with your old name may become invalid.
It is advisable to check your online banking access after the name change, as some systems may require updated credentials or a re-verification process. While your credit history remains tied to your Social Security number, ensuring your name is consistent across all financial records helps prevent potential issues with identity verification or future transactions.