How to change your email on a bank account
You can change the email address on your bank account through your bank's website, mobile app, or by calling customer service. Most banks let you do this yourself in seconds without visiting a branch. The exact steps depend on which bank you use, but the process is almost always in your account settings or profile section.
Your bank uses your email for login, password resets, fraud alerts, and statements. If you change your email without updating your bank records, you'll stop receiving those notifications and won't be able to reset your password if you get locked out. That's why it's important to update it before you stop using the old email address.
Key Takeaways
- Most banks let you change your email yourself through their website or app under account settings or profile information.
- You may need to verify the new email address by clicking a link the bank sends to it before the change takes effect.
- Changing your email does not affect your account number, routing number, or any automatic payments you have set up.
- If you can't access your old email, call your bank's customer service line and have your ID and account details ready.
Changing your email through the bank's website
Log into your account on your bank's website. Look for a menu labeled "Settings," "Profile," "Account Information," or "Personal Information"—the exact name varies by bank. Click into that section and find the field that shows your current email address.
Click "Edit" or "Change" next to the email field. Type in your new email address and save the change. Most banks will then send a verification link to the new email address you entered. Open that email and click the link to confirm the change. Until you verify, your old email remains active.
Once verified, your new email is now linked to your account. You'll receive future statements, alerts, and password reset links at the new address. Keep the old email address active for at least a few days in case you need to retrieve any messages from your bank.
Changing your email through the mobile app
Open your bank's mobile app and log in. Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines) or look for a profile or account icon, often in the top right or bottom of the screen. Select "Settings" or "Account Settings."
Find the section for contact information or email address. Tap "Edit" or "Change," enter your new email, and save. Your bank will send a verification email to the new address. Tap the link in that email to complete the change. The process is the same as on the website, just formatted for your phone.
Changing your email by phone
Call the customer service number on the back of your debit card or on your bank's website. Have your account number and a form of ID ready—the representative may ask for your Social Security number or answers to security questions to verify you own the account.
Tell the representative you want to change the email address on your account. Provide the new email address clearly and ask them to repeat it back to you to confirm there are no typos. They will update it in the system and may send a verification email to the new address, or they may verify you over the phone and activate the change immediately.
What happens if you can't access your old email
If your old email account is closed or you no longer have access to it, you cannot verify the change through the email link your bank sends. Call your bank's customer service line instead. Explain that you no longer have access to the old email address and want to update it.
The representative will verify your identity using other information—your account number, Social Security number, answers to security questions, or a recent statement. Once verified, they can change your email without requiring you to click a verification link. This takes a few minutes on the phone and is the fastest way forward if your old email is gone.
What does not change when you update your email
Changing your email address does not affect your account number, routing number, or any of the banking details you share with employers or creditors. Direct deposits will continue to work. Automatic bill payments will continue to work. Your login username (if it's different from your email) will not change unless you update it separately.
The only thing that changes is where your bank sends emails. If you have set up alerts for large transactions, low balances, or login attempts, those alerts will now go to your new email address. If you had statements sent by email, they will go to the new address going forward.
Updating email for joint accounts
If the account is joint and both owners receive emails, each person can usually change their own email address independently. Log in with your credentials and change your email through your profile. The other account owner can do the same with their login.
Some banks send important notices to all email addresses on file. Check with your bank whether changing one person's email affects notifications sent to the other owner. If you want both owners to receive the same alerts, you may need to add the second email as an additional contact rather than replacing the first one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for the email change to go into effect?
If you verify the change through an email link, it usually takes effect immediately after you click the link. If a representative changes it over the phone, it may take a few minutes to an hour to appear in the system. Try logging out and back in to see the change reflected in your account settings.
Can I have more than one email address on my bank account?
Most banks allow you to add a secondary email address for statements or alerts while keeping a primary email for login and password resets. Check your bank's settings to see if this option is available. Some banks call this a "secondary contact" or "alternate email."
What if I entered the wrong email address by mistake?
If you made a typo and entered an email that doesn't belong to you, you won't receive the verification link. Log back into your account and try again with the correct email. If you're locked out, call customer service and they can correct it for you.
Will changing my email affect my online banking password?
No. Your password stays the same. The email change only affects where your bank sends messages and where you receive password reset links if you forget your password. Your login credentials do not change.
Do I need to update my email with my bank's investment or credit card division separately?
Usually yes. If you have a checking account, savings account, credit card, and investment account with the same bank, each product may have its own email on file. Log into each account separately and update the email for each one. Some banks link these automatically, but most require you to update them individually.