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Credit Cards

How (and Why) to Setup Credit Card Auto-Payments

Updated Sep 21, 2021   |   4-min read

If you’ve ever made a late payment on your credit card, you know the late fees and potential negative impact on your credit score can be costly. If you are traveling, busy with work, or just tend to forget due dates, it might be a good idea to look into setting up an auto-payment for your credit card account.

When you set up auto-payment, the credit card company automatically debits a payment from your bank account on a set date. Generally, you’ll have the option to choose the payment date and whether you pay the full outstanding balance, minimum amount, or a set dollar amount.

Here’s how to set up auto-payments with some of the major credit card companies.

Setting Up Auto-Payments

Click on a company in the list below to jump to that section and learn more about setting up auto-payments:

American Express

Log in to your online account and click the payment option in your navigation bar. Then, click on the option to manage AutoPay. Choose whether you want to pay the minimum due, full statement balance, or another amount each month. Choose the day of the month you want the payment to be processed and enter in your bank account routing number and account number.

Your first auto-payment, however, may not get credited during the current billing cycle, so make sure to check you don’t miss making a payment for that. Only basic cardholders can enroll in AutoPay service. It does not apply to corporate American Express card accounts.

Chase

Log in to your online Chase account and choose the account for which you want to set up your auto-payment. Under your account information, click “set up” next to “automatic payment is off.” Choose the date when you want your payment to be debited from your bank account. Enter in the routing number and account number for the bank account from which your credit card payment will be debited. You can choose whether you want to pay the minimum amount, the statement balance, or another amount.

Capital One

Log in to your online Capital One account and choose the account for which you want to set up auto-payments. Choose the “setup autopay” option. Enter in the bank account information from which your monthly payments will be debited. You can choose to pay the minimum due, total statement balance, or another amount. Capital One debits the money from your bank account on the day your monthly payment is due. The auto-payment gets debited from your account even if you make another manual payment on the account at another point during the billing cycle.

Discover

Log in to your Discover card online account center. Click on the payments tab and select the autopay option. Enter in the bank account routing number and account number from which you want payments debited. Choose whether you want to pay the minimum due, statement balance, or another set amount each month. Enrollment in auto-payment starts immediately, so the first payment will be debited on your next available payment due date.

Citi

Go to the Citi cards account center and enter your online login information. Click on the “payments and transfers” tab and then choose the “manage autopay” option. Click the “enroll” option next to the account to which you want auto-payments credited. Enter in your bank account number and routing number for payments. Choose whether you want to pay the minimum due, statement balance, or another amount.

Citi also gives you the option to pay in one or two monthly installments, so you will need to choose which you prefer. You can also choose when you want to make your payment and have the option of picking up to 10 days before the due date.

>> Read More: How to pay off credit card debt