Zelle is a fast, safe, and easy way to send money directly between bank accounts in the U.S. Once you link your bank account or eligible debit/credit card to the Zelle app, you can easily make payments to friends, family, and others you trust.
Sometimes you may need to update, replace, or remove a card that’s already linked to your Zelle account. For example, if your debit card gets lost, stolen, or expires, you’ll need to unlink it and add a new card. Updating card details is quick and straightforward right within the Zelle app.
Table of Contents
Unlinking a Card in Zelle
If you need to remove a linked debit/credit card from your Zelle account, follow these steps:
- Open the Zelle app and tap on your profile icon in the top-left corner
- Select “Payment Methods”
- Tap on the card you want to unlink
- Tap “Unlink This Card” and confirm
Once a card is unlinked, it will no longer be available to make or receive Zelle payments.
Adding a New Card
After unlinking an old card, you can add a new eligible card to your Zelle account:
- In the Zelle app, tap on your profile icon and choose “Payment Methods”
- Tap the “+” icon in the top-right corner
- Select whether you want to link a debit card or credit card
- Enter your card details and billing address
- Agree to the terms and conditions
- Tap “Link Card”
The new card will now be linked and ready to use for Zelle payments.
Updating Card Details
If your linked card gets lost, stolen or expires, you need to update the details. Here is how to update card information in Zelle:
- Go to your profile and tap “Payment Methods”
- Tap the existing card you need to update
- Tap “Update” next to the card details
- Enter the new card number, expiration date, and security code
- Confirm the updated billing address
- Tap “Save”
The card details will be updated so you can continue sending or receiving money through Zelle without interruption.
Why Was My Card Rejected?
Sometimes Zelle may reject a card when you attempt to link it. Here are some common reasons this can happen:
- The card is not eligible – Zelle only works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover debit/credit cards from a U.S. bank. Prepaid cards and some international cards are not accepted.
- The card does not allow transactions – Some debit and credit cards block certain types of online transactions, including payments through third-party apps. You’ll need to contact your bank to allow these.
- Incorrect details entered – Double check you entered the right card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing details. Entering any information incorrectly can cause the card to be rejected.
- Suspected fraud – As a security measure, banks may reject cards if they suspect suspicious or fraudulent activity. You may need to contact your bank to resolve this.
If your card gets rejected by Zelle and you can’t determine the reason, contact your card issuer for help troubleshooting and resolving any problems.
Troubleshooting Problems Linking or Unlinking Cards
Some other common issues when managing cards in Zelle and how to fix them:
- Can’t validate card details – Carefully re-enter the card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing address to ensure 100% accuracy. Double check for typos.
- Error message shown – Read the error message closely for clues about any specific issue with your card or account. Contact your bank if you still can’t determine the cause.
- Card doesn’t show as linked – Close the Zelle app completely and restart your device. Re-open Zelle and check if the card is now visible under Payment Methods.
- Card not being accepted – A lost, stolen, or expired card must be unlinked before you can add a new replacement card. Follow the unlinking steps above first.
- Wrong card showing – If an old card you previously removed shows under Payment Methods, try unlinking it again. Fully close and reopen the Zelle app to refresh your account details after unlinking.
If problems continue, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the Zelle app completely to reset your account. Make sure you know your login email and password before reinstalling.
Using Multiple Cards in Zelle
You can link more than one eligible debit/credit card to your Zelle account. Adding multiple cards can be useful to have backups or separate business and personal spending.
To manage multiple cards:
- When sending Zelle payments, you can choose which linked card to pay from
- Received payments will go to the card you set as the default for deposits
- You can remove cards you no longer want linked at any time
Having backup cards already linked to your account is convenient if your primary card gets lost, stolen, or stops working for any reason.
Can I Change My Linked Email or Phone Number?
Your Zelle account is set up based on an eligible U.S. phone number or email address linked to your debit/credit card. The registered email or phone number is used to login and access your account.
If you need to update your phone number or email associated with Zelle, you must close the account entirely and open a new account with your new contact information.
Unfortunately you can’t directly change the registered email or phone number on an existing Zelle account. Any cards or payment history will NOT carry over when you open a new account. Make sure you record all transaction records before closing your account if you need them.
Security Tips When Managing Cards
When adding, updating, or removing cards from Zelle, keep these security best practices in mind:
- Never share card PINs or online account passwords with others
- Check your account activity frequently for unauthorized transactions
- Set up alerts to be notified about payments or deposits
- Only link cards from your own accounts that you recognize
- Beware of phone or email scams asking for financial information
- Always access Zelle through the legitimate mobile app or bank website
Following basic security precautions helps ensure safe payment transactions as you manage debit/credit cards in your Zelle account.
Summary
- Use the Zelle mobile app to easily unlink cards you want to remove
- Add new eligible cards to start sending or receiving money through Zelle
- Update card details if your linked card gets lost, stolen, or expires
- Understand why cards face rejection before trying to re-link them
- Manage multiple backup cards for convenience and security
- Open a brand new Zelle account if you need to change your registered email or phone number
