Card PIN
What is a PIN?
Your 4-digit PIN is used to check that it’s you making a purchase,
whether you’re buying in-store or paying online.
Scroll down to find out how to change and view your PIN.
Using Chip and PIN in-store
Insert your Card
into the terminal
Enter your four-digit PIN to
authorise the transaction
Using your PIN online
As part of additional security measures, we sometimes need to ask you to enter part of
your PIN when you make purchases online with SafeKey®.
Follow the online
checkout instructions
Enter two digits of your PIN when
prompted to authorise a transaction
We’ll only ask for part of your PIN online, and the PIN is encrypted so it’s safe and secure.
Never enter your full PIN online. If asked to do so, call the number on the back of your Card.
Changing and viewing your PIN
It’s important to know your PIN as you may need it online as well as in-store. Here’s how
you can change and view your PIN:
Using your
Online Account
How to change your PIN
using your Online Account
- Log into your Online Services Account
- Click on Account Management.
- Click Change PIN.
How to view your PIN
using your Online Account
- Log into your Online Services Account
- Click on Account Management.
- Click View PIN.
Using the
American Express® App
How to change your PIN
using the Amex App
- Go to the Account tab in the Amex App.
- Click Manage Card PIN.
- Click Change PIN.
How to view your PIN
using the Amex App
- Go to the Account tab in the Amex App.
- Click Manage Card PIN.
- Click View PIN.
Security Tips
Never share your PIN with anyone.
We'll never ask for your PIN
over the phone or email.
Don't record your PIN anywhere;
memorise it.
Protect your PIN when entering
it at a cash machine or point of
sale terminal.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can view or change your Card PIN in your Online Account.
To view your PIN:
1. Log in using your username and password.
2. Enter the verification code we send to you. Once logged in, click on the 'Account Management' tab.
3. Click on 'View PIN', you'll then be asked some security questions. Please answer and follow the steps as prompted on screen.
To change your PIN:
1. Log in using your username and password.
2. Enter the verification code we send to you. Once logged in, click on the 'Account Management' tab.
3. Click on the ‘Change PIN’, you'll then be asked some security questions. Please answer and follow the steps as prompted on screen.
Or you can view or change your Card PIN through the American Express® App.
Click on the Account tab within the Amex App, select 'Manage Card PIN' and follow the prompts to view or change your PIN.
You can select your Card PIN while applying for a new Card. Your requested Card will come with that PIN.
In the unlikely event you’ve locked your PIN (by entering the wrong PIN repeatedly), an alert will appear in your Online Services Account to unlock your PIN.
Note: If you do not see an unlock option in your Online Services Account your Card has not been locked and is ok for continued use.
Your transaction will be declined if you use an incorrect PIN. In case you have forgotten your PIN, please visit your Online Services Account or Amex App to View PIN and follow the prompts on screen.
Once you have remembered your PIN, your Card is good for use for future transactions.
Yes, if your previous Card already had a PIN in use - you will continue to have the same PIN on the reissued card.
To complete your PIN change, please insert your Card into the terminal at your next transaction and enter your old PIN. Although unlikely, you may be required to enter your old PIN for more than one transaction before using your new PIN.
If you use an ATM after changing your PIN change online or in the Amex App, your new PIN will be accepted immediately.
No, a contactless transaction after changing your PIN will not activate the new PIN for your Card. To complete your PIN change, please insert your Card into the checkout terminal on your next transaction and enter your old PIN. After this step your new PIN should be ready for use for all your subsequent transactions. If your new PIN is accepted in your next transaction, your PIN change is complete. If your new PIN is not accepted, you will be required to use your old PIN again to re-attempt the PIN change.
Your Card PIN is a Personal Identification Number which helps us to verify your identity when using your Card. It’s made up of four digits and is uniquely bound to your Card; it acts as a passcode to help prevent fraud. Chip and PIN technology uses your Card’s microchip to encrypt your Card information.
Yes, the Amex App lets you view, change and unlock your PIN. Head to the App and select ‘Activate and Manage Cards’ found in the 'Account' tab, then select 'Manage Card PIN' and follow the prompts to View or Change PIN.
No, you can choose any combination of 4 digits as you prefer. Please remember that the PIN should be easy for you to remember; however difficult for someone else to guess. In case you forget your PIN, you can view it using your Online Services Account or the Amex App.
Please be aware that all your American Express Cards will need a PIN. We strongly recommend that you choose and remember a different PIN for each Card you have, if possible. However, each Cardmember (including your Supplementary Cardmembers) must choose their own PIN.
Yes. Your PIN will work for both purchases and cash withdrawals.
Yes, you need to authorise in-store purchases using a PIN. Please note that contactless Card or Near Field Communication (NFC) payments do not require a PIN to authorise a purchase for payments up to £45* in the UK. For purchases above £45*, PIN authentication will be required. Click here to learn more.
*Contactless payment limits subject to retailers, effective 1 April 2020. Please check in-store for more details.
Yes, you should be able to use your American Express Chip & PIN Card to authorise transactions abroad. If the local standard of payment in the country you are visiting is Chip & PIN, then you should be able to use your Card in the same way as you use it in the UK. Please follow terminal/merchant instructions.
The PSD2 rules require payment providers to perform security checks when you check out online to help prevent fraud. Certain transactions require stronger security checks such as asking for additional information to help verify your identity. Your Card’s Personal Identification Number (PIN) helps us to ensure it’s really you who is using your Card online as only you know your PIN. We’ll never ask you to enter your full PIN online.
Yes. We won’t ever ask you to enter your full four digits during your online checkout and we’ll always hide the digits once you have entered them. Your PIN will be encrypted when it is sent for verification.
We won’t ask for your Card PIN every time you shop online; only when we need to perform an additional security check.
Add online sites to your Express List in your Online Account
Adding online sites to your Express List means you won’t have to verify yourself unless we need to check it’s really you who is making the purchase.
You can set up your Express List in your Online Account:
Log in using your username and password.
Enter the verification code we send to you. Once logged in, click on the 'Account Management' section.
Click on ‘Manage Express List’
You’ll be shown a list of online sites you have shopped at using your American Express List Card. Click “add” to add them to your Express List.
Download the Amex App
If you prefer not to enter your Card PIN and verification code, you can download the Amex App and enable push notifications in your device settings. We would then ask you to verify your identify by sending you a push notification to confirm your purchase. Sometimes you may need to log into the App to do this.
How to enable push notification:
iPhone users: Device settings > Notifications > Amex UK > Allow Notifications
Android users: Device settings > Apps/Applications Manager > Amex UK > Show Notifications
Yes. You can use your new PIN online immediately. However, for your first in-store transaction, you’ll need to make Chip & PIN transaction with your old PIN for us to change your PIN on the Card.
Related pages
Shop Safe with SafeKey®
It’s smart technology that helps us make sure
it’s really you when shopping online.
Make faster payments with contactless
Go contactless for speedy payments up to £45. Simply hold
your Card to the reader and you’re done.