How to check and change your billing address

Your billing address is an important piece of identifying information that your credit card issuer — or other financial institution — has on file. It not only allows your issuer to communicate with you, but it also helps protect you from credit card fraud or identity theft.

Not sure what your billing address is and how to find it? Or moving and looking for a simple way to update it? Here’s what you need to know.

What is a billing address?

A billing address on your credit card is the address your credit card issuer associates with your account. While your billing address will often match your shipping address, they serve two different purposes.

The following are the main differences between your shipping address and your billing address:

• The card issuer uses your billing address to send credit card statements, billing information and cards linked to your account.
• Your shipping address is where you receive online orders, mail and packages.
• Issuers use billing addressesto send important information and verify the identity of the cardholder.
• Billing addresses protect against identity theft when a merchant utilizes the Address Verification System (like when you input your ZIP code at a gas pump).

How to check the billing address for a credit card

There are a few ways to locate your billing address if you are unsure of what you entered when you applied for your credit card:

Check with mailed statements

If you’re getting your credit card statements in the mail, it’s safe to say your physical address is your billing address. You can confirm that by checking the payment stub version of your bill — your billing address should be there.

Check with electronic statements

Many credit cardholders, however, opt in for paperless billing. If that’s the case for you, you can find your billing address on electronic statements you’re getting from your card’s issuer. Alternatively, you can often find your mailing address by logging into your online banking account and checking your personal information. Some credit card issuer apps have virtual assistants that can guide you to the right place.

When all else fails, you can always contact your issuer’s customer support. Sometimes you’ll be able to get your address through the automated voice system when you’re calling your bank; other times you might have to speak to a representative.

How to change your billing address

If you’re moving and need to change your billing address, you can use the following alternatives to change it:

Use your credit card issuer’s website or app

Changing your billing address online is the easiest way and takes minutes — just log in to your online account and edit the address in your profile.

Call customer support

You can also call the number on the back of your credit card and speak with a customer service representative to change your mailing address.

Update your address via mail

If you’re used to mailing your credit card payments, you can write your new address on the back of your payment coupon, which often includes a space for address changes. On the front of the coupon, you’ll usually find a box where you can indicate that you’re changing the address — make sure to verify it.

Change your address in person

If you prefer, some credit card issuers allow you to visit their branches if there’s a location nearby. There, you can speak with a representative who will update your mailing address for you.

Whichever option for updating your address you choose, make sure to go through each of your credit card issuers. It might be a good idea to make a list so that you don’t miss any banks or other financial institutions and nobody else gets your financial documents instead of you.

Changing your billing address with each issuer

Changing your billing address with your credit card issuer is a simple process of either logging into your online banking or credit card account or calling the customer service line for assistance. Once you’re logged into your account, navigate to account settings or contact information to check and change your billing address.

How to solve billing address errors

If you’re trying to add your debit or credit card to a merchant or shopping account, you may receive errors about the billing address. If that happens, here’s what you can do to resolve them:

• First, check and change your billing address with your credit card issuer directly, either online or over the phone.
• Double-check the spelling of your billing address and make sure it directly matches what you have on your banking and credit card accounts.
• Call your credit card issuer and verify the spelling of your name and address on the card account.
• If you have a second line in your address (like an apartment or unit number), make sure add that on the second line of the address field, rather than on one line.

After troubleshooting your billing address verification, if you’re still receiving error messages, reach out to the merchant or your credit card issuer directly for further support.

Bottom line

Credit card issuers use your billing address to send your monthly bills and other information, as well as protect your account from potential fraud. Keep your billing address updated to ensure you’re not missing any important communication from your issuer and to keep your credit card account safe.