Does Locking Your Credit Card Hurt Your Score?

Locking your credit or debit card is a simple way to protect yourself against unauthorized charges, especially if you’ve misplaced your card. But does it hurt your credit score?

The good news is that locking your card is a security feature. It’s not a reportable credit event, so it won’t directly impact your credit score. The danger arises when you misunderstand how locking a card works or when you forget to go back and monitor the balance of your card.

Does locking your credit card affect your credit score?

Simply locking your credit card will not impact your score. Locking a card does not change what gets reported to the credit bureaus, so there is no change to your credit report or score. Crediting scoring models focus on factors such as:

• Payment history
• Credit utilization
• Length of credit history
• Credit mix
• New inquiries

Whether your card is locked or unlocked is not one of those factors. As long as you leave the account open and continue making payments on time, your credit score shouldn’t change simply because you locked your card.

What happens when you lock your credit card?

Most major card issuers allow you to temporarily lock or freeze a card through their mobile app or online account. When you lock your card, the issuer will decline any attempts to make purchases with that card until you unlock it. The account itself remains open and active.

You may need to lock your card when:

• It's been lost or stolen
• You suspect unauthorized use
• You want extra security while traveling
• You want to prevent overspending

If you find your card and no longer have concerns about misuse, you can unlock it in a few seconds.

What you can still do with a locked card

While your card is locked, you can do just about everything you normally would except make new purchases. For example, you can:

• Make payments toward your balance
• Receive statement credits
• Use rewards you’ve already earned
• View transactions and statements
• Manage your account through the mobile app

Your credit limit and account age aren’t impacted. You also don’t have to request a new card right away, which can be helpful if you just misplaced your existing card and think you’ll be able to find it. Once you locate it, unlock your card and go back to using it as usual.

What gets blocked?

Locking your card usually blocks new purchases. Most card issuers will block the following when you lock a card:

• In-store purchases
• Online purchases
• Contactless payments
• Mobile wallet purchases using that card

Some card issuers still allow recurring subscription charges and automatic bill payments you’ve already set up. Other financial institutions will block these types of charges while a card is locked. Pay close attention to your bills and credit card account so that you do not unintentionally miss important payments while your card is locked.

Locking vs. closing a credit card

Some people confuse locking a card with closing an account, but they’re very different actions. You can temporarily lock your card. In the meantime, your account stays open, and your available credit remains the same. That account still contributes to the average age of your credit accounts.

If you close a credit card permanently, it shuts down the account. Depending on your overall credit profile, closing a card can reduce your available credit and increase your utilization ratio.

That’s why the locking credit card effect on credit is generally neutral, while closing a card can sometimes lower your score.

When locking your card makes sense

Locking your card is a smart security measure in a variety of situations. You may want to lock your card if:

• You’ve misplaced it but think you’ll find it soon
• You notice suspicious charges and need time to look into them
• You’re traveling and want additional protection

If you later determine the card was stolen or simply can’t find it, let your card issuer know to cancel the card and issue you a replacement. Make sure you update all accounts associated with that card so that you don’t miss any payments.

What actually hurts your credit score?

If you’re wondering about the locking credit card effect on credit, it’s helpful to remember what your credit score measures. The scoring models, such as FICO and VantageScore, measure how well you manage your debt. Temporarily disabling your card for security purposes is not a factor.

Here are activities that will hurt your credit score:

• Missing credit card payments
• Carrying high balances relative to your limits
• Applying for multiple new financial products in a short period
• Defaulting on loans

Responsible credit habits are all about consistency. Pay your bills on time and keep your total debt at manageable levels.

Does locking your credit card affect your credit score? The bottom line

Locking your credit card doesn’t hurt your score. Missing payments, increasing your credit utilization too much, or defaulting on loans are the types of actions that can damage your credit score.

If you need help building and protecting your credit score, Kikoff has you covered. Our credit-building platform includes free and paid tools to add positive payment history to your credit profile. Sign up for a free Kikoff account today.