How to Change Your Name on Your Bank Accounts and Credit Cards
Changing your name on bank accounts and credit cards is a key step after marriage or divorce. Updating financial accounts keeps paychecks, deposits, and payments running smoothly and prevents ID mismatches. This guide shows the documents you’ll need, the order to tackle updates, how major banks handle name changes, and tips to save time. For a look at how to change your taxes, click here.
What You’ll Need (Documents Checklist)
Have these ready before you start:
- Certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing your new legal name
- Updated Social Security card (in your new name)
- Government-issued photo ID (updated driver’s license or state ID)
Pro tip: Order 2–3 certified copies of your name-change document so you can update multiple institutions in parallel.
The Best Order to Update Your Name
- Social Security Administration (SSA) → get your updated SS card. For more details,
- Driver’s license / state ID → so your photo ID matches your new name
- Bank accounts (checking, savings, debit cards, checks)
- Credit cards (issuer or bank-branded)
- Passport (you can update before or after your driver’s license in most states).
Doing it in this order avoids rejections or repeat branch visits.
