How to Change a Credit Card Statement Date

If you’ve ever looked at your credit card statement and wondered why your payment is due at the least convenient moment—say, right before payday or mid-vacation—you’re not alone.

Statement due dates are often auto-generated by algorithms based on the date you apply for a new credit line, and that doesn’t mean that those due dates align best with when you get paid or have your next big trip planned.

There’s good news, though: you’re not always bound to the statement due dates assigned to your account. Many banks let you change that due date with a simple request. While calling in can sometimes be a bit of a pain, it’s well worth the awkwardness of holding music to make your billing cycle due dates align with your needs.

Why Would You Want to Change Your Credit Card Statement Date?

Changing your statement date isn’t some advanced financial hack—it’s a practical move that makes managing your money easier.

But first, a quick review. Your credit card statement is one of the most basic elements of how your credit card works, something we’ve written about at length before.

As we can see below, my credit card statement closes on the 7th of each month. That means I have 21 days from that date, or the 28th of each month, to pay my bill on time and in full so I don’t get dinged interest.

Now, let’s return to the title of this section and ask: why would you want to change your credit card statement’s due date?

For many folks, a good motivator would be to align when your credit card statement cuts with when you get paid. Shifting the day your statement is issued to shortly after your payday ensures your funds are in your account exactly when you need them. 

We don’t advocate living paycheque to paycheque or having a low balance, but this is a question of convenience: it’s nice having all your money in your account right before a big bill is cut, and then knowing you have the ability to pay on time and in full without interest even before your next pay comes in.

This change can also help you maximize balance transfers for those of you either using them to invest in the market or to pay down previous credit card debt. Remember: balance transfers are promotional offers on credit cards, usually at a very low interest rate and with a small transfer fee (between 1 and 3 percent), that expire after a given period (usually between 9 and 12 months).

Pushing your statement date further out gives you a longer grace period to pay off a transferred balance before interest applies, and this is particularly handy if you’re lucky enough to get an elusively low offer, such as 0% interest on a very low transfer fee.

Planning a big trip? Adjusting your statement date before you leave ensures that all your travel expenses land on a fresh billing cycle, giving you maximum time to pay them off once you return, because nothing sours a vacation faster than finding a payment due halfway through it. Please don’t take this as a license to spend too extravagantly, though! 

And, of course, sometimes it’s simply about exercising choice. You’re the customer. If changing your statement date makes life a little less chaotic, that’s reason enough.

How Can You Change Your Credit Card Statement Date?

The process varies between financial institutions, but it’s generally straightforward.

The most common method is still the good old phone call. While this often involves the agony-inducing experience known as hold music and listening to a cool synthetic voice tell you that the “menu options have changed”, most banks can handle the request quickly once you get through to a human being. 

Some institutions, such as Amex USA (which you can access as a Canadian by following our guide), also accept changes via live chat, allowing you to take care of it without navigating a phone tree. Don’t believe me? I kept the screenshots:

If you’re feeling really masochistic, you can also try booking an in-branch visit, as some banks offer this functionality. Based on my personal experience, though, you’ll often be directed to call the contact center unless the teller or banker you’re talking to knows exactly how the statement due date change process works!

It’s worth noting that changes may not take effect immediately. Some banks, such as CIBC and its online-only affiliate Simplii Financial, require one or even two full billing cycles before the new date applies, so plan accordingly if you’re trying to coordinate this ahead of major expenses.

On top of that, some banks aren’t uniform in the rules they apply. For example, Scotiabank can change your statement due dates, but its direct-to-consumer subsidiary, Tangerine, outright refused to do so.

Which Banks Will Let You Change Your Credit Card Statement Date?

The following table provides which financial institutions will let you change your statement dates. This is correct to the best of our knowledge as of May 2025. We will update this list as time goes on. Unfortunately, some banks, such as BMO, have actually disabled their secure messaging capabilities thus obligating you to need to call in.

Please note: each bank’s policies are subject to change. Confirm directly with your bank and feel free to comment below if your experience doesn’t gel with our own.

Conclusion

Changing your credit card statement date is one of those small, easily overlooked adjustments that can significantly improve your financial affairs. Aligning due dates with your cash flow helps you reduce stress, better plan large purchases, and maximize interest-free grace periods—all while making payment dates simply more convenient.

While most banks will still require you to call in or visit a branch in-person to change your credit card statement date, the benefits can be well worth it if you’re willing to take the time to make the switch. While not all institutions will let you change your statement due dates, you are free to take your business wherever you want, and we hope we’ve shown you that there are many excellent options available.