8 tips and tricks for creating and remembering your PIN

June 17, 2020

Forgetting PINs happens more often than you might think. Here are some pointers for creating and remembering an effective PIN.

 

If you can’t remember your Personal Identification Number (PIN), accessing your bank account can be difficult and cause unnecessary inconveniences in daily life. Fearing hackers or identity thieves, people often make PINs more complicated than necessary. Avoid the hassle with these eight tricks and tips.

 

1. Avoid the obvious

Make your PIN less easy to guess by avoiding obvious number combinations or sequences such as “1111,” “1234” or “9876.”

 

2. Use the word method

Some people find it helpful if they think of their PIN number as a word. View it as if you were dialing it on a landline phone, with each number from 2 to 9 representing three or four letters. The word “ball,” for example, would be “2255.” For many people, it’s easier to remember “ball,” which leads to recalling the numbers associated with it. If you use this method, it’s best to use as uncommon a word as possible so that it is unlikely to be guessed by someone else.

 

3. Try a familiar date

A memorable date, such as a birthday or anniversary, can make a handy PIN. If a loved one was born Sept. 3, 1986, “9386” is a relatively easy PIN for you to remember while remaining obscure to fraudsters. The only potential downfall to this method is that the date you choose may be predictable for people who know you well or have access to your personal information.

 

4. Use a meaningful address

A house number can be a good choice, especially if it’s an address you won’t forget but others are unlikely to know. Your best bet: use the four-digit street address of a childhood friend, a former workplace or another significant place. Numbers with personal significance are easy to remember and hard to guess. Note: Avoid using your own address since thieves could access this information.

 

5. Try an extra-long PIN

If your bank allows it, you can also create a more elaborate, lengthy number. An 8- or 12-digit PIN is more secure than a traditional 4-digit number, but it’s also harder to remember, unless it is already in your memory. Do you still remember the phone number to your childhood home? Maybe you do but would-be thieves probably don’t.

 

6. Fake a friend

If you simply can’t remember your PIN without writing it down, you can hide it in the name or number of a contact within your phone. Make sure your phone is password-protected and remember to call your bank immediately to reset your PIN if your phone gets lost or stolen.

 

7. Don’t write it down

It’s better to forget your PIN than to write it down. If you need to have it written down in order to remember it, you’re going to have to bring it with you. That makes others nearby as likely to see it as you are.

 

8. Use different secure PIN numbers for different accounts

Having different secure PIN numbers for each of your important accounts reduces risk so they can’t all be immediately accessed if one secure PIN is compromised. However, you still need to be able to remember them all.

If you forget your PIN, immediately get in touch with a bank representative, either on the phone or by stopping into a branch. Never email your PIN to anyone. If you suspect your card or PIN has been lost or stolen or your account has been otherwise compromised, call your bank immediately.

 

Protecting your personal information is important. Learn more about identity protection.

Related content

Dear Money Mentor: How do I pick a savings or checking account?

3 awkward situations Zelle can help avoid

Here’s how to create a budget for yourself

From LLC to S-corp: Choosing a small business entity

Is your employer long term disability insurance enough?

Checking and savings smarts: Make your accounts work harder for you

5 reasons why couples may have separate bank accounts

Myths vs. facts about savings account interest rates

Multiple accounts can make it easier to follow a monthly budget

Is it time to get a shared bank account with your partner?

Don’t underestimate the importance of balancing your checking account

How to Adult: 5 ways to track your spending

Which is better: Combining bank accounts before marriage — or after?

5 tips for parents opening a bank account for kids

Post-pandemic fraud prevention lessons for local governments

Fight the battle against payments fraud

Fraud prevention checklist

Protecting cash balances with sweep vehicles

What corporate treasurers need to know about Virtual Account Management

How to choose the right business checking account

Does your side business need a separate bank account?

Reviewing your beneficiaries: A 5-step guide

How to keep your assets safe

What types of agency accounts are available for investors?

What you need to know as the executor of an estate

Learn to spot and protect yourself from common student scams

7 ways to teach your children to be scam-savvy

How to prevent fraud

How to avoid student loan scams

Protecting elderly parents’ finances: 6 steps to follow when managing their money

4 ways to outsmart your smart device

How to spot an online scam

Money muling 101: Recognizing and avoiding this increasingly common scam

What you need to know about identity theft

What is financial fraud?

5 tips for seniors to stay a step ahead of schemers

Recognize. React. Report. Don't fall victim to financial exploitation

Recognize. React. Report. Caregivers can help protect against financial exploitation

Webinar: U.S. Bank asks: Are you safe from fraud?

Is online banking safe?

How-to guide: What to do if your identity is stolen

How you can prevent identity theft

8 tips and tricks for creating and remembering your PIN

3 financial tools to help automate your finances

Does your savings plan match your lifestyle?

Mobile banking tips for smarter and safer online banking

Adulting 101: How to make a budget plan

Save time and money with automatic bill pay

Stay on budget — and on the go — with a mobile banking app

Personal finance for teens can empower your child

First-timer’s guide to savings account alternatives

Overdrafts happen: Steps to get you back on track

P2P payments make it easier to split the tab

Improving your credit score: Truth and myths revealed

Start of disclosure content

Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rate and program terms are subject to change without notice. Mortgage, Home Equity and Credit products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC.