Where to send your Sears credit card payment
Sears credit cards are issued by Citibank, so your payment goes to Citi, not to Sears itself. You can pay online through Citi's website, by phone, by mail, or in person at a Sears store if one is still operating in your area. The method you choose does not change your due date or how much you owe — it only changes how fast the payment reaches Citi and whether you pay a fee.
The fastest and cheapest route is online through Citi's payment portal. You log in with your card number and PIN, enter the amount, and the payment posts within one business day. Phone payments (1-800-CITI-CARD, or 1-800-248-4226) work the same day but may carry a fee if you use a debit card. Mail takes seven to ten business days, so send it early if your due date is close.
Key Takeaways
- Sears credit cards are managed by Citibank, so you send payments to Citi, not to Sears, using your card number as the account identifier.
- Online payment through Citi's website is free and posts within one business day, making it the fastest option for most people.
- Phone payments reach Citi the same day but may charge a fee depending on your payment method; mail payments take seven to ten business days.
- Your payment due date does not change based on how you pay, but paying early protects you if mail is delayed or if you miscalculate the posting time.
- If you cannot find your Sears card statement, call Citi directly to confirm your account number and current balance before paying.
Paying online through Citi's website
Go to citibank.com and select "Pay My Bill" or "Make a Payment." You will need your Sears card number and either your PIN or online login credentials. If you have not set up an online account yet, you can create one using your card number and Social Security number. Enter the amount you want to pay — you can pay the full balance, the minimum, or any amount in between.
Once you confirm the payment, Citi will show you a confirmation number. Write this down or take a screenshot. The payment posts to your account within one business day, though Citi may show it as "pending" for a few hours. If you pay before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on a weekday, it counts as paid that day for the purpose of your due date.
Paying by phone or automated system
Call Citi's automated payment line at 1-800-248-4226. You will need your card number and the account PIN you set up when you opened the card. If you do not remember your PIN, the system can send a temporary one to your phone number on file. The automated system will ask how much you want to pay and what account to debit — you can use a checking account, savings account, or debit card.
Payments made through the automated system post the same business day. If you call during business hours and speak to a representative instead, they can process the payment when ready, but some representatives may charge a fee for phone payments made with a debit card. Ask about fees before you give your payment information.
Paying by mail
Write a check or money order payable to Citibank. Do not make it payable to Sears. Include your Sears card number on the check itself (write it in the memo line). Mail it to the address on your most recent statement — this address changes depending on which Citi processing center handles your account, so always use the address printed on your bill, not a general Citi address.
Mail payments take seven to ten business days to arrive and post. If your due date is within ten days, mail is too slow — use online or phone payment instead. Keep a copy of the check or the confirmation number from your bank's online bill pay system in case you need to prove you sent the payment on time.
Paying at a Sears store
Some Sears locations still accept in-person credit card payments at the customer service desk. Call the store directly before you go, because not all locations offer this service and hours vary. You will need your card number and a form of ID. The store will give you a receipt showing the payment was made, but it takes one to three business days for the payment to post to your Citi account.
In-person payment is useful only if you are already at the store and want a same-day receipt. For speed and certainty, online payment is better. For proof of payment, keep the receipt the store gives you and also check your Citi account online within three days to confirm the payment posted.
What to do if you miss your due date
If your payment does not arrive by the due date, Citi will charge a late fee (usually $25 to $35 for the first late payment) and may report the late payment to credit bureaus. If you realize the payment will be late, call Citi when ready at 1-800-248-4226 and ask if they can waive the late fee as a one-time courtesy. Some representatives will do this if you have a clean payment history.
If the payment was mailed on time but arrived late due to mail delays, you can dispute the late fee by calling Citi and providing proof of the mailing date (a bank statement or cancelled check showing when you sent it). Keep records of all payments for at least one year in case you need to prove you paid on time.
Setting up automatic payments
Citi allows you to set up automatic payments that debit your bank account on a date you choose each month. Log into your Citi account online, go to "Manage Payments," and select "Autopay." You can choose to pay the full balance, the minimum payment, or a fixed amount each month. Automatic payments are free and remove the risk of forgetting a due date.
You can change or cancel automatic payments anytime through your online account. If you set up autopay for the full balance, your card will be paid in full each month, which also means you will not pay interest on purchases. If you set it for the minimum or a fixed amount, you will still owe interest on the remaining balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Sears card at a Sears store?
Some Sears locations accept in-person payments at customer service, but not all. Call ahead to confirm. Even if they do, the payment takes one to three business days to post to your Citi account, so online or phone payment is faster if your due date is soon.
What if I do not know my Citi PIN?
Call 1-800-248-4226 and the automated system can send a temporary PIN to your phone number on file. You can also reset your PIN through your online Citi account if you have already set one up. If you have never created an online account, you can do that using your card number and Social Security number.
Do I have to pay the full balance or can I pay just part of it?
You can pay any amount between the minimum payment and the full balance. If you pay less than the full balance, you will owe interest on the remaining amount. The minimum payment is shown on your statement, but paying more than the minimum reduces the interest you pay over time.
How long does it take for a payment to show up in my account?
Online and phone payments post within one business day. Mail payments take seven to ten business days. In-person payments at a store take one to three business days. Check your online account to confirm the payment posted before assuming it did not go through.
What happens if I pay after my due date?
Citi will charge a late fee (usually $25 to $35) and may report the late payment to credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score. Call Citi when ready if you know a payment will be late — some representatives will waive the fee as a one-time courtesy if you have a clean payment history.