989 Area Code: Where It’s Used & How to Get One

Area code 989 covers Saginaw and surrounding areas in Michigan. It was activated in 2001 as an overlay of area code 517. For the full picture, see all Michigan area codes.

Quick Facts: Area Code 989

State	Michigan
Primary city	Saginaw
Cities also served	Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Mount Pleasant, Alpena, Owosso, Frankenmuth, Gaylord
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST)
Year established	April 7, 2001
Original 1947 NPA?	No
Parent code	517
Overlay codes	None
Currently in use?	Yes, actively assigned
Ten-digit dialing required?	Yes

Cities Served by Area Code 989

Area code 989 serves Central and northeastern Michigan's Lower Peninsula, including the Saginaw Valley and the Thumb region, including the following cities and communities:

• Saginaw
• Bay City
• Midland
• Mount Pleasant
• Alpena
• Owosso
• Frankenmuth
• Gaylord

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 517, 810, 906, 231, 616.

How to Get a 989 Phone Number

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 989 area code, each suited to a different need:

1. Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 989 number directly, often with a one-time fee and ownership transferred to you (no recurring carrier fees). This is the option for picking a specific memorable number, or for getting an area code that most carriers won’t let you request. Browse our 989 inventory.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 989 number on request, especially for active overlay codes. You won’t usually get to pick the specific number, but you’ll get a working line in the area code. This is the cheapest option for anyone who doesn’t need a particular number.
3. Port an existing 989 number. If you already have a 989 phone number with another carrier, you can transfer it (port it) to a new service provider while keeping the number. This works for landlines, cell phones, and VoIP services, though landlines outside of Michigan sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 989 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 989 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 989 numbers for Saginaw, Michigan — choose your number, port it to any carrier in 3–5 business days, and pay a one-time fee with no monthly charges. Browse available 989 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 989 area code still in use?
Yes. 989 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Central and northeastern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, including the Saginaw Valley and the Thumb region.

What is the parent area code of 989?
Area code 989 is an overlay of 517. Both codes serve the same region of Michigan.

Can I get a 989 number if I don't live in Michigan?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 989 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 989 a scam area code?
No. 989 is a legitimate, active area code for Central and northeastern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, including the Saginaw Valley and the Thumb region. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 989 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real Michigan businesses, government offices, and residents.

What cities are in the 989 area code?
Area code 989 covers 148 cities across 31 counties in central and northeastern Michigan. Major cities include Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Mount Pleasant, Alpena, Owosso, and Frankenmuth.

When did area code 989 go into service?
Area code 989 went into service on April 7, 2001, splitting from area code 517, which had served much of the eastern Lower Peninsula for over 54 years.

Does area code 989 have an overlay?
No. As of 2026, area code 989 has no overlay and is the sole area code serving its geographic region. Ten-digit dialing is still required, however, due to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline designation that took effect in October 2021.

What is notable about 989 as an area code number?
Area code 989 is the highest-numbered area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Because NANP rules prohibit a 9 in the middle position of an area code for future expansion purposes, 989 represents the maximum possible value.

Related Reading

• What States Have the Most Area Codes?
• Most Desirable Area Codes
• How Do Area Codes Work?
• How Are Area Codes Assigned?

See where it sits in the full US area code directory.