diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/AccountCenterPage.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/AccountCenterPage.jsx
index b206356..2fdf27a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/AccountCenterPage.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/AccountCenterPage.jsx
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ import { useAuth } from "../context/AuthContext";
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
 import { Link, useSearchParams } from "react-router-dom";
 import { getProfile, deleteAccount } from "../services/userService";
-
-const API_BASE = import.meta.env.VITE_API_BASE_URL;
+import api from "../services/api";
 
 // ── Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -21,9 +20,6 @@ const RANK_COLORS = {
   unrated: "text-gray-400",
 };
 
-const rankColor = (rank = "") =>
-  RANK_COLORS[(rank || "").toLowerCase()] || "text-black";
-
 // ── Sub-components ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 function SectionLabel({ text }) {
@@ -103,11 +99,31 @@ function GitHubCard({ user }) {
   const ghUsername   = ghIdentity?.username || user?.handles?.github;
   const ghAvatar     = user?.profile?.avatar;
   const [msg, setMsg] = useState("");
+  const [connecting, setConnecting] = useState(false);
+
+  const handleConnect = async () => {
+    setConnecting(true);
+    setMsg("");
 
-  const handleConnect = () => {
-    // Encode current path so backend redirects back here after connect
-    const redirectPath = encodeURIComponent("/account-center");
-    window.location.href = `${API_BASE}/auth/github/connect?redirectPath=${redirectPath}`;
+    try {
+      const response = await api.post("/auth/github/connect/start", null, {
+        params: { redirectPath: "/account-center" },
+      });
+      const authUrl = response.data?.data?.authUrl;
+
+      if (!authUrl) {
+        throw new Error("GitHub authorization URL was not returned.");
+      }
+
+      window.location.href = authUrl;
+    } catch (error) {
+      const message =
+        error?.response?.data?.message ||
+        error?.message ||
+        "Unable to start GitHub connection.";
+      setMsg(message);
+      setConnecting(false);
+    }
   };
 
   const handleDisconnect = () => {
@@ -196,12 +212,13 @@ function GitHubCard({ user }) {
 
           <button
             onClick={handleConnect}
+            disabled={connecting}
             className="w-full sm:w-auto px-8 py-5 border-[4px] border-black bg-black text-white text-sm font-black uppercase tracking-widest hover:bg-white hover:text-black transition-colors flex items-center gap-3"
           >
             <svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor" aria-hidden="true">
               <path d="M12 0C5.37 0 0 5.37 0 12c0 5.3 3.44 9.8 8.21 11.39.6.11.82-.26.82-.58v-2.03c-3.34.73-4.04-1.61-4.04-1.61-.55-1.39-1.34-1.76-1.34-1.76-1.09-.75.08-.73.08-.73 1.21.08 1.84 1.24 1.84 1.24 1.07 1.84 2.81 1.31 3.5 1 .11-.78.42-1.31.76-1.61-2.66-.3-5.47-1.33-5.47-5.93 0-1.31.47-2.38 1.24-3.22-.12-.3-.54-1.52.12-3.18 0 0 1.01-.32 3.3 1.23a11.5 11.5 0 0 1 3-.4c1.02 0 2.04.14 3 .4 2.29-1.55 3.3-1.23 3.3-1.23.66 1.66.24 2.88.12 3.18.77.84 1.24 1.91 1.24 3.22 0 4.61-2.81 5.63-5.48 5.92.43.37.82 1.1.82 2.22v3.29c0 .32.21.7.83.58C20.56 21.8 24 17.3 24 12c0-6.63-5.37-12-12-12z"/>
             </svg>
-            Connect GitHub Account
+            {connecting ? "Opening GitHub..." : "Connect GitHub Account"}
           </button>
         </>
       )}
@@ -273,7 +290,7 @@ function DangerZone({ onLogout }) {
     try {
       await deleteAccount();
       onLogout(); // Logs the user out and redirects to login
-    } catch (err) {
+    } catch {
       alert("Failed to delete account. Please try again later.");
       setLoading(false);
       setConfirm(false);
@@ -337,15 +354,19 @@ export default function AccountCenterPage() {
     const username = searchParams.get("githubUsername");
 
     if (status === "connected") {
-      setBanner(`GitHub account @${username || "connected"} linked successfully!`);
+      const bannerTimer = window.setTimeout(() => {
+        setBanner(`GitHub account @${username || "connected"} linked successfully!`);
+      }, 0);
       // Refresh user profile so the card shows the new GitHub identity
       getProfile()
         .then((res) => setUser(res.data))
         .catch(() => {});
       // Clean URL
       window.history.replaceState({}, "", "/account-center");
+
+      return () => window.clearTimeout(bannerTimer);
     }
-  }, [searchParams]);
+  }, [searchParams, setUser]);
 
   return (
     <div className="w-full flex-1 bg-white px-4 sm:px-6 md:px-8 py-12 sm:py-16">
diff --git a/server/modules/auth/controller.js b/server/modules/auth/controller.js
index 9143673..eda4f6a 100644
--- a/server/modules/auth/controller.js
+++ b/server/modules/auth/controller.js
@@ -92,6 +92,23 @@ class AuthController {
     }
   }
 
+  static async createGithubConnectUrl(req, res, next) {
+    try {
+      const { redirectPath } = req.validatedQuery || req.query;
+      const authUrl = AuthService.getGithubAuthorizationUrl({
+        mode: "connect",
+        userId: req.user?._id,
+        redirectPath
+      });
+
+      return res.status(200).json(
+        ApiResponse.success("GitHub connect URL generated", { authUrl })
+      );
+    } catch (error) {
+      next(error instanceof ApiError ? error : new ApiError(500, error.message));
+    }
+  }
+
   static async githubCallback(req, res, next) {
     try {
       const { code, state } = req.validatedQuery || req.query;
diff --git a/server/modules/auth/routes.js b/server/modules/auth/routes.js
index 2920816..98625f0 100644
--- a/server/modules/auth/routes.js
+++ b/server/modules/auth/routes.js
@@ -41,6 +41,13 @@ router.get(
   validateQuery(githubStartSchema),
   AuthController.startGithubConnect
 );
+router.post(
+  "/github/connect/start",
+  githubConnectRateLimit,
+  authMiddleware,
+  validateQuery(githubStartSchema),
+  AuthController.createGithubConnectUrl
+);
 router.get("/github/callback", validateQuery(githubCallbackSchema), AuthController.githubCallback);
 
 export default router;