How to Keep your ATM/Debit Card Safe?

Do you remember a time when people used to lock up their gold, coins, and other treasured assets in lockers, safes that were created below homes, and so much more? Keeping things safe was such a big deal back then. Thankfully, it isn’t that way anymore.

Oh, wait! Is that really the case today too? When you think about it – keeping things safe even today is very often crucial. Though we pretty much do not carry around money or precious jewels all the time, it is most important to keep things safer than ever before. This is because it’s become easier than ever today to lose everything we have without even knowing it. 

How often do cyber crimes happen today? Much more than we know of, right? How often do you see messages from cyber security? Therefore, you know how hard it is to keep things safe in the modern world.

This post is going to speak about the different ways to keep your tiny ATM card safe from the big bad world. 

Is it Necessary to Keep Your ATM Card Safe?

The best thing about ATM cards is that they are secured with a four-digit PIN number. This PIN number keeps everything safe; what is meant here is your money.

Unlike the previous days, your ATM card does not have a PIN that the bank itself generates. Instead, you would be the one generating it by yourself.

Moreover, we live in an OTP-enabled world where literally everything is connected to your phone. 

But, though there is double authentication and more, it is still quite tricky to leave things open on the table. In the case of ATM Cards, it is the same case too.

But, before we get to the safeguarding part of your ATM card, it would help to know the other factors that are associated with the ATM card.

How Does the ATM Card Work, and How to Use It?

Initially, ATM cards were issued by the bank with the ATM PIN number (either 4 or 6 digits) already set.

Later, it changed to setting your own PIN number after the issue of the debit card from the bank. Let’s look at how this works.

How to Set an ATM PIN Number?

Should be an easy process to set up your PIN

• From your bank account pouch, take out the new debit card.
• Find the closest ATM vestibule, and visit it.
• Once you are there, you can insert the card and click on the green PIN.
• This will lead you to enter your registered mobile number with the bank.
• Once you have entered your registered phone number, you get an OTP sent to your phone number, which you would have to enter on the ATM machine.
• After entering all of these details, you will have to set the PIN you wish to use each time you use the ATM to draw money, check your balance, and much more. 
• Once the PIN has been set and the green button is pressed – you will see the message, “PIN successfully set.”

The Evolution of the Debit Card

Debit cards today are much more advanced than they were a few years ago, as already mentioned.

ATM cards a few years ago could only be used with the help of the secret PIN of the holder. The encryption on the card would only work or otherwise will be noted as fraud.

Moreover, when the wrong password is entered more than three times – the card will be automatically blocked to stop fraudulent activity if it is happening. Also, cardless transactions were neither possible.

Today, the world takes a different turn, and the ATM card has way more features than it did before. The brand new features of the ATM Card are as follows:

The modern-day debit card can work on Wifi alone – This means that the ATM card can make transactions through internet connection enablement, and you would not have to enter a PIN to use it at a store or anywhere you please like.

There are block numbers at the back of the card – There are blocks at the back of the card with alphabets and numbers in order for online verification during certain uses that only the cardholder would know when making online transactions through the card.

The card can be managed online – The debit card can be easily managed online, and it is either through the mobile banking application or the official portal for internet banking.

The ATM card today is OTP enabled – Every card today is registered with the account holder’s phone number, so when there is a loss or theft, and the card is being used – the account holder will have to verify it with the OTP received on the phone.

1. Disable Wifi In Some Cases

Firstly, if you feel like you are someone who easily loses stuff – do not enable the Wifi option on your card. Wondering how to do this? Don’t worry – we’ll tell you how. 

• You will have to open your mobile banking application and click on the debit card option.
• Choose your debit card.
• Further, you will have to choose the settings of the debit card and click on Wifi.
• Now, the last step is to click on disable Wifi with a click.

2. Always Register your Mobile Number

In any case or given time period – even if you had just got your phone number or lost your phone, as soon as you get the number, make sure that you link it to your bank account in the bank. This will notify you whenever there is fraudulent activity happening. 

3. Do not write or Save your PIN Anywhere.

This is one of the most crucial elements of having cards. You cannot just save them and leave them in places because there is a very high chance that they will get issued.

Final Thoughts

When something is associated with your finances, you would have to know that it would directly or indirectly thrice as much protection as any other factor out there.