Debit Card

ATM/Debit card fees & charges may vary across cards and banks. Here are some common fees and charges on debit cards:

• Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC)
• Card Replacement Fee
• Duplicate PIN or PIN Regeneration Charge
• Cash Withdrawal Charges
• International Transaction Charges
• Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal Fee

Lets get a detailed breakdown of common fees and charges associated with debit cards below:

Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC)

This is a yearly fee charged for the usage of debit cards. It usually ranges from as low as Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,000 (Nil in some cases) and varies, as per the bank’s policies and terms and conditions. However, in cases where debit cards are issued along salary accounts, annual maintenance charges are generally NIL. Read more on Annual Maintenance Charges on Debit Cards.

Card Replacement Fee

This fee is charged for replacing your ATM/Debit card with a new one. Few banks like HDFC charge no fee in case of physical damage but charge a fee of Rs. 200 for the lost card. Other banks like SBI charge somewhere between Rs. 100 – Rs. 300 for their various cards in case of both physical damage and card loss.

Duplicate PIN or PIN Regeneration Charges

In case you forget your debit/ATM card PIN, a duplicate PIN generation is free of cost.

Cash Withdrawal Charges

Private and public sector banks have different policies for levying charges based on the number of transactions. Transactions made on the same bank’s ATM are usually free, however, a certain limit per month is defined for free transactions from other banks’ ATMs. Above the free transaction limit, bank charges Rs. 23 per transaction.

International Transaction Charges

Charges for cross currency markup, debit card balance check, and cash withdrawal using your debit card in foreign countries are levied for every transaction. These charges may be percentage based or a flat transaction fee, which is up to 3.5% of the transaction amount plus applicable taxes.

Point of Sale (POS) Terminal Fees

There are No charges for using debit cards at Point of Sale (POS) terminals in India. However, for fuel-based transactions, usually an extra surcharge at the rate of 1% is levied. However, several banks waive-off the 1% fuel surcharge when you use their debit cards at select fuel stations.

Q. What is a Debit Card?

A debit card is a payment card issued by your bank that helps you access your money directly from your savings or current bank account. You can use debit cards for cash withdrawals from ATMs, online payments and purchases, contactless transactions at POS terminals, automatic payments, international usage and much more.

Q. Can I get a debit card for free?

Yes, you can get a debit card for free as most of the banks offer basic or salary based debit cards with no annual or joining fee along with added benefits.

Q. What are the benefits of using a debit card?

Some benefits of using a debit card include instant access to funds from bank accounts, cash withdrawals at ATMs, ease for in-store and online purchases, quick contactless payments, domestic and international usage, secure transactions and much more.

Q. What are the types of debit cards offered by banks in India?

In India, debit cards are usually categorized by their payment network, such as Visa, Mastercard and RuPay. Debit cards are classified as per their features, which is contactless and virtual, as well as their specific customer base that include premium, student or government-sponsored. Mastercard and Visa debit cards are accepted globally, whereas RuPay debit cards are recognized in India only.

Q. What are the components of a debit card?

Debit card includes components, such as your name, 16-digit card number, an EMV chip, CVV code, issue and expiry dates, magnetic stripe, hologram, and the logos of the issuing bank and payment network. All these components collectively help to identify the cardholder, authenticate transactions, and provide protection against fraud in both online and offline transactions.

Q. How do I apply for a Debit/ATM card online?

You can apply for a debit card online, by visiting the issuer’s website or by using the mobile banking application. Note that, to apply for a new card, you need to open a savings, current or salary account with a bank, so that you get a card along. However, if you wish to upgrade your debit card with your existing bank account, you can contact your bank directly.

Q. How to activate my debit card?

You can activate your debit card online through bank’s online banking service or mobile banking app. Alternatively, you can use phone banking/mobile app or visit the nearest bank branch or ATM.

Q. What is CVV in my debit card?

CVV stands for Card Verification Value which is a 3-digit (4-digit sometimes) security number on your debit card. The CVV is printed on the back side of your debit card, and is required for online transactions. It is an extra level of security that helps prevent unauthorized or fraudulent use of your debit card details.

Q. Can i use my debit card to access airport lounges both domestically and internationally?

Yes, there are select debit cards that offer complimentary access to airport lounges, both domestically and internationally. These cards include HDFC Bank Infiniti Debit Card, ICICI Bank Sapphiro, IDFC FIRST Wealth, Bank of Baroda EaseMyTrip, Axis Bank Burgundy, etc. However, you need to meet the minimum spend threshold in the last quarter to avail complimentary lounge benefits.

Q. How to check airport lounge access on my debit card?

To check airport lounge access benefits on your debit card, you must check your card documentation, features on the bank’s website/app or contact the debit card customer service department.

Q. How do I check my debit card EMI eligibility?

To check EMI eligibility on your debit card, you can contact the bank’s customer service. Rest you can check banks offering Debit Card EMI facility by clicking here.

Q. What are the benefits I can avail on a debit card?

A debit card offers benefits such as high cash withdrawal and shopping limits, free ATM withdrawals up to certain limit, and easy access to funds in your bank account.

Apart from these, many debit cards also offer benefits across multiple categories such as cashback, reward points, airport lounge visits, milestone benefits, discounts on travel, shopping vouchers, fuel surcharge waiver, insurance coverage and much more.

Q. What should I do if my debit card is lost or stolen?

In case your debit card/ATM Card is lost or stolen, you must report the same to the bank/ issuer immediately. You can contact the bank via their mobile application, net banking, customer care number or visiting the nearest bank branch.

You must ensure that you get your card blocked immediately. Various banks also offer the SMS or Missed call service for blocking a debit card.

Q. How can I protect my debit card from fraud?

To protect your debit card from fraud you need to use secure ATMs, enable email and SMS transaction alerts, turnoff international usage. Most importantly never share your PIN or CVV with anyone, neither write it anywhere. Keep your ATM PIN private and confidential.

Q. What is a Virtual Debit Card?

Virtual debit card is a digital version of your debit card that is created specifically for e-commerce or retail transactions and app payments. However, the transaction limit on virtual or e-card is comparatively lesser that physical debit card.

Q. Which banks offer virtual debit cards?

Several banks offer virtual debit cards, to promote digital payments. Some of the top banks offering these cards include State Bank of India (SBI), Kotak Mahindra bank, HDFC bank, ICICI bank, Axis bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), Yes bank, etc.

Q. What is Debit Card Tokenization?

Debit card tokenisation is a security process that replaces your actual debit card number with a unique code termed as (token) while making online transactions. It may be called as a replacement of your debit card details saved with merchants with a unique code called, ‘token’.

As per the RBI guidelines, effective October 1, 2022, debit card information will not be saved on multiple portals.

Q. How do I get my debit card token?

You can get your debit card tokenization done at the time of making a payment to any preferred merchant’s app or websites (Amazon, Zomato, Myntra, etc). Here, you will be required to enter your debit/ATM card details, such as card number, name of cardholder, expiry date, and CVV. On entering your details, you can select the option “Save card as per RBI guidelines”.

To authenticate, you need to enter the OTP received on your registered number, after which the merchant won’t be able to save the card details, and your debit card token will be generated for making payments.

Q. Are Debit and ATM cards the same?

These two terms are related but not exactly the same. Debit card is linked to your bank account and ATM card is only used to withdraw cash from ATM machines or check account balance. Debit card is often used to make in-store purchases, while ATM card does not have the ability to make online or Point-of-Sale (POS) purchases.

All debit cards can be used at ATMs, but not all ATM cards can be used as debit cards.

Q. Which card should I choose, a debit or credit card?

Before using any card, you must analyze your needs and financial position. You can use a debit card, if you don’t have a credit card, but want to make a purchase that is within the availability of funds in your bank account.

However, in case you are in immediate need of funds, you can use your credit card, up to the specified credit limit. Using a credit card for your expenses, will get you more rewards and cashback, and will also help you improve or build your credit score, if you make your card payments in a timely manner.

Q. Why is my debit card not working?

Your ATM card may not be working due to reasons such as insufficient account balance, exceeded daily withdrawal limit, wrong ATM PIN, damaged or hot-listed card, or inoperative bank account.