How to Close/Cancel SBI Credit Card – Deactivate in Few Steps

If you are an SBI Credit Card user, you may want to close or block your credit card in certain circumstances. However, one must understand that blocking and closing a credit card are two separate things, done for different purposes. Blocking a credit card, means temporarily restricting your card usage, to save it from fraudulent or unauthorized transactions. You should consider blocking your SBI credit card immediately in case of loss or theft. Unlike credit card closure, blocking a card has no impact on your credit score, since your credit card is temporarily blocked, without any impact on the card account. On the other hand, closing a credit card means permanently closing or canceling a credit card account with the issuer. You may want to close your SBI Credit Card, if you are an existing user not satisfied with the card features. Additionally, you may also consider credit card closure if you rarely use your credit card, and it attracts a high annual fee. However, you must keep in mind that closing a card may also impact your credit score temporarily. On this page, we have covered important details about credit card blockage and closure, steps to close and block a SBI credit card, and important things to keep in mind.

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How to Block SBI Credit Card

Different methods to block SBI Cards are given below.

Block SBI Credit Card via Customer Care: You can call on any one of the below given numbers to block your credit card.

Toll Free Number: 1800 180 1290 | 1860 500 1290 | 1860 180 1290

(STD Code) 39 02 02 02

Block SBI Credit Card via Net Banking: To block your SBI Card via Netbanking, follow the below given steps:

Visit SBI Card website
Log in to your Netbanking account
Go to the “Services” Tab
Click on Block Lost/Stolen Card

Block SBI Credit Card via SMS: To block your SBI Card via an SMS, you should send it in the format given below.

BLOCK XXXX to 5676791

Here, XXXX are the last 4 digits of your SBI Card. Also, ensure sending the message from your registered mobile number.

How to Unblock SBI Credit Card

If you want to unblock SBI Credit Card or to reactivate a temporarily blocked card, you can do so by calling SBI Credit Card Customer Care Number at 1860-180-1290 or (STD Code) 39020202

Note: SBI Card will never allow you to unblock a lost or stolen credit card. However, you can unblock a card that was blocked due to other reasons such as suspicious amounts charged on the card, non-payment of several consecutive bills or going over the allowed credit limit.

Also, if your SBI Credit Card has been blocked due to usage over the assigned limit, you can unblock it by paying off your balance to bring it below the assigned credit limit. If there is another reason for a blocked SBI Card, you must contact customer support.

How to Safeguard yourself against Fraudulent Transactions

You must bear in mind the following points when it comes to handling credit cards:

Save credit card customer care numbers on your mobile
Don’t share credit card PIN with anyone
Don’t save credit card information online
Conduct online transactions on secure websites only, that use https
Check the customer copy of the receipt to ensure you are charged the correct amount
Don’t carry all credit cards with you
Use licensed antivirus & anti-phishing software on your personal computer & mobile
Don’t set the same PIN for different credit cards
Don’t use public computers to conduct online transactions

How to Close SBI Credit Card

To close your SBI Credit Card, you can either contact SBI Card’s customer support to request the same or write a letter.

Via SBI Card Customer Care: To cancel an SBI credit card, you can call on the following helpline numbers: 1860 500 1290, 1860 180 1290 or 1800 180 1290. An alternate SBI credit card cancellation customer care number is (STD Code) 39020202.

Certain details will be asked by the representative. Share the details to authenticate your identity and complete your SBI credit card cancellation request.

Via a Written Request: You can also cancel the credit card by sending a letter to the below-given address. Mention cardholder’s name, Date of Birth, and card number in the letter. Never write your card’s CVV or PIN in the letter. The address is:

SBI Card,
PO-Bag 28, GPO,
New Delhi- 110001

Important things to keep in mind while Closing your SBI Credit Card

You must clear all the dues before initiating credit card closure. If any amount is pending, SBI Card will ask you to pay the same before closing the card account.

Check the latest credit card statement before canceling the credit card to make sure there aren’t any fraudulent transactions on the card.

It is important to not use the credit card before initiating the credit card closure because card providers tend not to approve the cancellation if fresh purchases have been made.

You should also check the earned reward points and redeem the same before closing the card.

RBI’s New Rules on Credit Card Closure

Card issuers should provide multiple channels to send a closure request including internet banking, mobile banking, helpline, IVR, dedicated email address and mobile app.
Credit card closure requests should be honored within 7 working days, provided all dues are paid by the cardholder.
Failure to do so will result in a penalty of Rs. 500 per day of delay until the card account is closed.
If a card has not been used for more than a year, the card issuer will initiate the cancellation process and notify the consumer. If the cardholder does not respond within 30 days, the card account will be closed.
If there is any credit amount remaining in the cardholder’s account, it should be transferred to his/her bank account.
Intimation about card closure must be shared by the issuers to the credit bureaus within 30 days of such closure.

Consequences of Closing a Credit Card

Closing a credit card can bring you the following consequences:

Lowered Credit Limit: A closed credit card will lower your overall credit limit, as the availability of easy credit reduces from one of your cards. This may prompt you to use a higher amount of the available credit from your other credit cards and may impact your credit utilization ratio.

Shortened Credit History: If you cancel one of your credit cards, it will shorten the length of your credit history. This may not impact your credit score directly but you won’t be building your score.

Suggested Read: How Credit Cards Affect Your Credit Score