What is CVV in a debit card?

CVV stands for Card Verification Value which is a unique number for every user. It is printed on the back side and is required for online transactions.

How to check airport lounge access on a debit card?

To check airport lounge access benefits on your debit card, you must check the features on the bank’s website or contact the debit card customer care.

How to activate a debit card?

You can activate your debit card online through netbanking or the mobile banking app. Alternatively, you can use phone banking or visit the nearest branch or ATM.

How to apply for a debit card online?

A debit card is generally issued with your savings or current account. However, to upgrade to another card, you can apply via the bank’s website or visit the nearest branch.

What are the benefits offered on a debit card?

A debit card offers benefits such as high withdrawal limits, daily shopping limits, free ATM withdrawals, and access to cashback, lifestyle, travel, and insurance offers.

What to do if a debit card is lost or stolen?

Report the loss immediately to your bank via mobile app, NetBanking, customer care, SMS or missed call services to block the card.

What is the difference between a debit card and a credit card?

A debit card uses your own bank funds, while a credit card allows you to borrow funds up to a limit and pay later.

Is it better to use a debit or credit card?

Use a debit card for spending within your balance. Use a credit card for building credit, earning rewards, or when you need short-term credit.

Why is my ATM card not working?

It may be due to insufficient funds, exceeded limits, wrong PIN, damaged or blocked card, or an inactive account.

Best Debit Cards in India: Features, Benefits, Fees-Updated List August 2025

Q: What is a virtual debit card?

Virtual debit cards are electronic cards created mainly for online transactions. They have limited usage compared to physical cards.

Q: Which banks offer virtual debit cards?

Banks like SBI, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Union Bank of India offer virtual debit cards to support digital payments.

Q: What is Debit card Tokenization?

Debit card tokenization replaces card details with a unique token. As per RBI guidelines, merchants cannot store actual card details after Oct 1, 2022.

Debit card is a type of payment card that is directly linked to your bank account. It allows you to access funds in bank accounts (savings or current) to withdraw cash from ATMs, make online and offline purchases and perform contactless payments via Point of Sale (POS) terminals. While you use your debit card, the amount is immediately deducted from your bank account, meaning you are using your own money instead of borrowing it, as you shall do in case of using credit cards. Further, let's explore the top debit cards in India for August 2025, along with its daily withdrawal and shopping limits, benefits, eligibility, documents required, fees and charges, etc.

Updated: 25-08-2025 05:34:32 AM

Best Debit Cards in India for August 2025

Below listed are the top debit cards in India from leading banks for you to explore and find one that suits your requirements:

ATM/Debit Cards	Daily ATM Limit	Daily Shopping Limit	Best Feature
HDFC Easyshop Platinum Debit Card	Rs. 1 Lakh	Rs. 5 Lakh	1 cashback point on every Rs. 200
ICICI Coral Debit Card	Rs. 1 Lakh	Rs. 5 Lakh	2 reward points on every Rs. 200
HDFC Millennia Debit Card	Rs. 50,000	Rs. 3.5 Lakh	2.5% cashback points on all online spends
SBI IOCL Debit Card	Up to Rs. 40,000	Up to Rs. 2 Lakh	Up to 6 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent on IOCL outlets
Axis Bank Platinum RuPay Debit Card	Rs. 40,000	Up to Rs. 2 Lakh	Airport lounge access, Dining discounts via Dining Delights Program
SBI Platinum International Debit Card	Up to Rs. 1 Lakh	Up to Rs. 2 Lakh	2 reward points per Rs. 200
Kotak 811 Debit Card	Rs. 25,000	Up to Rs. 1 Lakh	Discount and cashback offers on popular brands
SBI Global International Debit Card	Up to Rs. 40,000	Up to Rs. 75,000	2 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent

Note: The above-mentioned debit card details are updated as of August 2025 and are represented as per their maximum shopping limit.

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Features & Benefits of Debit/ATM Card

Below listed are some of the key features and benefits of a Debit/ATM card that you can use both domestically and internationally, depending upon the card variant:

Secure and Convenient Alternative to Cash: Debit/ATM card is a safe and secure option and is a preferred alternative for cash, as it reduces the risk of fraud, theft, and misuse
Instant Cash Withdrawals via ATMs: With numerous ATM machines available all around, ATM/Debit cards offer both the ease of instant cash anytime and anywhere
Seamless Purchases at (POS) Terminals: Debit cards offers provision of merchant transactions at Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals at numerous machines available
Earn Rewards & Cashback with Online / Offline Spends: Using debit cards for online or offline purchases is also a rewarding experience because of its features like cashback offers, bonus and reward points, free insurance coverage along with a range of redeeming options for the points accumulated
Encourages Responsible Spending: Using debit cards ensures that you spend responsibly and builds financial discipline because the permissible limit of spending depends upon the money in your account
Travel-Friendly and Easy to Use: Debit/ATM cards are easy to carry, can be handled easily, and can be conveniently utilized while traveling in comparison to cash or cheque books
Track Your Spending via email & SMS Alerts: Debit cards also help in keeping a track of your spendings. Regular email and SMS alerts with the details of transactions made through debit card helps in maintaining a record of your expenditures.

Eligibility Criteria for Debit Card

To be eligible for a debit card, an applicant needs to be an Indian citizen, at least 15 years old, and have a savings or current account with a bank. Individuals need to have a valid government-issued ID and address proof, as well as should meet the bank’s minimum balance requirements.

Citizenship: Applicant should be Indian citizen
Age: Minimum 15 years or above (Preferred by most of the banks)
Existing Account Holder: Applicant needs to have an existing savings or current account with the respective bank
ID Proofs: Applicants needs to provide valid Identity and Address proofs, such as Passport, Voter ID, Driving License
Bank Requirements: KYC compliance to be completed by the applicant
Minimum Balance: Issuing bank shall require minimum balance to be maintained in the specific account

Documents required for Debit Card

The documents required to open a bank account are more than sufficient to avail a debit card. No additional documents are required by the bank for the debit card issuance, besides KYC of the applicant. Find below the standard list of documents required for debit card:

PAN Card (Form 16 required if PAN not available)
Identity/Address proofs: Passport, Driving License, Voter ID card
Passport-sized Photographs

Top 10 Debit Cards with Complimentary Airport Lounge Visits in an Year

HDFC Bank Infiniti Debit Card – 16
ICICI Bank Sapphiro Debit Card – 16
IDFC FIRST Wealth Debit Card* – 12
Axis Bank Burgundy Debit Card – 12
Axis Bank Wealth Debit Card – 12
Bank of Baroda EaseMyTrip Debit Card** – 8
HDFC Bank EasyShop Platinum – 8
ICICI Coral Paywave Debit Card – 8
IDFC First Bank Visa Signature Debit Card – 8
ICICI Bank Platinum Debit Card – 8

Note: The number of complimentary lounge accesses mentioned above applies only to domestic airports and is stated on a calendar year basis. Services shall be availed on minimum spend threshold.

*Offers 8 complimentary international airport lounge access per year.

**Offers 2 complimentary International airport lounge access per year.

How Does a Debit Card Works?

A debit or ATM card works along with your savings or current account. Thus, with every swipe or withdrawal using your debit card, the money is directly deducted from your bank account. Here is how to use a debit/ATM card.

At ATMs: Swipe/Insert your card into the ATM machine> Choose language> Type of your account- Savings/Current >Choose between ‘Cash withdrawal’, ‘Statement’ or ‘Balance Enquiry’ >Enter your 4-digit PIN > Enter the amount > Click on Proceed> Collect Cash
At POS Terminals (Point of Sale): Tap (for contactless transactions), swipe or insert your card into the card reader machine >POS operator will enter the transaction amount > Enter four-digit PIN > Click on Enter
Online: At an authentic online portal, enter your debit card number, date of expiry, name of cardholder, and CVV number> Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number

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Fee & Charges

Top Debit Card Issuers in India

Pros and Cons of Debit Card

Do’s & Don'ts

Comparison between Debit Card and Credit Card

Best Credit Cards in India for August 2025

Quick Links to Manage Your Debit/ATM Card

FAQs on Debit Card

Fee & Charges

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 Charges
Cash Withdrawal Charges
International Transaction Charges
Point of Sale (POS) Terminal Fees

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 Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,000 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 1%-3.5% of the transaction amount.

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.

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Top Debit Card Issuers in India

SBI Debit Card	HDFC Debit Card	Axis Bank Debit Card
Canara Bank Debit Card	ICICI Debit Card	PNB Debit Card
Bank of Baroda Debit Card	Kotak Debit Card	IndusInd Bank Debit Card

Pros and Cons of Debit Card

Pros	Cons
Safer to carry in comparison to cash or chequebook	Fewer rewards /cashback /lounge access /insurance benefits in comparison to credit cards
Saves you from debt-trap or recurring payments	Does not give additional purchasing power over and above the funds in your account
Easy to avail	Limited milestone/welcome/renewal benefits
Limited fee & charges	Does not help in building credit score

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Do’s & Don'ts

Do’s:

Immediately report the loss of your card to the issuer, in case you lose your debit card, to prevent fraud or misuse
Keep a track of your emails/SMS, so that any fraudulent transaction is discovered easily
Authenticate each transaction by entering PIN/OTP or giving signatures and completing the entire transaction
Set up SMS alerts from your bank, listing details of each of the transactions made on any of the purchases. This will help you track your debit card spends
Check your account statements at regular intervals for tracking how much and where you have been spending each month.

Don’ts:

Don’t disclose your ATM/debit card PIN over social media, phone, or email. It is advisable to memorize your PIN, instead of writing it down at random places
Don’t use unsafe online platforms, for online shopping or other transactions. Always do it through a portal that has secure online payment symbols, and on a website that has the authentic 2-step verification process. This is necessary to prevent the leak of debit card credentials to unreliable sources
Don’t cause any physical damage to your debit card. The magnetic stripe or the chip in your debit card can be destroyed by being exposed to sharp objects or magnetic materials.

Comparison between Debit Card and Credit Card

Debit Card	Credit Card
When you use your debit card, funds are deducted from your savings/current account	When you use your credit card, you borrow funds from your bank or card issuer
You can spend only up to the balance available in your linked bank account	You can use your card, as per your credit limit
Debit cards are usually offered along your salary/current/savings account	You can apply for a credit card with any issuer even without holding a bank account with the issuer
Offers limited rewards and cashback benefits	Extensive rewards and cashback benefits
EMI facility is limited, as per the vendor-bank agreement	Credit Cards offer EMI facility on transactions above Rs. 1,500, in general
Does not impact credit score	Impacts credit score directly, thus can help in improving credit score
ATM/Debit card offer higher cash withdrawal limits	Credit cards offer additional benefits, such as airport lounge access, insurance coverage, lost card liability, etc

You should opt for a debit card, if you need a card to access funds in your account, without anticipation of additional benefits, such as rewards, cashback, lounge access, etc. However, if you want to earn rewards and cashback across all your transactions, and need immediate funds, then applying for a credit card is a better choice.

Quick Links to Manage Your Debit/ATM Card

How to Generate ATM PIN?	How to Use ATM/Debit Card?
How to Block/Unblock an ATM/Debit Card?	EMI on Debit Cards
Check Debit Card Customer Care Number	Online Money Transfer from Debit Card

FAQs on Debit Card

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 online transactions, in-store purchases, cash withdrawals and banking, contactless and automatic payment, international usage and much more.

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 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.

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. Check out more details 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, 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, NetBanking, or via customer care number.

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. 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 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.

Debit Card