HDFC Debit Card- Features & Benefits, Types, How to Apply & Charges

The eligibility criteria to avail a debit card from HDFC Bank are as follows:

• Both Residents and NREs can apply
• You must hold either a Savings account, Current account, SuperSaver account, Salary account, or Loan against Shares account with HDFC Bank.

Note that the above-mentioned eligibility criteria are indicative. The type of debit card issued against your bank account depends on various parameters such as minimum account balance, and account type or based upon your relationship with HDFC Bank.

The features and benefits of HDFC Bank debit cards vary from one card variant to another. However, some general features of HDFC cards are listed below:

• Since debit cards are linked to your bank account, you spend within your means, thereby you do not end up falling into a debt trap.
• Similar to HDFC Credit cards, HDFC Bank offers the benefits of cashback and reward points across debit cards as well. Thereby, you save while you spend as the bank offers exclusive rewards across partnered brands.
• The bank enables you to control and manage your spending habits. Using HDFC NetBanking you can customize the withdrawal and shopping limits for POS and online transactions. Thus, you do not need to visit the bank to manage your debit cards.
• You can also avail HDFC Debit Card EMI for purchasing consumer durables, or for making high value purchases. The Bank also offer low-interest EMI and no-cost EMIs across top shopping portals. Read more about HDFC EMI on Debit Card- Check Eligibility, Features & Charges.
• Lastly, HDFC Bank Debit Cards come along complimentary lounge access, insurance benefits, entertainment benefits, and dining discounts. However, note that the range of these benefits may differ from one card to another.

To apply for an HDFC Bank Debit card, you need to hold a savings or current account with the bank.

Generally, the bank provides a debit card when you open a savings account, you do not have to apply for a debit card separately. However, in case you haven’t received your debit card when you opened your bank account or you wish to upgrade your card, you can apply for HDC Bank debit card online and offline.

Apply for HDFC Bank Debit Card Online:

You can apply for HDFC Debit Card online by following these five steps:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the bank and click on the ‘Debit Cards’ section under personal/retail banking.

Step 2: Choose a debit card you want to apply for and click on ‘Sign Up/ Apply Now’.

Step 3: You will be asked to fill out an application form by entering required details, such as mobile number, PAN, date of birth and more.

Step 4: Submit the form and upload the required documents.

Step 5: After submitting all the details and documents, you need to wait for 2-3 days for the verification. You will receive your debit card after a successful verification, and, along with the card, you will also receive your debit card PIN. You will be required to enter this PIN every time you make a transaction.

Apply for HDFC Bank Debit Card Offline:

To apply for HDFC Debit Card offline, you need to visit the nearest branch of the bank and fill out the application form. However, ensure that you submit relevant documents along with the application form. On submission, the bank will examine the application and approve your request. You will receive your debit card within 2-3 working days after the approval of your application.

Some of the common HDFC Debit card charges are mentioned in the table below:

Click here to check other associated fees and charges.

When it comes to cash withdrawals using debit cards, banks usually set certain limits with respect to the number of withdrawals from the same bank ATMs and from other bank ATMs.

With HDFC Bank Debit Cards, you are entitled to 5 free cash withdrawals from HDFC ATMs and 3 free cash withdrawals from other bank ATMs.

Withdrawals made after crossing the above limitations will be chargeable. The charges and limitations vary for different account holders. The table below shows the details regarding charges incurred by the bank on your ATM transactions:

You are required to activate your HDFC Debit Card, if you are a new or an existing customer. If you are an existing customer, you might want to activate/modify the card settings for offline, online, contactless or international transactions. On the other hand, if you are a new customer, you will be required to generate your debit card PIN to start using your card. PIN generation will also be required if you want to reset or if you have forgotten your HDFC Debit Card PIN.

HDFC Debit Card Activation for Online, Contactless & International Transactions | HDFC Debit Card PIN Generation

There are three ways to do it- HDFC Bank ATM, Netbanking or Phone Banking.

Via HDFC Bank ATM: You can activate your debit card offline by using the ATM PIN you have received along with your welcome kit. You need to visit the nearest ATM and enter the ATM PIN. After entering the PIN, you will be asked to change your PIN, enter the new PIN to activate your debit card.

Via NetBanking: To activate your debit card through net banking, you can log in to the net banking portal and activate your debit card by generating the ATM PIN.

Via Phone Banking: You might receive a phone banking PIN along with your debit card welcome kit. Using that PIN, you can activate your debit card through phone banking. All you need to do is call on the HDFC Debit Card customer care number and use the PIN or security questions to verify yourself. After the verification, you can follow the instructions given by IVR to activate your HDFC Bank Debit Card.

HDFC debit card is connected to your salary account, savings account or current account with HDFC Bank. Whenever you make a purchase, the money will be deducted from your linked account. You can use debit cards for online as well as offline purchases.

Using HDFC Bank Debit Card Offline:

When you make a transaction by swiping your HDFC debit card at a card machine, you will be asked to enter your debit card PIN. All you need to do is enter the unique PIN to complete the transaction, and after a successful transaction, you will receive a notification from the bank.

Using HDFC Bank Debit Card Online:

When you use your HDFC debit card online, you will be asked to enter the 16-digit debit card number, expiry date and three-digit CVV to complete the transaction. After entering all the details, an OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number, you have to enter the OTP at the merchant’s site to complete the transaction. Also, just like an offline transaction, you will receive a confirmation message from the bank regarding the transaction.

Which Debit Card is best in HDFC Bank?
HDFC Bank offers a wide range of debit cards with varying benefits across multiple categories. The best credit card amongst these, however, will be based on your subjective choice and spending patterns.  To choose the right card amongst different types of debit cards offered by HDFC bank, you must first analyze your needs and requirements.

For instance, if you are looking for a  credit card with a high daily shopping limit, you can consider getting HDFC Bank Millennia Debit Card, or HDFC Times Point Debit Card. Similarly, if you largely spend on selected brands like Smart Bazaar, BPCL Pumps, Snapdeal, Apollo Pharmacy etc, you can consider getting HDFC Rewards Debit Card.  You can also request for an invite-only access to HDFC Infiniti Debit Card, if you are looking for a debit card with low forex markup fee.

Does HDFC provide a free debit card?
HDFC Debit Cards have varying fees and charges, thus the annual or renewal fee varies from one card to another. Therefore, not all HDFC Debit Cards are offered free. However, the bank provides free debit cards in some cases, such as to High Net Worth (HNW) customers of the bank who are enrolled in Classic, Preferred & Imperia banking  programmes. Additionally, salaried customers are also offered free debit cards, as per the bank’s discretion.

How to generate HDFC Debit Card PIN?
If you have forgotten the PIN, you can generate the debit card PIN for your HDFC debit-cum-ATM card by logging in to your NetBanking account. After logging in, select the option ‘Debit Card’ followed by ‘PIN Generation’. You can also visit the bank and fill out the application form or use Phone Banking with the TIN number to re-generate the PIN.

If you want to set the PIN for your new Debit Card you can use Mobile Banking or Net Banking. Look for the option ‘Cards’ and choose ‘Instant PIN Generation’. For these methods, you require OTP authentication with your registered mobile number. You can also set a new PIN at HDFC Bank ATMs.

Are there any charges for HDFC Debit Card PIN generation?
No, there are no charges if you set your PIN through ‘Instant PIN Generation’ via net banking. However, the bank charges a nominal fee of Rs. 50 for regenerating your PIN through ‘PIN Regeneration’ under net banking.

How to check HDFC debit card EMI?
You can check if your HDFC debit card is eligible for EMI, with your registered mobile number. For this send text ‘DCEMI’ to 7065970659 via Whatsapp or SMS ‘MYHDFC’ to 5676712. You can also use the EVA chatbot by typing ‘DCEMI’ or giving a missed call to 9643 22 22 22 to check your HDFC Bank Debit Card EMI eligibility.

How can I redeem cashback points through my HDFC Debit Card?
You can redeem your cashback points online through the net banking portal. You need to log in to your account and click on the ‘Cashback Enquiry and Redemption’ option available under the Debit Card section. After this, select the account number to redeem your cashback points.

How should I know that my HDFC Debit Card is eligible for EMI payments?
The eligibility for a debit card is decided by the bank and their parameters for eligibility are not published. So, if you are making an online purchase, then you can check on the merchant’s website whether it offers the HDFC Debit Card EMI option or not. Apart from this, you can also raise a request to the bank to check if your debit card is eligible for EMI payments.

How to block HDFC Debit cards?
You can block/deactivate your HDFC Bank Debit Card through NetBanking, Phone Banking, or by visiting the nearest HDFC Bank branch.

To block your debit card via NetBanking, log in with your User ID and password; go to the Debit cards tab and select the option ‘Debit Card Hotlisting’. To block via PhoneBanking you need to first validate your Telephone Identification Number (TIN)- provided by the bank for accessing the PhoneBanking service. In addition to that, you can also visit the nearest HDFC Bank branch and submit a form to block or cancel your debit card.

How to Replace HDFC Debit Card?
You can replace your HDFC Debit Card in case of wear and tear or any other damage to your debit card. To get your card replaced you can log in to your NetBanking account, or Mobile Banking app. Apart from the online methods, you can also contact the bank’s debit card customer care at 1800 202 6161 / 1860 267 6161 or visit the nearest HDFC branch.

I do not have an account with HDFC Bank. Can I apply for an HDFC Debit Card?
To apply for any of the HDFC Bank debit cards, you must have a savings account/ current account/ supersaver account/ loan against shares account (LAS)/ salary account or an individual account holder with HDFC Bank.

Can I earn cashback or rewards through HDFC Debit Card?
Yes, you can earn cashback as well as reward points via HDFC Debit Card. However, it depends on the benefits offered by the debit card. Some of the debit cards are designed for reward points, such as HDFC Platinum Debit Card and Rewards Debit Card. However, there are other cards that offer cashback on your purchases, including Millennia Debit Card and MoneyBack Debit Card. You can choose a debit card based on your requirements.