You no longer have to go into a branch to get a new PIN if you have deactivated your Cheque or Debit Card. Reactivate your Cheque or Debit Card by selecting the Reactivation Now option available via the My Cards sub tab when logged in onto Online Banking.
So naturally, we spend a lot of time talking about the benefits of debit cards. But if you’ve been swiping the same card for awhile, you might be wondering, what happens when your debit card expires?
Typically, your bank or credit union will mail you a new debit card in the weeks or months leading up to your current card’s expiration date. However, if your card has already expired, you will need to call or visit your bank and ask them to issue you a new one.
So, it’s usually not too big of a deal.
That said, if you don’t handle this promptly, your expired debit card can cause quite a few problems in your financial life. That is why we put together this guide to dealing with an expired debit card.
How To Get A Debit Card
If you’ve never owned, or used a debit card, I can understand why the process might be a little intimidating. Between managing a checking account, utilizing a new method of payment, and just stepping into unfamiliar territory, it’s completely normal to feel a sense of uncertainty.
Like any other area of personal finance, when you step into something new, there are all sorts of things to consider, and unknowns to assess.
But here’s the good news, the process of opening a checking account and getting a debit card is actually quite simple. Beyond that, banks and other financial institutions have streamlined the process to a point where it only takes a few minutes to get started.
So, how do you get a debit card? Well, all you have to do is follow these 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Open A Checking Account
If you want to get a debit card, the first step you need to take is to open a checking account.
Now, these days, there are seemingly unlimited banking options. From local and regional banks, to credit unions, and even the national banks, the choices are endless. However, of all the steps in this process, choosing the right checking account is the most important thing you can do.
So, before you walk into the first bank you see, here are a few things you should look for in a checking account:
- No Fees – If you are going to put your money into a checking account, the last thing you want is a bank that is going to charge you a bunch of fees. After all, what’s the point of keeping your money in a bank account if they’re just going to take money away from you? That’s not right. At minimum, your checking account should have: no monthly maintenance fees, no low minimum balance fees, no overdraft fees, and domestic ATM fee reimbursements.
- Mobile Banking – If you want to manage your debit card effectively, even when you’re on the go, mobile banking is a really nice feature to have. Whether you want to make a transfer, check your account, or mobile deposit a check, having a mobile banking app is a really nice thing to have.
- Insurance – If you’re going to trust a financial institution with your money, then make sure they are insured. So, when selecting a checking account, look for the phrase “FDIC Insured”, or “NCUA Insured”. Honestly, I have yet to see a bank that isn’t insured, but if they aren’t, then run in the opposite direction.
If you’re looking for a checking account that meets all the requirements we just mentioned, we recommend opening a free Axos Essential Checking Account. Not only is it a no-fee checking account, but you can open an account entirely online, in less than 15 minutes.
Step 2: Request/Receive Your Debit Card
In some cases (although, this has never happened to me), if you open a checking account in-person, you may receive your debit card (or a temporary debit card) right then and there. That said, in most cases, after you open a checking account, you will have to wait a few days for your debit card to arrive in the mail. In my experience, this can take anywhere from a couple business days, to two weeks.
Additionally, unless you were given the option to select a 4-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) when you signed up for your checking account, in many cases, you will also receive a separate piece of mail with your PIN inside. It is important for you to either memorize your pin, or keep it in a safe, secret place. (I recommend you do both.)
Since your pin is essentially your secret password that allows you to make debit purchases, it’s important for you to commit it to memory–and never share it with anyone. Though, if you don’t receive a pin, you may need to create one when you activate your card, which leads me to step 3.
Step 3: Activate Your Debit Card
Once you receive your debit card, and PIN, in the mail, you will need to activate your card.
Now, your debit card should come with a little sticker on the front of it that explains exactly how to go about doing this. Typically, in order to activate your card, you will have one of three options:
- Call the phone number provided to you when your card was sent in the mail, and follow the prompts to activate it. (If you did not select a PIN, or receive one in the mail, you may have to create one over the phone in this step.) This is the method I recommend when activating your card.
- Insert your card into an ATM and enter your PIN.
- Enter your PIN when making a purchase with your new debit card. (I don’t recommend this method, because if something goes wrong, then you may have to put your purchase on hold and call your bank to activate your card–which you could’ve just done in the first place.)