All of us are used to using plastic money. Using debit and credit cards is common for all of us. The benefit of using a debit card is that you can make purchases without incurring interest charges compared to using a credit card. But what do you do when your debit card expires?
When you have problems with overspending, a debit card is a much better choice than a credit card.
Using debit will only allow you to use the money you have instead of “borrowing” money from a credit card company or bank and ensuring and paying interest on top of what you’ve already spent.
Have you noticed that your debit card has an expiration date on the front of the card? It’s that little number with a slash printed on the front next to your name.
Here I discuss everything about the expiration of debit cards and what do you need to do about the same.
What Is A Debit Card?
With most banks, you get a debit card when you open a checking account. Debit cards allow you to spend money from your checking account without writing checks.
The money from your checking account is immediately deducted when you pay with a debit card. You won’t be charged a bill afterward.
A debit card can only be used to make purchases when you have money in your account. Unlike a credit card, a debit card functions as an electronic check. It simply deducts your funds from your bank account.
You can also skip the checking account and attach it to your savings account. This is what my son does. He has no need for a checking account so he just uses savings.
Is it a debit card Also An ATM card?
People always feel that a debit card and an ATM card are the same. But there are some functional differences between these two plastic cards.
In contrast to debit cards, which are used for withdrawing money at ATMs and shopping online, ATM cards can only be used for withdrawing money at ATMs.
Debit cards are accepted by retailers and online outlets, which makes shopping easy. But ATM cards can’t be used for shopping.
You can also transfer funds with the help of a debit card but an ATM card doesn’t let you do the same.
You can use a debit card as an ATM card but you never can use an ATM card in place of a debit card.
In short, a debit card can be used for several financial purposes while an ATM card can provide you with a limited number of transactions like cash withdrawal from ATMs only.
Does A Debit Card Expire?
Every debit card comes with an expiry date, the month, and the year. The reason for expiring debit cards is fraud prevention; they need to be renewed every few years.
Can you still make a purchase using an expired debit card?
No, it isn’t possible to purchase anything using an expired card because its expiration date has passed and isn’t valid anymore.
Generally, the card expires by the end of the month and can’t be used to make payments after that.
Your transaction’s likely to be declined if you attempt to use an expired card. You will have to get your debit card renewed to start making purchases again.
It’s also important to remember that if you have auto withdrawals from your account for bills or memberships, your payment will be declined after the card expires.
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Why Does A Debit Card Expire?
The purpose of requiring debit card renewals every few years is to prevent phishing activities. It’s for the prevention of scams or fraudulent activities that debit cards expire and need to be renewed every few years.
According to Experian, debit card fraud is up 32% from 2019 to 2020. Expiring cards are a security measure to keep your money safe.
When it comes to your debit card, expiration dates are extremely important. They ensure that your card continues to work correctly.
Banks update the safety features on their cards regularly, so they’ll often send you a new one to make sure it meets their latest standards.
Also, if fraud is detected, your financial institutions will send you a new card and automatically expire the old one as a security feature.
Is The Expiration Date Of A Debit Card Important?
Many of us prefer using debit cards as they let you pay from what you have and don’t let you borrow from the future. These debit cards come with an expiration date too. it’s easy to forget the date and try to use it anyway.
As a habit, we go shopping with less cash and use debit cards whenever possible. Convenient, right? Yes, It’s convenient to carry a few cards instead of taking the bundles of cash with you. Until something goes wrong.
We love the comfort and ease of using the cards as it is a compact version of your bank account and you can carry your bank wherever you go.
But how would it feel when you have done all the shopping (spending several hours), and your debit card gets declined at the cashier?
Oops! How embarrassing that is going to be?
This is the reason that you need to remember the expiry date of your card always. It doesn’t just avoid embarrassing moments but also helps you save your time and money.
What To Do When A Debit Card Expires
Request A New Debit Card
If a debit card has expired already, you need to do a few things for sure. First thing first. You need to request a new debit card.
Many times your card issuer will automatically send you a new replacement card with a completely different number, date, EMV chip, and security code on the back.
Activate Your New Debit Card
The second important step is to activate the renewed debit card and you can start making purchases again.
When you’re used to carrying a card instead of cash, it’s hard to live without it for sure.
Going back to cash mode can feel a bit uncomfortable too. Hence, getting the card renewed is the best thing to do to avoid all the hassles of cash payments.
Discard Your Old Debit Card Saftely
The next crucial step is to discard your old card as soon as you receive the new one. Even if the old card can’t be used for transactions, the old cards still may get misused by scammers.
It can lead to several issues including card cloning, phishing, and anything that those scammers can think about.
I like to cut mine up and place each part in separate trash cans around my house. I know it seems silly but it makes me feel better knowing that each part of my card number is in a different location.
Update Your Online Payment Information
If you have linked your old card anywhere online, get the details changed with the new card details.
You may need to update your payment methods frequently to avoid the chances of fraud or hacks that can happen because of your payment settings.
You may have some important subscriptions on auto payment. Invalid card information may lead to failed transactions. Make sure all these services are updated.
Also, if you have your debit card number saved in your favorite stores (like Amazon) for purchases online, you will need to update those as well.
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How To Renew A Debit Card?
For debit cards, the expiration date is generally two to three years. The banks keep renewing the debit card in regular intervals. You can continue using your debit card until the end of the expiration month. When your old card expires, a new one should automatically be sent to you.
But if you don’t receive your new debit card even after the expiry of the old one, you may have to contact your bank’s customer care and request for a renewal of the same. Some banks also offer the online renewal request service on their website or on the banking app.
Check with your bank if they have these services and you can place a request for card renewal through the web or app.
Will An Expired Debit Card Work In An ATM?
If you have already gone past the expiration date of your debit card, it can no longer be used anywhere. No, you can’t use an expired debit card in an ATM to withdraw cash.
You need to have a valid debit card, once expired, you will always have to obtain a renewed one to continue financial activities including cash withdrawal from an ATM.
How To Activate A Renewed Debit Card
The use of debit cards is convenient for paying bills, shopping online, and withdrawing cash. You must activate your debit card before you can do any of these things.
The old card should be destroyed or securely disposed of when it’s due to expire, and you should update every automatic payment to reflect the new card information.
You can activate your debit card in a number of ways. They’re all easy and convenient. It’s up to you to choose which works best for you.
Here are some ways to activate your debit card:
- Call the number on the sticker to activte your card quickly. The bank will auto send your card with a number to call.
- Use the internet banking portal of your bank, log into your account and you will find an option to activate your debit card online.
- Log in to the mobile banking app, activate your new debit card with the Card Service features available under your profile.
Every bank may have its own unique way of activating debit cards. But in most cases, these three alternatives remain very common.
Final Thoughts on What to Do When Your Debit Card Expires
Plastic money has become a convenient part of our lives. It’s a huge part of personal finance. We can’t neglect the ease they bring in our day-to-day transactions.
They’re lightweight yet one of the most powerful money tools to use every day.
Debit cards are set up to expire periodically for your protection. If the card is expired, don’t try to use it. Make sure to get a new one. If updated on time, they’re going to accompany you for all your payments.