How to enable international transaction on debit card?

Dear Customer,

As per RBI Directives, your card is by default disabled for E-commerce, Contact less and international transactions.

PNB facilitates you with various channels to enable/disable your debit card anytime anywhere as per your requirement. This facility is available through:

Also, you can manage transaction limits of your debit card for usage on ATM, POS, e-com and contact-less transactions through Internet Banking or PNB One anytime.

Detailed steps for using above features on various channels are as follows:

ATM Transaction Limit Enquiry(1) / Update ATM Transaction Limit (2)/ POS Transaction Limit Enquiry(3) / Update POS Transaction Limit (4)/ ECOM Transaction Limit Enquiry(5) / Update ECOM Transaction Limit (6)/ Contactless Transaction Limit Enquiry(7) / Update Contactless Transaction Limit (8)->Enter Amount->Success SMS Received

Why is my debit card declined? It can be frustrating and unnerving to try and use your debit card only to be told the transaction was denied. We’ve compiled a list of the 9 top reasons your debit card could be declined, and how you can avoid this uncomfortable situation in the future.

When’s the last time you checked the balance in your checking account? If there’s not enough money in the account to cover the purchase, the card will be declined.

Most banks and credit unions have specific limits imposed on their cards. This means they only let you spend up to a specific dollar amount or withdrawal only a specific dollar amount in a 24-hour period. This is often done to protect the user from fraudulent purchases.

When you receive a debit card, it comes with instructions on how to activate the card. You may have to call a specific phone number, or even make an ATM withdrawal before the card is activated.

This 4-digit number is an added layer of security. It’s meant to ensure the person who owns the checking account is using the card to withdraw cash or make a purchase. If you don’t use your debit card very often, you may not remember the PIN number, and the card will be declined.

You will get a limited number of guesses before you are locked out of accessing your funds. Your card will be declined if you guess an incorrect PIN number one too many times.

Some point-of-sale machines ask for a billing zip code. Online shopping checkouts ask if your billing and shipping address are the same. Make sure you’re using the billing information the bank or credit union has on file for you.

Not all ATMs and checkouts accept all types of cards. Double check that they accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc. Does your card have an EMV chip and/or a magnetic stripe? Make sure you’re using the payment method the point-of-sale machine or ATM is asking for.

Financial institutions may simply be trying to protect you by declining the card. If you’re trying to make an international purchase, or spend large amounts of money, your card could be flagged.

Does your debit card have an expiration date? Trying to use the card after that date will probably be unsuccessful.

There are many possible reasons your card was declined. The easiest way to rectify the situation is to contact your financial institution to resolve the issue. They will be able to narrow down exactly why your card was declined and help you successfully make your withdrawal or purchase.

It can be scary to have your debit card declined with no backup option for money. Always make sure you carry a credit card on you for emergency situations. That way you can continue on with your day even if your debit card was declined. Get a back-up credit card now!

Yes, but it depends on the card and the feature will need to be activated.

First, to get a debit card that works internationally, you have to have any of the following accounts with HDFC:¹

With any of the above accounts, HDFC will provide a chip-based debit card linked to your account. That chip can be used overseas for purchases at any point-of-sale card reader for Visa or Mastercard. The next section will cover how to activate this feature.²

But there are also HDFC debit and credit cards that are made exclusively for travel and international use. Here are a few of these cards:

Plus, HDFC has specific foreign exchange cards, or forex cards, that can let you load your account with specific international currencies. With forex cards, you can then spend locally from that currency and the cards often allow for ATM withdrawals internationally. Here are a few of HDFC’s forex cards:³

Depending on the card you can make purchases in US dollars, Euros, British Pounds, and up to 22 other currencies.

Here is how to activate the international payments feature on your HDFC debit or credit card. It can be done directly from your HDFC Netbanking online or the HDFC website.

This will allow your debit card to be used internationally. ⁴

For activating a credit card, you can try an alternate route with HDFC’s digital AI assistant Eva, which is easy to use:⁵

Using Eva from an HDFC website page:

HDFC’s Netbanking and Eva assistant can also help you set daily limits to your spending on your debit and credit cards when using them overseas.

HDFC debit and credit cards have fees when you use them internationally. Let’s take a look at the fees and how they compare with a low-fee option like Wise.

Here are the standard fees to expect with international transactions with HDFC:⁶

The first fee is a percentage of your purchase made overseas or at an international website. It is typical for most companies and banks to have international transaction fees to cover the cost of a customer making a purchase.

Certain HDFC credit cards may have a lower transaction fee of 2%, but it depends on the type of card. Typically most international transaction fees at HDFC will be 3.5% of the transaction, plus taxes.

The second fee to keep in mind is the exchange rate fee. This pops up when you are doing a purchase in a currency that is different from the currency you hold in the HDFC account.

In order to convert the transaction, the bank has to use an exchange rate. The banks internally use the exchange rate you see on Google or Reuters. But when a cardholder uses the card, the bank uses a marked-up exchange rate. And in that way, they are able to take a cut of every transaction. And although it may seem small, this markup can inflate the cost of your purchase.

Also, keep in mind that certain HDFC debit and credit cards come with annual fees just for holding the card. Check the fine print of the charges associated with your HDFC debit or credit card.

Wise uses smart tech so that you can make payments directly to local bank accounts abroad. With just one low transfer fee and the real exchange rate- that means no mark-ups- you can save money on transferring money abroad for holidays, tuition, or gifts.

And if you are already living in supported countries, check out the Wise multi-currency card which lets you hold 60+ currencies in one account with a linked debit card. So whether you are vacationing or heading to India to see family, you can use one account and one card to make your transactions like a local.

An HDFC credit or debit card can work seamlessly internationally once activated. The chip in each card allows for easy chip reading or tap payments at a point-of-sale card reader. In some cases, the debit card may ask for your PIN to be inputted, similarly to how it is at home in India. If you run into any issues, contact HDFC’s customer service for assistance.

Sources used for this article:

All you need to do is inform your bank about certain specifics, i.e. the currency, daily usage limit, time period etc. Once you have informed your bank, subject to sufficient funds available in your account, your bank will activate international usage on your card.