RBI's new rules for debit and credit cards; move aimed at improving convenience, security of transactions

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has changed rules and announced new features to ensure the security and convenience of card users. The new rules kick in from today (16 March). In January, the RBI had issued new rules to improve user convenience and increase the security of card transactions. These rules will help in curbing the misuse of debit and credit cards, the RBI said. RBI has directed banks to allow only domestic card transactions at ATMs and PoS terminals in India at the time of issuance/reissuance of the card. For international transactions, online transactions, card-not-present transactions and contactless transactions, customers will have to separately set up services on their card. These rules will be applicable to new cards from today (16 March). Those with old cards can decide whether to disable any of these features. As per the existing rules, these services used to come automatically with the card, but now it will start at the request of the customer. [caption id=“attachment_3191584” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Debit or credit card customers who have not yet done any online transaction, contactless transaction or international transaction with the card, then these services on the card will automatically stop from 16 March. The Reserve Bank has asked all banks to provide mobile banking, net banking option to enable limit and enable and disable service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If the customer makes any change in the status of the card, the bank will alert the customer through SMS/email and send the information. Issuers shall provide to all cardholders facility to switch on/off and set/modify transaction limits (within the overall card limit, if any, set by the issuer) for all types of transactions—domestic and international, at PoS/ATMs/online transactions/contactless transactions, etc. The provisions, however, are not mandatory for pre-paid gift cards and those used at mass transit systems. The latest instructions come in the wake of rising instances of cyber frauds and the huge increase in the use of cards.