A credit card is a financial tool that allows its users to borrow money from your bank, in order to meet your necessary expenses, whilst giving you the luxury of repaying the amount later. A credit card offers a line of credit that can be used to make necessary payments. However, this amount must be paid back to the bank on the due date as mutually agreed upon by the bank and the cardholder in order to avoid any late fees and charges.
Buying a credit card is much easier than maintaining one. How you use your credit card defines your financial well being and whether or not you are eligible for borrowing any loans/credits in the future. Now, to maintain your credit card well, it is important you know how to use it. And to be able to use a credit card, you must be well aware of some of the common terms and their usage.
Let’s begin with understanding what a Credit Card PIN is.
What is a Credit Card PIN?
A credit card personal identification number (PIN) is basically a four-digit code which is used to verify the identity of the credit card holder. It is mandatory to enter the credit card PIN in order to complete a transaction.
Whenever you use your credit card, you are asked to enter your PIN to authorise the transaction. As soon as you enter your PIN, the payment system will automatically match it with your user ID before facilitating the transaction. This is how banks ensure that every transaction carried through your credit card is authorised by you and nobody else; thus making it safe and secure. Considering this, it is strictly advised that you never share your credit card PIN with anybody to avoid any fraudulent activities on your account.
How to Generate Credit Card PIN?
When you get your new credit card, you receive a welcome kit from your credit card issuer. The welcome kit contains a confidential document which has your PIN. You can use that PIN for your initial transactions, but you must change your PIN at the earliest. Also, do NOT share your credit card’s PIN with anybody to stay away from any misuse of your account.
The following steps explain how you can generate your credit card PIN online-
- Through Internet Banking
- Log in to your internet banking account by entering your credentials
- Visit the ‘Credit Card’ section and click on ‘Change PIN’
- Verify your action using the OTP sent on your registered mobile number
- Enter the new PIN of your choice twice and click on ‘Submit’
- Through Mobile Application
- Log in to your bank’s/credit card issuer’s mobile banking application
- Go to the ‘Credit card’ section and click on ‘Change PIN’
- Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number to verify your identity
- Enter the new PIN of your choice twice and click on ‘Submit’
- Through Bank’s Official Website
- Visit the official website of your bank, using your credentials, log in to your online account
- Visit the ‘Credit Card PIN change’ section
- Enter your credit card details such as credit card number, CVV and date of expiry
- Enter and re-enter the PIN of your choice and click on ‘Submit’
- Through Email
- Draft an email requesting the concerned officials of your bank to generate a PIN for your credit card
- Send the email on the official email address of your bank
- Upon receiving the email, your banking officials will get in touch with you for further steps
The following steps explain how you can generate your PIN offline-
- Through ATM
- Visit your nearest ATM and insert your credit card into the machine
- Out of the options that appear, click on ‘Create PIN using OTP’
- Enter the OTP that you’d have received on your registered mobile number
- Enter the new 4-digit PIN of your choice
- Re-enter the PIN and click on ‘Submit’
- Through Bank Branch
- Visit your nearest bank branch and get in touch with a concerned official
- Submit your request for PIN generation of your credit card
- Your bank will verify your details and your request will be processed
Points to Consider
When you generate or change your credit card’s PIN, there are a few very important points that you must keep into consideration. We have listed them down for you-
- Make sure that your credit card is swiped only in your presence to avoid chances of skimming
- Ensure that no one keeps an eye on your PIN as your enter it at any merchant store
- Do NOT share the important details of your credit card such as your credit card number, expiry date, CVV, etc. even if the other person claims to be a banking official
- Never submit your credit card details on any social media or online platforms, including email or SMS
- Even if you use your credit card for online transactions, make sure that the website that you use it for, is safe and secure
- Try not to save your credit card details such as card number, CVV, etc. on any online portal
- Change your PIN once you start using your credit card
- Also, do not use a PIN that is quite easy to guess, such as a combination of your birth date, etc.
- Go through your credit card statement properly every month to ensure that there are no unnecessary transactions included in your credit card billing cycle
To Conclude:
A credit card PIN is a 4-digit personal identification number, which is used to verify the identity of the credit card holder. It is mandatory to enter the PIN in order to complete a transaction. Since, it is only this PIN that proves the identity of the credit card holder, it is important to keep it confidential. Never share your PIN with anybody, whether online or offline in order to protect your credit card against any fraudulent activities.
