5 ways on how to activate SBI debit card

Every SBI debit card first time user have to active the debit card first to start using it online and offline. State Bank of India (SBI) offers 5 ways to activate a debit card for transactions.

The 5 ways to activate SBI debit card is listed below.

• Internet banking
• SBI YONO App
• SBI toll free number
• SMS banking
• SBI ATM machine

Read on to learn more about the ways to activate a debit card for first time users and the problems you will have to face if you don’t activate your SBI debit card.

1. Activate SBI debit card through internet banking

To activate SBI debit card through internet banking follow the below steps.

1. Open online.sbi (https://www.onlinesbi.sbi/) on your computer browser.
2. Click on login button below Personal Banking box.
3. Enter your SBI username, password and CAPTCHA and then click on Login button.
4. Click on “Debit Card Services” under the ‘e-services‘ option at the top of the screen.
5. Choose “ATM cum Debit Card” option.
6. Click on the “ATM PIN Generation” option.
7. You will see two options – ‘Using One Time Password (OTP)’ or ‘Using Profile Password’. Choose “‘Using One Time Password (OTP)’” and the “Select the Account Number“.
8.  Select your “SBI debit card”.
9. Enter the first 2 digits of the PIN and the next 2 digit will be send to your registered mobile number.
10. Enter all four digits of the PIN to verify it and confirm the change.

You will receive a confirmation message about the newly set PIN for your SBI debit card and then you are ready to use the debit card. This above mentioned steps also works for changing the existing SBI debit card PIN.

2. Activate SBI debit card through YONO app

You also have the option inside the SBI YONO app to activate your debit card. This is one of the easiest method to activate your SBI debit card if you are already using YONO app.

The steps to activate SBI debit card using YONO app is given below.

1. Open the SBI YONO app on your phone and log in using the MPIN.
2. Tap on the ‘Accounts’ option and then select ‘My Debit Cards’.
3. Select the account to which debit card is attached and then click on ‘Activate Card‘ option.
4. Enter the 16 digits ATM card number and click on ‘Next‘ button.
5. Enter the OTP received on your registered phone number with the bank.
6. Set your ATM PIN.

You SBI ATM is now active and you will be able to withdraw cash, or do any online transaction with your debit card now.

3. Activate SBI debit card through toll-free number

To activate SBI debit card through toll-free helpline number, call at the number 1800-1234 or 1800-2100 and verify yourself by providing the details including the last five digits of your debit card or account number.

The steps to activate SBI debit card through toll-free number is given below.

1. Call SBI customer care at the numbers 1800-1234 or 1800-2100 and enter the 5 digits of your account number or debit card number.
2. Enter your year of birth when asked.
3. The PIN and OTP will be sent to your registered number with a 2 days validity.
4. Visit any State Bank ATM > Insert your card > Choose Banking > PIN change option in the same order.
5. Enter the OTP received on your phone.
6. Now, enter your new ATM PIN and ‘Confirm‘.

4. Activate the SBI Debit Card through SMS

To activate SBI debit card through SMS, you will have to send an SMS in a particular format to 567676 and then visit a SBI ATM to change your PIN. The steps to activate debit card through SMS is given below.

1. Type ‘PIN XXXX FFFF” send an SMS to 567676. The XXXX represents the last four digits of your ATM card number and FFFF is the last 4 digits of the SBI bank account number. For example – PIN 1234 5678
2. A PIN and a OTP will be sent to your registered number which is valid for 2 days (48 hours) only to change your ATM PIN.
3. Visit any SBI ATM and insert your card to the ATM machine.
4. Select ‘Banking’ and then choose ‘PIN Change‘ option.
5. Enter the OTP that you received on your phone and then change the PIN to activate your SBI debit card.

If this method seems complex then use the above suggested methods using SBI internet banking and mobile banking through SBI YONO App.

5. Activate SBI debit card through SBI ATM

To activate SBI debit card through SBI ATM follow the below given steps.

1. Visit your nearest SBI ATM.
2. Insert your SBI debit card in the machine and select ‘PIN Generation’ option on the ATM screen.
3. Enter your SBI account number and choose ‘Confirm’.
4. Then, enter your registered mobile number and click on ‘Confirm‘.
5. You will receive the ATM PIN and OTP on your registered number. The validity of the PIN is only for 2 days, so make sure to change the PIN in next 48 hours.
6. Now, re-insert your ATM card and choose ‘Banking’.
7. Select ‘PIN Change‘ option this time.
8. You will receive an OTP on your phone. Enter the OTP to confirm your identity.
9. Enter the new ATM PIN and click on ‘Confirm‘. Your new ATM PIN must be of 4-digits.

After successful ATM PIN set up, you will receive a message on your phone stating “your debit card has been activated”.

What are the things to do before activating a SBI debit card?

The things to do before activating a SBI debit card includes verifying your registered contact number, keeping your SBI debit card handy, activating your internet banking or SBI YONO App. These are some of the prerequisites before your start with the SBI debit card activation processes.

What happens if I don’t activate my SBI debit card?

If you don’t activate your SBI debit card, you debit card will become invalid and you won’t be able to make any transaction through it.

Generally, State Bank of India (SBI) provides a debit card with its PIN when you open a new account. But, the ATM card need to be activated within a specific time period otherwise the PIN becomes invalid. To activate the SBI ATM card after that will require a new PIN generation by following the methods provided in this article above.

Why can’t I use my SBI debit card for online purchases after it is activated?

You can’t use your SBI debit card for online purchases after it is activated if the online transactions is disable on your card. You will have to enable online transactions on your SBI debit card to start using it online.

There could be other reasons including inaccurate information such as wrong card details (PIN, card number, expiry, CVV) or an expired card. Also, if you have already exceed your SBI debit card purchase limit, your card transactions will noy go through.

Can I block my SBI ATM card?

Yes, you can block your SBI ATM card using internet banking, SMS banking, mobile banking and by calling customer care. The ways to block your SBI ATM card is listed below.

• Send an SMS to 567676 with the text “BLOCK FFFF” where FFFF is the last 4 digits of your ATM card number. 
• Call at 1800-1234, 1800-2100, 1800-11-2211, or 080-26599990 and verify your identity to block your card.
• Log in to onlinesbi.com and navigate to ‘e services’. Select ATM Card Services, then Block ATM Card. You will also have to select the SBI account and card you want to block, and verify your details to confirm the card block.
• You also have the option to block the SBI ATM card using SBI Quick app.

As per State bank of India (SBI), if you block your SBI debit card once then you won’t be able to unblock your card online again.

Can I use my SBI debit card for international transactions?

Yes, you can use your SBI debit card for international transactions, but you need to activate the international usage on your card first.

To activate the international usage on your SBI debit card, login to the SBI Yono App and click on the “service request” followed by “debit card” and then click on “manage cards“. Then “Select the debit card” and click on “enable the international transaction”. You will receive an OTP at your registered mobile number with the bank, enter the “OTP” to confirm.

You also have other options to enable international transactions on SBI debit cards by using SBI SMS banking, internet banking and visiting the nearest SBI bank branch.

How can you generate SBI ATM PIN?

You can generate SBI ATM PIN using your debit card at SBI ATM, internet banking, mobile banking, sending a text message to SBI SMS banking number or just by calling SBI customer care. You only need to end an SMS to 567676 in the format “PIN <Space> SBI ATM card <space> last 4 digits SBI account number” to generate SBI debit card PIN through SMS. However, I really prefer SBI Yono App to generate SBI ATM pin, as that’s more easy and convenient.