How to Activate SBI Debit Card – Step by Step Input?

Having a debit card is a quintessential need of today. This means that you need to have a valid debit card for easy cash withdrawals, seamless security of your money and the kind of accessibility it provides the bank account holders with.

If it were a few years back, the majority of the Indian banks provided their customers with the debit card and the secret PIN with it. However, in an initiative to reduce paper waste, the State Bank of India (along with a few other banks) now only sends the user the debit card and not the accessory details with it.

So, once your account is active, you can then move ahead and activate your debit card from SBI too. The process is simple and not as complicated as you think it would be. If you follow along with the right steps, it shouldn’t be as complicated as many make it out to be.

We have shared the step-wise guide that you can follow to activate your SBI Debit card from the comfort of your home.

Step by Step Process to Activate the SBI Debit Card

State Bank of India offers a range of amazing features and functions that you can make the most out of. Once your account is active, you will have the option to opt for a debit card along with a chequebook. Even if you don’t actively use a debit card, we’d recommend that you get it issued. 

So, now that you have an active account and a debit card, the next thing we need to do is focus on activating the card. For your convenience, we have sorted out four ways you can activate the SBI debit card. They include:

• Via SMS
• Calling customer care
• Visiting the nearest ATM
• Internet banking

Let us discuss them one by one.

Via SMS

Not many users know about this service but if you want one of the best and easiest ways to activate your debit card, using their SMS service is probably the best option. Just be mindful that you need to use the registered number with the bank. Any random phone number won’t suffice.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Open your Messages app on your phone and then type PIN <space> Last 4 digits of Debit Card <space> Last 4 Digit of Bank Account Number.
• Cross the credentials you have entered and once you are sure that they are correct, send this message to 567676 from the registered mobile number.
• The moment you send this, you will receive a code with 4-digits. This code is unique to your debit card credentials and will remain active for 24 hours only.
• Visit the nearest ATM and enter your card into the machine.
• Enter the four-digit PIN that you received.
• Once your debit card is activated, you can then enter the desired PIN that you want to change it to.

Calling Customer Care:

There is an active IVR process set up by SBI that you can follow to set up your debit card. The process is very simple, meaning that you won’t have to struggle with the activation process yourself. Here’s what you need to do:

• There are two IVR numbers for SBI debit card activation. You need to call on 18004253800 or 1800112211 from the registered mobile number for the bank account.
• Once you are on the call, the IVR will ask for the ATM card number and the Bank account number. You need to enter all those credentials for verification.
• Once the details are verified, you will receive a temporary four-digit PIN to your mobile phone.
• Again, with the received PIN, you need to visit the nearest SBI ATM.
• Insert the card into the machine and enter the temporary PIN that you received on your mobile phone.
• Once activated, you have the option to change your PIN at your convenience.

Visiting the nearest ATM:

Since you have to anyhow visit the ATM to finally activate the debit card from SBI, it is not surprising that most individuals prefer to directly go to the ATM and get the same sorted out. This is an easy process but make sure you carry your bank account passbook so you have access to the required information when you are activating the card.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Visit the nearest SBI ATM that you can access.
• You need to first generate a temporary PIN. For doing that, enter your ATM card into the machine and select the “PIN Generation” option.
• Once you click on that, you will be asked to enter your 11-digit bank account number, followed by the registered mobile number. Click on Confirm.
• Clicking on Confirm will redirect you to a “Thank You” message from SBI. Click on Confirm again.
• You will then receive the temporary PIN to your registered mobile number.

Once you receive the temporary PIN, reinsert your ATM card and enter the PIN. Your card will be activated then. From there, you can change the PIN according to your needs.

Using Internet Banking:

The easiest and likely one of the safest ways to activate your SBI debit card is using the internet banking process. It is seamless and doesn’t involve unnecessary complications. However, this can seem complicated for individuals who don’t generally use internet banking.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Start by opening your browser and then type in https://www.onlinesbi.com/.
• Once on the homepage, log into the internet banking portal using your credentials.
• From there, navigate to the “e-Services” tab and click on “ATM card services.” From there, click on “ATM PIN Generation.”
• You will receive a profile password to your registered mobile number. Use that as an OTP and enter the designated field.
• Enter the bank account number and the ATM card number.
• Enter the first two digits of your PIN as per your needs and then click on Submit.
• This will then redirect you to the ATM activation page using the first two digits that you entered into the portal. Confirm and then use it for your future transaction. Also, ensure that you visit the nearest ATM to confirm the activation of the card.

FAQs

1. How to active SBI Rupay Debit card?

The debit card activation process for any SBI debit card is the same. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are using a Rupay or VISA card, the process of activation is the same as we mentioned in the article.

2. How to activate international transactions in the SBI Debit card?

The only two ways to activate international transactions in the SBI debit card is by visiting the bank or by contacting via customer care. Doing so will ensure easier transactions across Europe for the POS transactions.

3. Do the SBI Debit cards come with a validity limit?

The SBI Debit cards with the Maestro logo that have been issued after 13th November 2002 don’t come with a validity limit.

Conclusion

If you were looking for ways to activate the SBI Debit card, we hope this article answers all your questions. The process is simple and not as complicated at all. Just make sure you follow the instructions as mentioned and don’t skip out on any of the steps like we have sorted out. The rest should be good.