How to Enable International Transactions on SBI Debit Card

Debit cards and credit cards have made lives easier. By visiting an ATM, one can instantly get cash through debit cards anywhere anytime. Banks provide credit cards and debit cards to the customers to carry out both domestic and international transactions. However, many banks, by default, deactivate the international transaction, as per the RBI guidelines. The customer has to request the bank and enable an international transaction facility. 

Concerning the State Bank of India, the procedure stays the same. You will have to enable the international transaction on your SBI debit card to utilize the facility. In this article, let us see how to activate international transactions on SBI debit cards. Before that, here is a quick introduction to SBI.

State Bank of India – A brief introduction

SBI is one of the largest banks in the world with over 250,000 employees. Founded in 1955, today the bank has more than 22,000 branches across India and over 200 branches in other countries. Over 62,000 SBI ATMs are functioning in India. 

The bank offers multiple facilities to its customers such as finance, insurance, mortgage loans, private banking, corporate banking, retail banking, investment banking, fixed deposits, education loans, SME loans, debit cards, credit cards and more. As of 2021, the net income of SBI is over Rs 22,405 crore. 

In 2020, SBI made it to the Fortune Global 500 list. It was the only Indian bank to be named on the list. SBI secured 221st place in the Fortune Global 500 list. The headquarters of SBI is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

SBI provides customer-friendly banking facilities and secure banking. You can go through SBI’s online website https://www.onlinesbi.com/ to avail yourself of its facilities. As we already mentioned, when SBI provides debit cards to the customers after they open a bank account, the bank, by default, deactivates international transactions. 

The customer should initiate steps to activate the international transactions on the SBI debit card. 

How to enable international transactions on an SBI debit card?

The debit card users of SBI can activate international transactions on SBI debit cards through three methods. 

1. Enable international transactions through SMS
2. Enable international transactions on SBI debit cards through the SBI YONO app or personal app
3. Enable international transactions on SBI debit cards through internet banking

Through SMS

The good news about activating international transactions on an SBI debit card is you do not have to visit the SBI bank branch to do it. You can do it from the comfort of your home. Activating international transactions on SBI debit cards through SMS is a pretty easy procedure. You can do it in a few minutes. All you need is your registered mobile number with the bank and active SIM plan to send SMS. Follow the below steps.

1. From the SBI registered mobile number, send SMS to 09223966666 in the below format.

SMS SWON <space> INTL <space> last 4 digit of your card number 

Example: SWON 5678

Once you do this, the bank will activate the international transactions on your SBI debit card. You will receive a message from SBI, once the international transactions facility is enabled. 

Through the SBI YONO app

To enable International transactions on SBI debit cards through the SBI YONO app, all you have to do is to download the app from the Play Store. This is also one of the easiest ways to enable International transactions on your debit card. Kindly follow the steps given below to enable International transactions on the SBI debit card. 

• Step 1 – From the Play Store, download SBI YONO app. Install it on your smartphone. 
• Step 2 – Once the app is installed, you can open the app and log in using your username and password. You should use the user ID and password of your internet banking. 
• Step 3 – From the menu option present on the top left corner, click the service request button. 
• Step 4 – From that section, press the ATM or debit card button. 
• Step 5 – The next screen will appear from this page, press the manage card tab. 
• Step 6 – You will be asked to select your debit card number and account now. Select the account number and select the debit card number. From the manage usage option activate the e-commerce transactions and international usage. 
• Step 7 – Now, you have activated the international transactions on your SBI debit card. 

Simple, isn’t it? The procedure will not take more than 5 to 10 minutes. 

Through internet banking

You should own a device with a reliable internet connection for this method.

To activate the international transactions on your SBI debit card through internet banking, follow the instructions given below:

• STEP 1 – You have to go to the SBI internet banking website https://www.onlinesbi.com/. Once the website is open, press the login button, and enter your username and password to log in. You will be provided with the internet banking username and password by the bank when you have opened your account, use this to log in. 
• STEP 2 – Once you have logged into internet banking, you can see the menu option on the page. Press the e-Services tab. 
• STEP 3 – Once you click the e-Services tab, the next page will appear. Here, an e-services related list will appear. From the list, click the ATM card services button. 
• STEP 4 – Once you click ATM card services, you will be taken to the next page. The page will list ATM card services. From the list, select ATM card limit / Channel/usage change. 
• STEP 5 – After clicking that, type your SBI bank account number and press continue. 
• STEP 6 – Now, select the change usage type in the select Services option. From that, choose International usage and enable International usage. After doing this, press the submit option. 
• STEP 7 – Once you submit, the bank will send you a one-time password (OTP) on the registered mobile number. Type this OTP and press the submit option. 

That’s all. You have completed the international transaction activation procedure. Henceforth, you can carry out International transactions on your SBI debit card. 

We believe the above three methods to enable International transactions on your SBI debit card were clear and easy. You can use any one of the methods to activate International transactions. If you didn’t know, SBI allows its users to use its debit card internationally, but you should own an international debit card for this purpose. You can apply for an international debit card through internet banking. Once the bank approves your request, it will provide you with an international debit card for international usage.