After three wrong attempts or more, your ATM card will get blocked as the system will assume that someone other than you is trying (and failing) to access your money. What do you do if your ATM gets blocked after inputting the wrong PIN several times?
If your ATM card is blocked due to the wrong pin, you’ll need to visit a branch of your bank to unblock it. You may also unblock it via your bank’s mobile application, customer care number, or SMS.
Forgetting your ATM PIN can hurt. But you know what can hurt more? Seeing your ATM card gets blocked because you entered the wrong PIN multiple times. If your ATM card gets blocked, the card becomes temporarily useless. In this post, I highlighted what to do if your ATM card is blocked because of the wrong PIN . As a bonus, I also included tips on creating or selecting the best PIN for your ATM card.
Can the Bank Unblock Your Card?
What to Do if an ATM Card Is Blocked Due to the Wrong Pin?
If you cannot recall your Personal Identification Number (PIN), accessing your bank account can be hard. Due to the fear of marauding hackers and identity thieves, people often create PINs that are complicated and hard to recall. Here are some tricks to consider when creating an ATM pin.
- Avoid the obvious
When creating a PIN, ensure it’s not easy to guess. You can do this by avoiding obvious number combinations or sequences like “1111,” “1234,” or “6543.”
- Use the word method
Some individuals find it helpful to think of their PIN as a word. View it as if you were dialing it on a landline phone, with each number from 2 to 9 representing three or four letters.
The word “ball,” for instance, would be “2255,” for many people, it’s easier to recall “ball,” which results in remembering the numbers associated with it. If you adopt this method, it makes sense to use an uncommon word to make it harder for anyone to guess.
- Try a familiar date
Like a birthday or anniversary, a memorable date can make a good PIN. If a family member was born Aug 4. 1985, “5485” is a relatively easy PIN for you to recall while remaining unclear to scammers. The only potential disadvantage to this technique is that the date you choose may be predictable to people who know you well or have access to your personal info.
- Use a meaningful address
A house number can be an ideal choice, especially if it’s an address you can readily recall. Your best bet; use the four-digit stress address of a childhood friend, a former workplace, or another significant place. Numbers with personal significance are easy to recall and hard to guess. Note: avoid using your address since thieves could access this info.
- Try an extra-long PIN
You can also create a more compressive, lengthy number if your bank allows it. An 8-or 12-digit PIN is more secure than a traditional 4-digit number, but it’s also harder to recall unless it is already in your memory. Do you still recall the phone number of your childhood home? Maybe you do, but potential thieves probably don’t.
- Fake a friend
If you cannot recall your PIN without writing it down, you can conceal it in the name or number of a contact within your phone. Ensure your phone is password-protected, and remember to call your bank immediately to reset your PIN if your phone gets lost or stolen.
- Don’t write it down
After creating a good PIN, resist the urge to write it down. If you need to write it down, probably to remember, you will have to bring it with you. Doing so will ensure that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
- Use different secure PIN numbers for different accounts
Having different secure PINs for each of your important accounts lessens risk, so they can’t all be immediately accessed if one secure PIN is compromised. But, you still need to be able to recall them all.
If you forgot your PIN, quickly contact the bank rep by phone or visiting a branch. Don’t email your PIN to anyone. If you suspect your card or PIN has been lost or stolen, or your account has been compromised, contact your bank ASAP.
What Happens if I Have a Negative Balance on My Debit Card?
What to do if an ATM card is blocked because of the wrong pin
Was your ATM card blocked due to multiple attempts at the ATM stand? If so, you can unblock it by visiting your bank.
Some banks offer the card unblocking facility through mobile applications, customer care numbers, or SMS. If your banks don’t offer any of these card unblocking services, your only choice will be to visit the bank. Ensure you carry along a means of verification, your ATM, etc. You can contact your bank to determine what you need to take along to unblock the ATM.
Why do ATM cards get blocked?
Like a bank account, banks block ATM cards for many reasons. A bank can freeze your bank ATM whenever there is little chance of fraudulent transactions or unauthorized payments. ATM cards can also be blocked when they expire. If your ATM gets blocked, ensure you contact your bank or visit the closest branch.
