Talk about a tough situation.
There's a reason consumers are often advised to pay for purchases with a debit card over a credit card. With a credit card, you risk racking up scores of interest if you don't pay your balance on time. In fact, as of the end of 2022, Americans had a whopping $930 billion in credit card debt, according to data from TransUnion. And that's reason enough to stick to a debit card for upcoming purchases.
Your debit card gives you access to the money you have in your checking account. You can swipe a debit card at a store to pay for a given purchase, and you can use your debit card to withdraw cash from your bank account at an ATM.
To do so, however, you'll need to know your debit card's PIN. And if you don't use your card often, you might run into a situation where you've forgotten your PIN.
In that case, you will have the option to reset your debit card PIN. But the process might take longer than you'd like it to.
When your memory fails you
Given the number of passwords you might be juggling in your brain these days, it's easy to see how you might end up forgetting your debit card PIN. If this happens, you may want to log onto your bank's website (assuming you haven't forgotten your password) and see if you can reset your debit card PIN there. It may be an option -- but often, it won't be.
Rather, in many cases, you'll need to visit your bank to reset your debit card PIN or call your bank and speak to a live agent. If you go to your bank in person and show up with proof of ID, you may be able to have your debit card PIN reset on the spot. But if you can't make it over to your bank, you may, for security reasons, need to wait for your bank to mail you a letter with your new PIN.
Should you write down your debit card PIN to avoid forgetting it?
That's not necessarily a smart move. Let's say you have your debit card PIN written on a piece of paper in your wallet, and you then lose your wallet. If someone dishonest finds it, they can't really do much damage to your checking account if they don't have the ability to use your debit card. But if your PIN is right there, someone can take money out of your account or swipe your debit card to buy things.
That's why you don't want to carry around your debit card PIN in writing. But one thing you can do is write that information down and store it in a locked safe at home.
That won't help you if you're out and about and need to take a withdrawal from your local ATM. But that way, you can at least access that information once you get home, as opposed to potentially having to wait for your bank to send you a letter with a new debit card PIN in the mail.
FAQs
If you forget your PIN, immediately get in touch with a bank representative, either on the phone or by stopping into a branch. Never email your PIN to anyone. If you suspect your card or PIN has been lost or stolen or your account has been otherwise compromised, call your bank immediately.
What can I do if I forgot my debit card PIN? ›
If you've forgotten your debit card PIN, some banks may offer a way to retrieve it through their website or app. You can also call a customer care representative, or find a local branch for help. You'll probably still need to verify your account ownership and may be directed to reset the PIN for security reasons.
How do I unblock my debit card after entering the wrong PIN 3 times? ›
After typing 3 wrong pins (it doesn't have to be on the same day) the chip of your card will be blocked. To unblock your chip, you can go to an ATM from a major bank. You should be able to see a new 'PIN Unlock' option or you can otherwise view your remaining amount. A third option would be to withdraw cash.
How many PIN attempts do you get? ›
You have three chances to enter your PIN correctly. If you enter your PIN incorrectly three times in a row, your PIN will be locked.
What can I do if I forget my bank PIN? ›
Call the phone number printed on the back of your card to retrieve your PIN number or reset it. If you prefer to recover your PIN in person, visit your nearest bank for help. Alternatively, log into your account on your bank's website and follow the online instructions to recover your PIN.
How do I reset my card PIN if I forgot it? ›
You can always seek help from the bank for an ATM card PIN change if you want to reset your PIN, in case you forget it or accidentally block your ATM card through wrong attempts. Banks ask you to fill up forms requesting PIN generation or PIN change and submit them to start the due process for ATM card PIN change.
How do I unlock my debit card PIN? ›
I've entered my PIN incorrectly 3 times and blocked it, how do I...
- Put your card into an ATM.
- Enter the correct PIN (which you can find in-app)
- Select 'PIN services'
- Select 'PIN Unlock'
- Unblock your PIN by following the on-screen instructions.
If you go to your bank in person and show up with proof of ID, you may be able to have your debit card PIN reset on the spot. But if you can't make it over to your bank, you may, for security reasons, need to wait for your bank to mail you a letter with your new PIN.
How long do you have to wait after PIN tries exceeded? ›
If your card is blocked after three attempts at ATM, then some banks do block it for temporary basis. This temporary block can be for maximum 24 hours. For instance, if your ATM PIN was blocked at 12PM today, then you will be able to carry successful transaction after 12PM tomorrow.
How do I unblock my debit card? ›
You can directly approach your bank or its branch and submit a written application, requesting an automatic unblock of the ATM card. To verify your identity as the card's user, you must submit ID and address proof. Once these details are verified, the bank will unblock your card.
You can visit a branch to ask for a PIN reminder.
How do I withdraw money if I forgot my PIN? ›
How to get a cash advance on a credit card without a PIN
- Head to the bank. You can go directly to your bank and ask for a cash advance. ...
- Consider using a check. Your credit card company might issue checks automatically when you open your credit card. ...
- Digital payment service.
(Many forget their pins altogether) There is nothing wrong with you, they say this day in age we have more PIN numbers to remember than ever before! That is why many people choose to use the same pin for everything, which can get them into trouble if hackers happen to get a hold of any of their accounts.
How do I get my card PIN if I forgot it? ›
STEP-1: Visit your nearest bank branch and request for a form for resetting your forgotten ATM PIN. STEP-2: Fill up the form and submit it to the officials. STEP-3: You can choose to get the new PIN to your registered mailing address or in the office at that time, depending on your bank.
How do I bypass my debit card PIN number? ›
You can usually bypass inputting your PIN when you're paying with your debit card by hitting the credit button (it's usually green) on the credit card machine. Why push credit?
How to retrieve PIN number? ›
If you're unable to retrieve your IP PIN online, you may call us at 800-908-4490 for specialized assistance, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. your local time (Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time), to have your IP PIN reissued.
