We’re living in a world now of instant money. Any time you want to make a purchase, you can simply whip out your debit card and tap it on the machine.
But while we might get used to using our debit cards for so long, we may not be aware that they expire over time. So, when do debit cards expire? The simple answer is three to four years from the issuance date.
Your debit card should have the expiration date on the front of it, but not all of them do for security reasons. If yours does not have it on the front, you may be able to find it on your bank statement.
Your card issuer should write to you before your card is due to expire anyway – but there’s a few things you’ll need to know about all of this.
This guide will help you to know about when your debit card might expire, why this is the case and much more.
Read on and learn more!
What Is A Debit Card?
A debit card is your personal checking account’s payment card. Essentially, this is the card that makes payments directly from your bank account to the seller or service provider you have authorized.
Debit cards differ from credit cards and this is important to know. Many credit cards have a much younger expiration date on them, but both debit and credit cards will expire at some point.
When Do Debit Cards Expire?
There are actually a few major reasons why debit cards have expiration dates on them, so it’s important that we explore these reasons in more detail.
Security
In order to keep your financial information secure and to prevent fraudulent activity on your card, your debit card has an expiration date. As we mentioned earlier, this should be between three and four years from the date it was issued.
If you report your card as stolen to your card issuer, they will likely freeze the card to prevent any further payments on the account and then send you a new card in the mail.
When this happens, you will notice your brand new card has a longer expiration date. As we said – this card now has a new, around four year expiration from that day.
It’s important to note that the expiration date on your debit card will usually be asked in order to authorize payments online. This is one of the reasons that these cards expire, because it will prevent some fraudulent payments.
One such payment method is known as a CPA, or continuous payment authority. While these types of payments have their place in the financial world, they can be very dangerous because we cannot stop these payments from happening using our online account or through an app.
The only way to stop such a payment system is by receiving a new debit card with a new expiration date. This way, the CPA is no longer active as the previous card no longer exists.
Updates To Your Card
You may remember when our cards were not contactless. Of course, this technology had to be introduced and now this is extremely commonplace.
However, in order for this technology to become so common, we had to have our old debit cards expire and receive brand new ones with this new system sent to us in the mail.
Technology is always changing and advancing and our financial technology will continue to move forward with it. As a result, your card may require an update – which they can do when your old debit card expires.
On top of this, the card issuer may undergo a rebrand or other change and the card may also change in terms of its look and name.
Avoiding Damage Or Wear And Tear
Believe it or not but debit cards can become damaged over time and cease to function the same way that they used to. As a result of this, you will need a new one every now and then.
By your issuer sending you out a new card every few years, they can keep up with your card’s lifespan and your requirements, avoiding any potential of you being without your card.
A Renewal Process
Debit cards are often issued by banks and they will keep track of your account that the card is linked to. Over the course of your custom with that bank, a new card can act as a “renewal” process.
In other words, it keeps both you and the bank in the clear that you are still a valued customer to them.
How To Find The Expiration Date
Your debit card’s expiration date should be on the front of your debit card. It is usually located on the right hand side of the card, underneath the long card number.
Some debit cards have an expiration date as well as a starting date, so be aware of this and don’t get them confused.
If you do not see an expiration date on your debit card, this is likely due to your bank taking extra security measures on your behalf. However, you should be able to check the expiration date of the card on either:
- Your bank statement
- Your banking app
- The accompanying letter that came with the card
Can I Use An Expired Debit Card?
Not usually. However, in very rare circumstances – your bank may allow certain payments to be authorized if there is a hold up with your new card.
It’s important to note though that this would be extremely rare, so if you believe your card is going to expire soon, it’s a good idea to contact your card issuer and ask if you are expecting a new debit card any time soon.
The Bottom Line
Debit cards usually expire around three to four years after they are issued, but you can check this on the front of the card usually.
We hope this guide has been helpful for you!
As a current Mortgage Underwriter with 15 years of experience, I have seen my fair share of money-related issues. Whether that be high levels of debt, not enough credit, or simply a lack of funds - I’ve had clients who fit into these categories.
Here I will share tips, tricks, and experiences on how you can get yourself back in control of your finances.
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