Was your ATM card blocked? Here is how you can unlock it

Consider this - You are in a hurry to withdraw cash from your nearest ATM and in all the haste, you enter wrong pin. To add to your woes, your ATM card gets blocked and you land up in a helpless situation. Since ATM cards are very susceptible to frauds, the banking systems have come up with several measures to ensure that the cardholders does not end up losing their hard earned money. There can be several reasons for blocking a card but how can one unlock their ATM card for further use. Listed below are some ways by which you can get your card unblocked, 

Automatic Unlock 

If you are among those who entered their ATM pin wrong in all three attempts, then the card locks itself automatically for the next 24 hours. Post the duration of the said time, the card unlocks itself automatically.

Application to the bank

If due to some negligence or carelessness the ATM card gets blocked, then the best thing to do is visit your nearest bank branch. All one needs to do is submit a written application along with the cardholder's identity proofs, so that the bank can take further procedures to unblock the ATM card. 

Issue a new card

If the card is blocked due to security reasons, then the only open option for the cardholder is to issue a new card from their bank. Situations wherein one looses their card or the card is misplaced, one can block their card via SMS, online or by calling the customer number. Thereafter, the cardholder will be issued a new card by their bank for free.

Replace expired card

All ATM cards have a certain duration for which they remain active and valid. The date for such is mentioned on the card. Post the date of expiry, the card automatically blocks itself and becomes invalid for further use. In such a case the cardholder needs to approach their bank branch which will provide them with a new ATM card.