Virtual debit card launched by SBI to control online frauds
The electronic card can be created by the account holder or customer using SBI’s Net banking facility for ecommerce transactions. State Bank Virtual has a limited shelf life and can be used for only one transaction to limit the exposure of the account. It allows the user to create a virtual card for any online transaction and the person is not required to share details of the principal account on the merchant Website thus insulating the account from any possible fraud.
“All forms of transactions, be it Internet banking, credit and debit cards, are fully secured but there are some people who are scared and hold back from online transactions on fears of compromise of data. The main objective behind this new product is to provide relief to these customers and give a push to e-commerce,” SBI.
“The new product is a convenient and secure gateway to online payment for all our Internet banking users,” he added. Besides, not all account holders have credit cards and now the State Bank Virtual can be used to buy any product and service online. There is no fear of loss or theft of such a card. “Some of our Internet banking customers are not comfortable with e-commerce transactions. But now, they will have no problem. Apart from this, there are some Websites which are still considered unsafe and a virtual debit card comes in handy in dealing with such Websites,” Singh added.
The State Bank Virtual has many customer-friendly features. There is no charge on creation of the card and the customer can create any number of cards at the same time. The card is created for each online transaction and is valid for maximum of 48 hours. There is no transfer of balance from the principal account inasmuch as only a lien is marked on the account. Actual transfer of balance takes place only when the customer does the actual transaction online, SBI said.
“It ensures that the customer does not lose interest even for a day. The card creation and online transaction are authorised only after successful validation of one-time password (OTP) thereby ensuring complete security for the transaction,” the bank said.
Online transactions are on the rise in India. For 11 months till February 2012, debit card transactions worth Rs 48,000 crore were conducted at points of sale according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.
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