Axis Bank launches debit card with enhanced security features

Private sector lender Axis Bank today launched a new debit card, which can be "switched off" for specified time periods, and has also put in fraud protection and personal accidental cover along with the offering.
The card named 'Secure+' can be switched off by using a mobile phone application or Internet banking gateway or through the phone-banking application.
Besides, customers can also put limits on transactions.
At Rs 300 per year, it will cost a customer twice as much as a regular debit card offering to avail this card, said Jairam Sridharan, Axis Bank's president and head of retail lending and payments.

The bank is giving a 'fraud protection' service along with the card, wherein disputed transactions of up to Rs 75,000 will be covered for customers, Sridharan said, adding that they might be able to take the benefit of this facility even in case of a second factor authentication code being shared with the fraudsters.
In case a customer has multiple cards of different lenders and loses his wallet, a single call to the bank's executive can help lock other banks' cards as well.

Apart from that, those choosing this card will also get an enhanced personal accident insurance at Rs 5 lakh, he said.

Sridharan said their research found out that many people do not use cards for fears around security, which drove it to introduce this solution.
He pointed to industry data showing only 10 per cent of the total 400 million cards were being used for transactions apart from ATM withdrawals.
"We want to decrease the usage of cash in the economy and such cards will help with that," he added.