How long does it take for a debit card control or alert to take effect?

We know how important it is to act quickly when your debit card is lost, stolen or misplaced. Luckily, debit card controls can be used to temporarily freeze (or enable) your card, set alerts or set card controls such as blocking all international transactions or setting dollar amount limits. All alerts and controls take effect immediately upon updating. This also means if you end up finding your card, it can easily (and quickly) be reactivated!

Note: If you feel your card is lost or stolen and you are unable to locate it, please contact us so we can permanently close the card and issue you a new one.

Related Questions

Absolutely! Your information is completely safe. Whenever the Tap and Pay option is used, your debit card’s number is replaced by a unique code, encrypting the transaction and ensuring security.

With debit card controls, you can lock your debit card so that no transactions will be approved (aside from reoccurring payments). You can also set blocks based on:

International: Transactions for your card outside your home country will be blocked. (Note: If this option is enabled, the region limit type can’t be used.)

Region: This limits the use of a card within a specified radius. Any transactions attempted outside that radius will be blocked.

Merchant: Block transactions for a card based on specific types of businesses.

Transaction: Easily block transactions for a card based on the transaction type.

Amount: Set a limit for the transaction amount for a card. Transactions higher than the designated limit will be blocked.

We’d love to help here! On the Gate City Bank mobile app or in your online banking account, simply navigate to “Control Debit Cards,” choose the account you would like to add or edit an alert for and tap “Set Card Alerts” from the list of options.

All debit cards from Gate City Bank now come equipped with an internal chip, which allows you to tap your card at any applicable terminal to make a payment. Typically, the terminal will beep once, confirming your payment has been accepted.

Note: In instances where retailers may not be equipped to accept Tap and Pay, you’ll still have the ability to insert the card’s chip or swipe the magnetic stripe.

Getting started is quick and easy! Simply log in to online banking or the Gate City Bank mobile app, navigate to the “More” menu option and select “Control Debit Cards.” You can also go to the “Accounts” menu option, choose “Select Account” and tap “Freeze.”

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