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What Happens When Your Debit Card Expires? [Fully Explained]

Want to know what happens when your debit card expires? Then this article is for you as it explain all you need to know when facing such situation.
what happens when your debit card expires

Debit cards are used to get money off our bank account at ATM and also help in transferring funds from ATM to another bank account. What happens when this debit cards expires? Most bank customers ask a common question in forums "Can you get money off an expired debit card?" If you have an expired debit card with money in it, do not panic, your money is still there and you can get it off.

A debit card is a type of payment card that is linked to a bank account. It's also known as a check card or a bank card, because when charged, it deducts funds directly from your checking account. Thus, a debit card offers a convenient way for consumers to make purchases without having to go to a bank branch.

All debit cards whether issued by a bank or credit union comes with an expiry date in a format MM/YY. Debit cards are issued by banks and credit unions and have MM/YY expiration dates printed on them. Every 2–5 years, your debit card will expire, and you'll need to get a new one to complete transactions. You won't be able to make purchases using a card that has expired.

This come together with customers with queries, what happens when a debit card expires? When do debit cards expire? Does it expire at the beginning or end of the month?

Normally, a few weeks or months before your current card expires, your card issuer will give you a new one. Debit cards have a month-end expiration date, not a month-start date. If your card is about to expire or has already expired and you haven't received a replacement, phone or visit your bank branch to get a new one.

It might throw your financial life into shambles if you are ignorant of your card's expiration date. When your debit card expires, you will no longer be able to use it to make purchases. All of your online, in-store, and automatic bill payments will be declined.

Can you get money off an expired debit card? Yes you can, even if your card expires and you still had money in it, you can still get the money off the card. Want to know how to get your money? Continue reading.

In this article, we will discuss on what happens when a debit card expired and how to get money off an expired debit card.

Why Do Debit Cards Expire?

Many individuals dispute the benefit of keeping expiration dates because of the problems and inconvenient nature of expired debit cards. You won't be able to withdraw or deposit money at an ATM, for example. Also, if your debit card expires, all automatic bill payments will fail.

So, why do debit cards have an expiration date? Isn't it preferable if you could keep using your card indefinitely? Yes, in a perfect world, but no, in reality.

CHECK ALSO: How to Bypass CVV Code to Complete Online Payments

Why Do Debit Cards Need Expiration Dates?

1. Method of fraud prevention

The cardholder must present the expiration date as well as the CVV number when making online purchases. To make the card more secure, the expiration date and CVV number must be changed from time to time, much as your PIN.

2. Ensure your card stays in good working order

Debit cards are subject to wear and tear over time. Wear and tear can cause a card to become unreadable and stop operating unexpectedly, whether it's due to the number wearing off, the magnetic stripe or chip being scraped, or the card shattering. Issuers specify expiration dates for outdated cards to be replaced with new ones in order to preserve the plastic card in excellent working order.

3. Keep up with tech changes

Debit cards and card readers must keep up with fast-changing technology. When old cards expire, banks replace them with new ones that include the most up-to-date security features, making it more difficult for fraudsters to use a stolen card. For example, older debit cards had a magnetic strip, whereas contemporary debit/credit cards include EMV chips, which are more secure.

When Does a Debit Card Expire?

Your card's expiration date is determined by the issuer and the date printed on it. Most debit cards expire within two to three years of being issued, with a few lasting up to five years.

The expiration date of your debit card is printed on the front of your card in MM/YY format. The first set of numbers indicates the month, and the second set indicates the year in which your card will expire. Your card is valid till the last day of the month that is printed on it.

Your debit card will expire at the end of the month that is printed on it. If the date on your card is 12/2025, for example, it signifies your card will expire in December 2025. And as such, you can use your card until the 31st of December 2025 before midnight in our example here.

Your card becomes useless when the clock strikes midnight, and you may no longer use it to make transactions or withdraw cash from an ATM. Then you'll begin using the replacement card, which will be delivered to you with a new expiration date.

Credit cards are the same way. Credit cards, like debit cards, are valid until the end of the month indicated on the card. Just before midnight, you can use the card to make purchases. After that, the card becomes unusable, and you'll need to get a new one to keep transacting and buying things.

Can You Use an Expired Debit Card?

No, you can't use an expired debit card.. Your debit card being denied will most likely come as a shock to you. After all, you've presumably been using it flawlessly for years, and it can be disheartening when it stops working.

You won't be able to make any purchases if your debit card isn't working since it's expired. Additionally, if you have automated payments set up, they will be refused as well, resulting in a few vexing emails.

Keep in mind that debit cards are scheduled to expire from time to time for your safety. As a result, do not attempt to use a debit card that has expired. Instead, request and activate a new card.

CHECK ALSO: How to Get Cash from Credit Card Without PIN

If my Debit Card Expires This Month, Can I Still Use It?

No, your debit card will not work past the month's end date printed on the card. You won't be able to use the card anywhere else. An expired debit card, for example, can restrict you from withdrawing or depositing money at an ATM, as well as completing online and in-store transactions. In addition, all auto invoices charged to your card will be returned to you.

You won't be able to get your money unless you go to the bank, which takes time. Keep an eye on the expiration date written on the card to avoid any hassle that comes with an expired debit card.

If your debit card's expiration date is 05/2022 and today's date is 06/2022, your debit card is already expired and will not work. A few weeks or months before the expiration date, your bank should have issued you a new card. You must now use the new card rather than the old one.

If your card is about to expire and you haven't received a replacement, call or visit your bank.

Do Debit Cards Expire at the Beginning or End of the Month?

Debit cards do, in fact, expire at the end of the month rather than at the beginning.

Let's say your card's expiration date is July 20, 2022. Your card is good until July 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. As a result, you can continue to use your card throughout June. However, once the clock strikes midnight on July 1, 2021, your card will become worthless and unable to be used for any transaction.

Don't put off seeking for a replacement card until the last minute. Before your current card expires, your bank will usually give you a new one automatically. However, if this does not occur, be proactive and obtain a card with a new expiration date to avoid any problem.

How Long Can You Use a Debit Card After it Expires?

You may be wondering how long you may use your debit card if it is about to expire. Check your debit card and search for the expiration date. It is frequently accompanied with a month and a year. You have till the end of the month in which the debit card expires to utilize it.

If your debit card expires this month, for example, it should be valid until the end of the month. Your debit card should operate until the end of the month, whether it's the 30th, 31st, or 28th. At the same time, you should acquire your replacement debit card as soon as possible. You don't want to be stuck without a means of payment for sometime.

CHECK ALSO: How to Use Credit Card Without PIN

What Happens When Your Debit Card Expires?

What happens when your debit card expires? Is it possible to use an expired debit card? What is the procedure for renewing a debit card?

When your debit card expires, a number of things happen. To begin with, if your debit card is expired, it will not work. This means that you won't be able to use the card anywhere. You'll get an error message like "Invalid Card" if you try to make an online purchase by entering the expiration date in the MM/YY field. The same is true for in-store transactions as well as withdrawals and deposits from ATMs.

Before your current card expires, your bank or credit union should have mailed you a new one. If your current card is about to expire and you haven't received a replacement in the mail, go to your bank or call them. Call a customer care representative if your financial institution does not offer a 24-hour retail branch. It's well worth your financial security.

What to Do When Your Debit Card Expires?

The most important thing to know when your debit card expires is that you must obtain a new one. It may be unpleasant, but this safeguard is in place for your financial security - and it's not as difficult as you would imagine.

To protect your financial information and get your new card working, you'll need to take a few steps.

1. Get a New Debit Card

Obtaining a new debit card is, of course, the first step. Most banks, fortunately, have an automatic system in place that will track your debit card and notify you when it is about to expire.

Debit cards usually last between two and five years after you receive them. The expiration date will most likely be printed on the face of the card.

It's likely that you'll receive an email alert notifying you that your old debit card is about to expire. Your new debit card should arrive soon, according to the same email.

Because this new debit card will be mailed to you, you must remember to check your mailbox on a frequent basis. If your mailbox is in a shared location, make sure you lock it when you're finished. Nobody will mistakenly take your mail this way.

CHECK ALSO: How to Use Credit Card Without CVV Code

2. Activate the New Debit Card

You'll probably see a sticker on the front of your new debit card once it arrives in the mail. This sticker will tell you what you need to do to get your new debit card activated.

Usually, there is a phone number to call. Then you'll follow the instructions. Typically, you must provide your card number, security code, and PIN. Your debit card number should be 16 digits long.

You might be able to make a transaction with your new debit card if you don't want to go through the automated prompts to activate your card. The card can then be activated by entering your PIN at the retailer. Because they do not want to hold up the line behind them at the grocery store, most individuals choose to phone the number on the card.

Finally, using an ATM to activate your new debit card is a viable option. To make a deposit or withdrawal with your new debit card, you'll need to enter your PIN, which will activate the card.

3. Get Rid of the Old Debit Card

You must dispose of your old debit card now that your new debit card is activated. You've probably been using it for a long time and developed an emotional attachment to it, but you need to get rid of it.

At the same time, you must ensure that it is appropriately disposed of. You should never throw your outdated debit card in the trash since it could be stolen and used to gain access to your personal financial information.

Instead, make sure your debit card is fully shredded. Many paper shredders contain slots for cards, even if chopping it in half is sufficient. If you want to be certain you protect your confidential financial information, you should take advantage of that slot.

4. Update Your Payment Settings

Make sure you update your new card's information on all of the accounts linked to your debit card to avoid missing payments and late fees. Online subscriptions, automatic bill payments, Venmo, PayPal, newspapers, childcare, gym memberships, life insurance payments, discount massage memberships, and any other accounts linked to your expired debit card are examples of linked accounts.

An even better option is to link all accounts linked to your debit card to your checking account. As a result, the next time your debit card expires, you won't have to do anything.

Furthermore, unlike expiration dates and CVV numbers, which vary with each debit card, your checking account number and bank's routing numbers do not change unless your bank advises you to do so.

When it comes to routing numbers, check out our tutorials on how to locate your Navy Federal Credit Union or TD Bank routing numbers.

Can I Withdraw Money With An Expired Debit Card?

No, an expired debit card cannot be used to withdraw funds. If you want to withdraw money, you'll need to get a new debit card if your old one has expired. This is a crucial security feature, because you can't do anything with an expired debit card.

You won't be able to withdraw any money with an expired debit card, even if you input your PIN correctly at the ATM. It is preferable to shred the old debit card and activate a new one.

How to Get Money Off an Expired Debit Card

If your debit card just expired and you had funds in it, do not worry, there are still some ways to get money off the debit card.

1. Request a New Card

To get money off a expired debit card, you will need to request for a replacement card for your expired card. The replacement card will come attached to your bank account that was linked to your expired debit card. In this way, you can use your new debit card to get money off your account.

2. Visit a Nearby Bank Branch

Visiting a bank branch near me can be really helpful when trying to get money off an expired debit card. The good thing is, when you visit the bank branch, you will just need to provide your card and its PIN to the customer service to verify you own the card, they will guide you through steps to get money off your expired debit card.

Can An Expired Card Be Charged?

Unfortunately, expired debit card cannot be charged. You won't be able to buy anything at the grocery shop if your debit card has expired. This will not work if you have automated payments set up to go through an expired debit card.

Do not attempt to make a purchase using an expired debit card. You must instead order a new debit card and activate it once it arrives.

Do I Need to Order a New Debit Card When it Expires?

When your old debit card expires, you may not have to order a new one. The great majority of financial institutions have an automatic system that monitors your debit card's expiration date. When your current one is about to expire, you should automatically receive an email stating that a new one is on its way.

Remember to keep a watch on your mail so you don't lose track of your new debit card when it arrives. That way, you'll be able to activate it right away and get rid of your old one.

Do Debit Cards Automatically Renew?

Yes, your debit card should be renewed automatically. When your old card expires, if you still have a valid checking account with that financial institution, they should give you a new one. You'll almost certainly get an email notifying you that your old card is about to expire and that your new card is on its way.

Keep a watch on your mail to ensure you don't lose your new debit card. When your new debit card arrives, make sure to activate it as soon as possible. Then safely dispose of the old one.

Do Debit Card Numbers Change with a New Debit Card?

No, unless the card was lost or stolen, your debit card number remains the same with a new debit card. The 16-digit number on the card remains the same if the card has outlived its valid-through date. The Card Verification Value (CVV) and expiration dates are the only details that alter on the card.

If you've been a victim of identity theft or your card has been stolen or misplaced, you may need to update all of your card information.

To avoid the risk of your card information being stolen, you'll be given a new debit card with a different number, CVV, and expiration date.

Your bank may even urge you to close your checking account and start a new one in specific situations. In that instance, your account number is changed, and you're given a new debit card with your updated bank information.

Can I Still Use My Debit Card if I Ordered a New One?

Yes, you can use your current debit card until the newly ordered card arrives. Assume you order or receive a new debit card three weeks before the expiration date of your current card. Then, as long as you haven't activated the new card, you can keep using the old one until it expires.

However, you do not have to wait until the card's expiration date to activate it. The greatest thing you can do is activate your card as soon as you get it. You'll have enough time to update your online and bill payment account information to reflect your new debit card information and avoid any payment delays.

When you activate a new debit card, the old one is instantly deactivated. As a result, even if your old debit card hasn't expired, you won't be able to use it anymore.

For example, your new debit card will arrive on September 31, 2022, and your current card will expire on September 32, 2021. That's it if you get a fresh replacement card with a new expiration date and elect to activate it right away. After that, you must begin using the new card in the future.

Even though your old card has one month left until it expires, you won't be able to use it once the new one is active. The new one has rendered it dormant. You must use the newly issued replacement card after its activation.

Will My Direct Deposit Change if I Get a New Debit Card?

Direct deposits and standing orders for monthly bill payments do not alter when you obtain a new debit card. Because your direct deposits are connected to your checking account information, such as your account number and routing number, rather than your debit card, this is the case. When you acquire a new debit card, these do not alter.

Your regular or auto payments set up with the debit card, however, will stop working and will need to be adjusted when you obtain a new debit card. It's because your debit card's details, such as the CVV and expiration date, are connected to auto payments.

Because these details change with each new card, you'll need to update each autopay account with the new card details in order to resume payment processing.

My Debit Card Expired and I Haven't Received a New One

If your old debit card has expired and you haven't received a replacement, check your email to see if the debit card came with a tracking number. Then double-check your mail to be sure you didn't miss anything.

If you've recently moved, it's possible that your debit card has expired and you haven't received a replacement because it was sent to your previous address. Because this could pose a severe security risk, you should notify your bank straight once. That way, they'll be able to deactivate the card they provided you and send you a new one.

Can Refunds Be Made to Expired Debit Cards?

Expired debit cards can receive refunds, as per card issuers. What happens if I buy an air mattress or a television at Walmart and discover it's defective on May 1st, 2022, but my card expires in April?

For example, Walmart's TV return policy requires you to return a TV or any other item to the store for a refund, store credit, or exchange during the Walmart return hours. Only the original payment method and card used to make the purchase are eligible for a refund. It means that my refund can only be applied to the card that has already expired.

Fortunately, card providers allow refunds on expired debit cards to be processed. If you already have a replacement card, your refund will be promptly deposited into your account, and you will be able to access the funds with the new card.

However, in the instance of debit card fraud, your bank will close both your card and your checking account. Your refund will be put on hold if they start a new account with a new debit card. If 15 days pass before the money is automatically wired into your new checking account, you'll need to contact your card issuer to request a transfer.

You can also choose to get store credit in the form of a Walmart gift card. It's a simple approach to prevent having to deal with refunds on an expired card.

What Happens to Your Subscriptions When Your Card Expires?

You must update your account with your new debit card if you have subscription services attached to an old debit card. Although your new phone number will most likely be the same, the security code and expiration date will almost certainly change. As a result, if you want your charger to work, you must update your information.

When your debit card expires, if you do not update your card details, your automated charges will be denied. You will most likely receive an email alert, and you will need to update your payment information to avoid a service interruption.

Final Thoughts

When a debit card expires, the card is usually unusable. You cannot use the card for purchases or to withdraw funds from an ATM. To get money off an expired debit card, you will have to request a replacement card which will be mailed to you within some business days.

However, the best practices to follow when your debit card expires is to request for a replacement card, activate it and get rid of your old card.

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About the Author

Tebid Kelly is a Graphic Designer, Web Developer, Ethical Hacker, Programmer, and Content Creator who showcases his skills and experience on his blogs. He also has much love for finance apps such as Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, etc on which he ha…

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