No bank visit needed: debit cards to be issued instantly at ATMs

Getting a debit card after opening a bank account used to mean an 8-day wait, with the card arriving by post. Some banks now issue cards within a day, but a branch visit and paperwork are still required. The government is now set to launch a facility that will let customers get a debit card directly from an ATM machine.

The Global Fintech Fest 2026 is being held in Mumbai from 8 to 11 September. On the second day of the event, the evening of 9 September, the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) will launch this new facility. It will completely change the old process of issuing debit cards. At present, getting a new card means visiting the bank, submitting an application, and then waiting 7 to 10 days for the card to be printed at the head office and delivered. If the card is lost in transit, the entire process has to be repeated. The new system will do away with all of this.

The government's aim is clear: to make the process simpler and faster. Bank branches currently see such heavy footfall that people have to queue up even for a routine card, adding to the workload on staff as well. The new ATM facility will save customers time and ease the load on banks. People in rural areas, where banks are often far away, stand to benefit the most, as they will simply need to visit their nearest ATM to get the job done.

Once the system is in place, there will be no need to visit a bank at all, cards will be issued directly from ATMs. For instance, if a card is lost in the morning, a new one can be obtained from a nearby ATM by the afternoon.

The process will be straightforward. If a debit card is lost, damaged or has expired, the customer only needs to go to a nearby ATM. The screen will show an option such as "Instant Debit Card" or "Get New Card". After selecting it, the customer will need to enter their Aadhaar number or account number, along with an OTP sent to their registered mobile number. Once identity is confirmed, the machine will print and dispense the new debit card on the spot, much like cash is dispensed from an ATM. Some banks will also use biometric verification, such as a thumbprint scan, to ensure no one else can obtain a customer's card, making the process fully secure.

This single step is expected to significantly modernise banking services. Customers will benefit, and the pressure on bank branches will ease, as people will no longer need to visit branches for routine tasks. It remains to be seen which bank is the first to install these machines at its ATMs once the facility is launched. What is certain is that in the coming months, the days of waiting for the postman to deliver a debit card will be over.