I recently had my FNB debit card locked at an ATM while i was trying to withdraw funds, as you all know you are only allowed to enter the pin 3 times. Guess it was a stressful day, never had this happen before.

How do you unlock your credit/debit card?

I know this is annoying, but because of a security risk you are required to take your card to your nearest branch to have them activate the credit/debit card again. Unfortunately you cannot reset your pin on a locked card online, therefore the nearest FNB branch is the only way out.

What proof do you need when visiting a branch for re-activation of a locked debit/credit card?

All that is required is proof of identity (drivers license or ID document) and your locked card. To speed up the event, do not stand in the teller queue having to find out that you need to be at the service desk. FNB will re-activate the card and give you the opportunity to provide a new pin. Be sure to remember the new pin, to avoid visiting the branch again.

Safety Tips on how to keep your PIN safe

General obligations when you use your card and PIN:

• Keep your card safe and the PIN secret in a separate place from the card.
• The card and PIN will enable you to operate the card at ATM’s and transact at merchants.
• When you use the card to buy goods or services from a merchant, you must sign a transaction voucher and/or enter your PIN, as required by the merchant.

Recommended safety measures:

• Never disclose your PIN for your card to anybody, not even a call center agent. You are the only person who should know this number.
• Make sure that you memorize your PIN. Do not write it down on a piece of paper. If you do write the number down, keep it in a safe place, separate from your card.
• When you use your card at an ATM, enter your PIN in such a way that no one can easily follow your keystrokes. If someone is standing too close to you and you feel you are being watched, rather walk away from the machine and draw money elsewhere.
• Change your Online PIN and passwords regularly.
• PIN-based transactions with a card reported as lost or stolen are not covered by Lost Card Protection.

ATM Safety Tips – from FaceBook

There are more than 400,000 ATMs in the United States and that number is growing rapidly. Citizens National Bank has 35 in our community and is dedicated to keeping its customers safe at those locations.   “We believe that even one incident of ATM crime is too many,” said David C. Verble, President & CEO of Citizens National Bank. “Customer safety is our top priority when it comes to ATM use.”

The bank works closely with the local police department to prevent criminal activity around local ATMs.  In addition, the bank has taken preventative measures to enhance consumer safety including installation of surveillance cameras, increased lighting and withdrawal limits.   Citizens National Bank takes a number of precautions to ensure that its customers have a safe environment, but there is no substitute for good, cautious behavior on the part of the customer.

Citizens National Bank recommends that customers follow these safety tips when using any ATM:

As an FNB Petro card holder you have automatic access to AA Emergency roadside assistance:

AA Emergency Roadside Assistance include:

AA roadside repair services (no restrictions on distance from home)

• Emergency refueling when stranded (up to a max of 5 litres);
• Flat battery restarting;
• Changing of flat tires;
• Key lock-out service (up to maximum of R250)

AA tow-in service

• In the event of a mechanical or electrical breakdown (up to a max of R500)

AA courtesy services (covered to a max of R500)

If the incident occurs more than 100Km from your home, the AA will provide one of the following up to a maximum of R500.

• Car hire to your destination home or address;
• Overnight accommodation for you and up to four passengers; or
• Transportation or costs of transportation for you to collect your repaired vehicle.

In the event of an accident

If you are involved in an accident, the AA will arrange for you vehicle to be towed to the nearest AA approved repair center or destination of your choice. You however will be responsible for the costs incurred.

AA emergency Roadside Assist

How To make use of this AA Emergency Roadside Assistance?

All you need to use this service is your FNB Petro Card and simply do the following:

• Call 0860 70 60 50 and provide the operator with your FNB Petro card number (16 digit printed on the card)
• An AA appointed contractor will be dispatched to provide you with the required assistance
• On arrival the appointed AA contractor will request you to produce your FNB Petro card and proof of identity in order to facilitate the emergency assistance.

Debt, the deadly killer.

Cost of living seems to go up day by day and the middle income consumer can’t even cope, then how are the less fortunate suppose to survive? I’m working for the second largest IT firm in the world and has suffered a three year in a row “NO INCREASE”, thus putting me so far back I could actually resign and look for a student job somewhere, maybe I’ll  earn more. Fact of the matter, I’ve spent so much on my credit card and my debt is starting to crunch me like nobody could imagine (I am sure many other consumers and “spenders” feel the same).

An interesting article shows that some steps could save you in the end. Well, take a look..

Johannesburg – South Africa has not yet shaken off the weight of the consumer-led recession.

At 78%, the ratio of debt to disposable income is still far too high for that.

In addition, it looks as if many consumers deliberately built up further debt in the Christmas period with a view to now applying for debt counselling.

Excessive debt can also have serious implication for the economy.

The current debt position of many South Africans has also raised concern about the brake that this could place on economic growth. But not all debt is bad.

Stanlib economist Kevin Lings says that debt is good if it is used by companies, government and individuals to buy assets that increase in value. That’s provided there is sufficient cash flow to pay off the debt.

Lings says it’s not always necessary for assets to exceed the debt, but then the consumer must still be financially able to repay the debt.

A consumer has too much debt if debt repayments hamper cash flow and he can’t repay all the debt in time. That leads to panic and tension, because of the number of unpaid accounts and the large sums involved.

The biggest mistake that consumers in this position can make is to ignore their debt.

How to take care of the problem

According to guidelines set up by the National Credit Regulator (NCR), consumers who feel the pinch of their debt must immediately contact the credit providers. Most credit providers will be prepared to receive a smaller payment, rather than no payment.

It is also important to discuss the financial situation with the family, so that the necessary adjustments can be made, especially if unnecessary expenditure on luxuries must be cut.

After that, it’s important to draw up a budget with a list of priorities for repayment.

According to the NCR, the essentials, like a home mortgage bond, electricity and insurance, must be paid first, then the day-to-day expenses.

Provision must be made in the budget to pay the most expensive debt off first. That’s usually debt on credit cards and personal loans, especially from a microlender.

If necessary, luxuries – like eating out, entertainment, alcohol or cigarettes, domestic servants, garden workers and gambling – must be eliminated in order to pay off the debt.

People who are feeling the pinch of debt must at all costs avoid borrowing money to pay off the debt. Further loans simply create more debt – so do not obtain more shopping cards or credit cards in an effort to get out of the debt.

For people who are deeply in debt and lose their jobs, the last resort is to use part of their package to pay the debt.

The NCR advises consumers to cut out all non-essential items. This builds discipline, and the money saved in this way can be used to pay the debt and can later be put away as savings.

Rather than cancelling insurance policies in an attempt to save money, try to cut out luxuries. Insurance policies should also be reviewed regularly, and the premiums should be adjusted if the value of the insured goods has fallen.

Another guideline from the NCR for avoiding excessive debt is to return articles to the credit provider if you can no longer afford the repayment. In this way, you will have far fewer problems than if the credit provider starts threatening to repossess.

In terms of the National Credit Act, consumers are entitled to return goods if they can no longer afford the repayment, if certain procedures are followed.

Luke Hirst, MD of debt counselling company Debt Busters, says that consumers must find out about their rights if they are threatened with repossessions and summonses.

In terms of the National Credit Act, credit providers must give consumers written notice and state what the options are, including bringing the payments up to date.

Before the credit provider is allowed to cancel any agreement, the consumer has the right to pay all arrears amounts.

Hirst says that South Africans are still burdened by too much debt, and the only way they can be helped is if the interest rate is cut by a further 1,5 to 2 percentage points.

Hirst thinks it will be still be more than five years before the debt crisis is completely over. At present, 11m of the 18,7m active credit users are a month or more in arrears with their debt.

Lings says the lowering of interest rates makes it easier to repay debts. He expects further debt consolidation and then a gradual improvement in debt positions.

- article by Sake24

Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (ABSA) has amalgamated with 4 distinct banks in South Africa, the 4 banks were Allied, TrustBank, United and Volkskas.

Do you own a secondary Credit Card/Garage Card?

If you do own a credit card you can apply for a secondary credit card or a garage card and link this to your existing credit card. Give ABSA a call today and get your credit cards today.

How do I pay my Credit card?

Paying off your credit card is simple and easy. You have the following paying options:

• Pay your credit card using a debit order;
• Pay your credit card using an ATM or Branch deposit;
• Pay your credit card using Internet banking, the fast easy and secure way of banking.

How can I increase my credit card limit?

Your credit card limit can be increased at your request, just give ABSA a call and they will review your request.

How do I control the cost on my credit card?

Managing costs on your credit card can help you save. Paying with your credit card can be “cheaper” than using other means of payment for example a cheque or cash.

• There is no transaction fees on Credit Card purchases.
• You have up to 57 days interest free credit on purchases. Settle your outstanding balance on your credit card in full on or before the payment due date and you will avoid interest charged to your account on purchases.
• You can save money by using an Absa ATM rather than SASWITCH ATM’s. An ATM is also a cheaper and more convenient channel for basic transactions such as transfers and account payments than visiting your Absa branch.

For more information visit your nearest branch.

You can easily pay accounts and transfer money from your ABSA credit card via internet banking. You can register for online banking online or simply go to your nearest branch and they will set this up within minutes.

And, thanks to ABSA! here are a few thing to keep in mind and pay attention to the warning signs. Keep your money safe, ALWAYS!

Ensuring a safe Internet Banking experience

• Do not provide your information on any website unless you are sure you’re at the valid Internet Banking site. Always visit www.absa.co.za and click on ‘Logon to Internet Banking’. This will redirect you to the valid internet banking site.
• Ensure that the padlock icon is visible on your browser (either at the top, or at the bottom, of the screen); and logon to Internet Banking.
• Make sure you receive your logon alert via SMS.
• Ensure that your own personalised security SurePhrase™ message is displayed.

Your SurePhrase™ message will only be displayed if you are on the valid Absa Internet Banking site. No fraudulent site is able to replicate and display this message. You can change your SurePhrase™ message by clicking on the ‘Portfolio’ tab within Internet Banking, and then on ‘Personalise my Service’.

What is phishing?

You may receive emails seeming to be from Absa, requesting you click on an Internet link to confirm or update your Internet Banking login details. These messages are not from Absa, and are fraudulent attempts to gather your sensitive information – like PIN numbers and passwords.

Remember that Absa – or any bank – will never send an email or SMS requesting users confirm or update their sensitive details.

• Report any lost or stolen credit cards as quickly as possible to your bank, this will avoid any further transactions with the stolen or lost card. You can contact ABSA Credit Card division at 0800 11 11 55
• Never leave your wallet, purse or handbag unattended. Details on your card can easily be copied or skimmed.
• It is good practise to sign your credit card and to keep it safe.
• Treat your credit card like cash and do not leave it lying around.
• Another thing to consider is to use your credit card to pay for goods when you shop, this is not only convenient, but puts you out of the risk to carry cash with you.
• Check your bank statements regularly and thoroughly and report any suspicious transactions to the bank.

That’s all for now, take care…

I have to say in times like this, having an extra buck is worth so much to your empty pocket, well at least mine! We are all facing the economic crises and we are all feeling the dreadful crunch. So, lets try and save a bit on things we know or perhaps the things we don’t know.

To start off, if you missed the topic on saving on credit card fees then please go and read this, it is so worth it. Here is the link in case you don’t have it “Save on Credit card fees“. Okay, back to a short summary on how to save money.

• Savings help in the long run, decide on an amount to save every month and don’t go too high.
• Once you get your savings up, it can be a backup if you need to do something urgent or if you need to buy things which are expensive without using your credit card.
• Earn some interest on your savings.
• Keep or stick to your minimum budget payments, and don’t fall behind this could be costly.
• Plan your cash withdrawals ahead, and refrain from drawing multiple small amounts in a short period. Remember you are charged a service fee each time you transact.
• You can also study your bank statements and try to see where you were charge excessively and try to avoid that.
• Next time you use your credit card, categorize between “I want this” and “I need this”. If you don’t have the money or the ability to pay it back soon, then try to avoid it until you can afford it.

Well, these examples are just a few, but if I can think of any more ways to save money, then I will DEFINITELY add it to this list. Take care…..

Applying for a credit card these days are so simple. You can either visit your nearest branch or simply do this online.

Things you will need when applying for an ABSA credit card:

• You will need an ID book or passport;
• Proof of income, so ask your employer for a salary slip;
• You will also need to compile a list of expenses including the amounts outstanding (expenses like Edgars account, Woolworths account, Cellphone account and so on);
• If you are younger than 18 you will need to apply at your nearest branch for surety;
• Also if you are self employed, you will need to provide them with at least three months worth of bank statements or have your accountant write Absa a letter on their letter head;
• If you are married you may have to provide your spouses Id document; and
• Lastly you will be required to sign or acknowledge the terms and credit card conditions.

Once the verification step is complete, then it just a case of answering a couple of questions about yourself. Things like occupation, health, marital status, number of dependants and so on. Easy, right? So get your ABSA Credit Card today and enjoy the spending or swiping!

Tips to save or reduce your credit card fees.

• Use the Internet to do your banking – payments online to your ABSA credit card will prevent you paying cash for deposit fees.
• Using or swiping your credit card will benefit you in in two ways;  1) free purchase transactions, seeing no withdrawals and 2) you have the 57 days interest free period on all your transactions (remember to stick to your minimum outstanding payment required at the end of each month to avoid penalties)
• Transfer extra bucks into your credit card account to gain interest or to reduce interest against your credit.
• Please note that cash withdrawals and garage transactions do NOT fall into the interest free period, interest on these transactions will be calculated on the date of transaction.
• Also remember cash withdrawals at a non ABSA ATM, will result in a additional fee/service charges.

Hope this help in saving an extra buck or two on your credit card…