If you receive a bank mobile alert saying “Visa card locked” there are two possible outcomes:
First, your bank may have blocked your visa card due to suspicious activity.
Secondly, a malicious third party may be trying to steal your credit card information.
In this article, we’re going to share how you can determine if a bank mobile alert is real or a scam. We’ll also share what to do if the bank has legitimately put a lock on your card.
Importantly, this information will be relevant if you are a US resident or if you have a US credit card for a European resident.
Importantly, this information will be relevant for individuals who are US residents or if you have a US credit card and are a European resident.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Visa Card is Locked… What Do I Do Next?
- How Do I Unlock My Visa Card?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Open Accounts With Banks in the USA?
Visa Card is Locked… What Do I Do Next?
If you have received a notification that your Visa card is locked, you first need to confirm that this is a real notification.
Most importantly, you should never click on any link provided in a text message. Instead, you should contact the bank directly or access your online banking to review recent notifications.
In the following sections, we’ll share the specific steps that you can take to unlock a Visa card that has been temporarily locked. We’ll also share the next steps that you should take if the bank permanently cancels your card.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for information on how providers assess credit history or what credit cards use Equifax, you can access our free guide linked here to learn more.
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How Do I Unlock My Visa Card?
The process to unlock your Visa card will depend on the reason why there is a lock on the card. But also, whether or not the lock is temporary or permanent. If a card has been locked permanently, this means that the bank has canceled your card. This also means you will need to request a new card.
If you are a foreign non-resident, requesting a new card can be difficult to navigate. This is because it will require you to receive a card at your local mailing address or PO Box before the card can be forwarded to you abroad.
However, in most cases, the process to receive a new card will take between one and two weeks. However, forwarding the card to you internationally can double this timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are two of the most common questions that we receive from people who received a bank mobile alert for their visa card being locked. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
Why Did I Get a Text Saying My Card Is Locked?
If you receive a text message saying your card is locked, it’s important that you DO NOT click on any links contained in the message. Instead, your first step is to verify whether there is a lock on the card. To do this, you should contact your bank directly. Or, log in to your online banking and review your recent notifications.
What Can I Do If My Visa Card Is Blocked?
If the bank has put a lock on your Visa card, there are two options available to you. If the block is temporary, your first option is to request that the bank lift the block on your Visa Card. On the other hand, if the bank cancels your Visa card permanently, then you will need to request that the bank issue a new card. Lastly, if the bank issues a new card, you will need to wait one to two weeks to receive the card at your address on file with the bank to receive it.
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