UBA introduces instant PIN for debit cardholders

United Bank for Africa Plc on Sunday said it had introduced an innovation allowing customers to immediately select their Personal Identification Numbers for their debit cards.

The development, according to a statement by the bank, eliminates the current process of handing out PINs in sealed mailers.

The bank stressed that the initiative would allow customers to select a PIN of their choice, using a specialised POS at any of its business offices or ATM locations.

'Specifically, all eligible debit cards such as the MasterCard, MasterCard Verve and Verve debit card will no longer have the physical PIN mailers printed anymore,' the bank said, adding that, 'the platform will also be used for all walk-in customers who have forgotten their PIN and require a PIN re-issue.'

The statement quoted the bank's Divisional Head, e-Banking, UBA, Mr. Yinka Adedeji, as saying, 'As long as the customer has a UBA debit card, PIN change can be done at anytime.  Also, the process is safer because the customer is physically present and the code is sent via SMS to the registered mobile phone number.'

Adedeji said the bank was already in the process of implementing the instant PIN solution across all 19 African countries where the bank is present.

'UBA remains dedicated to card security by deploying best in class technology to safeguard customers' cards details, transactions and ultimately, their funds; all UBA cards are secured with the MasterCard SecureCode, verified by Visa and the Verve SafeToken,' he added.

The bank had recently introduced a security operations centre to protect its customers from cyber-crime and the activities of fraudsters.