What is a Green PIN – Its Benefits and How Can it be Generated
When you open a savings account, you can also apply for a debit card that allows cashless transactions with merchants. Moreover, the debit card can also be used to withdraw cash from your savings account through any ATM, without having to visit the bank.
Given the use and convenience of debit cards, they are widely used by customers across the country. The card is protected by a personal identification number or PIN, a unique number that allows you to authenticate your transactions and prevent unauthorized card usage.
The debit card PIN is issued when you get the card. However, given the popularity and penetration of the internet, banks have gone digital in issuing the PINs of debit cards. Now, you can digitally generate your own debit card PIN called the Green PIN.
Read on as we discuss what a Green PIN is, how it works, its advantages among other key pointers.
What is Green PIN?
Introduced in 2016 by the State Bank of India, the debit card Green PIN is a digital PIN generation for the debit card. Today, many banks allow you to generate your own debit card PIN through multiple digital channels. The PIN so generated is called the Green PIN since it minimises the use of paper and helps in preserving the environment.
How Does Green PIN Work?
After you get your debit card, you can generate the Green PIN through –
- Net banking facility
- Interactive Voice Response or IVR
- SMS
- Mobile application of the bank
- Through the ATM
Once you generate the PIN, it becomes the PIN of your debit card that you can use for authorising cashless transactions and cash withdrawals.
Advantages of Green PIN
The Green PIN has various advantages, both for the bank and for account holders. Here’s a look at such advantages:
- It eliminates the need for paper letters sent by banks containing the PIN of the debit card. This cuts down on the postage and delivery charges for banks.
- There’s no risk of the letter containing the PIN getting displaced or stolen. You generate your own PIN making it safe and secured.
- You don’t have to visit the bank, physically, to get your debit card PIN.
- It helps reduce the carbon footprint of wasting paper and helps in environmental protection.
How Can a Cardholder Generate Green PIN?
The process of Green PIN generation is quite simple. You can generate the PIN through different means and the process is different in each case. So, here’s a look at the process of generating the PIN through each mode:
1. Generate Green PIN by ATM
To generate the Green PIN through an ATM, the steps are as follows:
- Visit the nearest ATM of your bank
- Insert the debit card into the card slot in the ATM machine
- In the main menu, choose the option of PIN generation
- Provide your bank account number to authenticate the debit card Green PIN generation
- Provide your registered mobile number so that the PIN can be sent to your phone
- The ATM verifies your account number and the entered mobile number
- If the details are verified, you get the message that the Green PIN generation has been successful and you will get the same on your registered mobile number in a short while
- You will receive an OTP after some time. This OTP will be valid for two days during which you will have to visit the ATM again, enter the OTP and set your Green PIN
2. Generate Green PIN through SMS
Banks also allow customers to send them a text message to generate their Green PINs. So, you can generate the PIN simply by sending an SMS to your bank. The process is as follows:
- Type in PIN EFGH IJKL and send it to the SMS banking number of your bank. PIN means that you want the bank to generate your debit card PIN, EFGH represents the last four digits of your debit card and IJKL represents the last four digits of your savings account to which the card is linked
- You will receive an OTP from the bank on your registered mobile number
- The OTP will be valid for two days
- Visit the nearest ATM of your bank, use the OTP and generate the Green PIN
3. Generate Green PIN using IVR
You can call up the IVR helpline number of your bank to generate the Green PIN. The process is as follows:
- Look up for the IVR helpline number for PIN generation
- Dial up the number and listen to the IVR options
- Select the option which talks about banking services
- A list of services would be specified by the IVR. Choose the PIN generation service
- You will have to provide your debit card number and the savings account number to which the card is linked
- Once the details are verified, the IVR will inform you about sending an OTP. The OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number and will be valid for two days
- During this period, visit the nearest ATM of your bank and generate the Green PIN using the OTP and debit card
4. Generate Green PIN using Internet Banking
If you are a net banking customer of the bank, you can log into your account and generate the debit card PIN. The process is as follows:
- Log into your net banking account.
- On the home page, click on the ‘Cards’ section and choose the service of ‘PIN Generation’
- Choose the card whose PIN you want to generate
- Provide the details that the bank asks, like your debit card number, account number, etc.
- The bank will verify your details. After successful verification, you will get an OTP on your mobile number
- Enter the OTP on the screen after which you will be allowed to create your Green PIN
5. Generate Green PIN through Missed Call
Some banks also allow the missed call facility for PIN generation. To do so, the steps are as follows:
- Give a missed call to the number provided by the bank
- You will get an OTP on your registered mobile number which will be valid for two days
- Use the OTP at the nearest ATM of the bank to create your Green PIN
Difference Between Green PIN and Traditional Printed PIN
There are many differences between the Green PIN and the traditional printed PIN. Here are a few:
| Traditional printed PIN | Green PIN |
| Comes in a traditional printed letter | No printed letter is sent |
| The bank allots an initial PIN that you can also change later on | You have to create a PIN for your card. The bank does not generate any PIN |
| It takes time for the debit card to get activated | This is an instant PIN generation facility wherein you can use the card immediately |
| For a duplicate PIN you have to send a request to the bank after which another printed PIN is generated. It takes several days for the duplicate PIN to be generated | Duplicate PIN generation is instant and quick |
Final Word
The introduction of the Green PIN is a step towards digitising banking services and making them more environment-friendly. It also speeds up the process of PIN issuance and activating the debit card.
While the SBI came up with the idea of Green PIN, it has now become a norm in banking services. Most banks allow you to generate your own debit card Green PIN instantly and conveniently without having to make frequent visits to the branch. So, understand the concept of Green PIN and generate yours when you get a new debit card. However, ensure you never share your debit card Green PIN with anyone to prevent misuse, just like traditional PIN.
FAQs
Ans. There’s no fee associated with the generation of the Green PIN for your debit card. It is completely free of cost.
Ans. The PIN is a unique number that you create and set for debit card transactions. If you do not share the Green PIN with anyone, it would remain secure against fraudulent usage. Only you will be able to use your debit card as you will know the PIN that allows the transactions to go through.
Ans. You can check in with your bank if it offers the Green PIN facility for debit cards. Usually, most banks have started offering this facility and chances are that you will be able to avail of it. But it’s better to confirm with the bank whether the Green PIN option is available.
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This article has been prepared on the basis of internal data, publicly available information and other sources believed to be reliable. The information contained in this article is for general purposes only and not a complete disclosure of every material fact. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. The article does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information, and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Readers shall be fully liable/responsible for any decision taken on the basis of this article.
