Here are some of the benefits

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Absa Advantage

Get rewarded instantly by completing simple challenges on the Absa Banking App.

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Absa Rewards

Get cash back whenever you pay with your card and more.

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You can bank on us when it comes to your card and safety

Here are some handy tips and information about your Private Banking debit and credit card.

  • New card activation steps

    New card activation steps

    1. To activate your card, do a transaction at a point-of-sale or withdraw cash from any ATM, using your PIN.
    2. For a reissued card, use your previous card’s PIN.
    3. To retrieve your PIN

    • Log into your Absa Banking App, select Cards from the bottom menu and then select the relevant card.

    • Log into Absa Online, select Settings > My Card Management > PIN Retrieval and then the specific card from the dropdown menu.

    • Visit the nearest branch with your ID.

           4. For added security, activate your NotifyMe SMSs to receive transaction notifications. Customers who use the Absa App and have enabled push notifications in app, will receive their transaction notifications via App.

  • Features of your debit card

    • Increased fraud protection with our new range of chip cards.
    • Convenient NotifyMe service, which lets you track your spend via SMS for every transaction you make.
    • Cash withdrawals at over 800 Absa ATMs and at point-of-sale outlets nationwide.
    • International acceptance for swiping and cash withdrawals.
    • Visa benefits.
    • Lost card protection for peace of mind, however you’ll need to notify the bank.
    • Card personalisation capabilities such as printing your name on it before we deliver it.
    • Peace of mind when shopping online with 3D Secure technology.
    • Increase and decrease your daily spend limit quickly by logging in to your Absa Banking App, on Absa Online Banking, or visit your nearest Absa branch.

  • Features of your credit card

    •  Internationally accepted – a great companion when travelling.
    • As soon as your card is issued, whether it is your new card, renewal (reissue) card or an upgrade, track the status of your card using the Track Delivery feature in the Absa mobile App.
    • Absa Credit Coach in App – helps you monitor and improve your credit profile. Credit Coach is located under “Offers” tab.
    • Build your credit history to help you secure future loans.
    • Up to 57 days’ interest-free on meeting qualifying criteria.
    • Pay no transaction fees on card swipes.
    • Safe and secure online shopping with Verified by Visa when you shop at participating 3D-Secure online merchants with SMS or in-App verification.
    • Automatic basic travel insurance included when you purchase international return tickets with your card.
    • Protect your credit card account with a Credit Protection Plan.
    • Your credit limit can be adjusted online, via the call centre or at any Absa branch.
    • Full ATM functions, including cash withdrawals from any ATM worldwide.
    • View your PIN or card details on the Banking App
    • Secondary credit cards

    *Underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited or via Visa (Chubb Insurance South Africa Limited), depending on your card.

  • What you need to know about your card

    • To retrieve or change your PIN, set transaction limits, or perform other card management functions:
    • Visit your nearest branch with your ID.
    • Log in to your Absa Banking App, tap Menu, tap Cards and then select the relevant card.
    • Log in to Absa Online Banking, tap Full service, tap Profile, then tap Card Management then tap the action you want to perform.                 
    • For added security, activate NotifyMe SMSs. Register on Absa Online under the Profile tab, call Telephone Banking on 08600 08600 and select option 1 or visit any branch. Fees may be charged on certain accounts."

  • Card safety tips

    • Memorise your PIN and store your card safely.
    • Never keep your PIN and card together.
    • Never share your PIN with anyone.
    • Always watch your card at till points.
    • Make sure you get your card back after every purchase.
    • Never trust strangers or ask them for help at an ATM.
    • Treat your contactless card as cash – always keep it safe.
    • Temporarily lock, stop or replace your card anytime using your Absa Banking App.
    • If your card is retained by an ATM, contact us immediately and block your card before you leave the ATM.
    • Always cover the pin-pad or terminal each time you type in your PIN at an ATM.
    • Never share your one-time PIN or Password (OTP) with anyone.
    • We will never ask you for an OTP. If you receive a call asking for your OTP, hang-up immediately and contact our Absa Fraud Hotline on 0860 557 557, or report the incident via our Absa Mobile Banking App by selecting ‘Menu’, then ‘Report Fraud’.
    • Keep track of your account balances and transactions via the Absa Banking App or Absa Online Banking so that you can identify any suspicious activity on your account.
    • To report a lost or stolen card contact the 24/7 Absa Stop Card Centre on 0800 11 11 55.

  • Credit card financial tips

    • Get up to 57 days interest-free on qualifying credit card purchases when you pay your outstanding balance by the payment due date. Interest is charged from the transaction date on cash withdrawals, casino transactions, fund transfers (inter-account, branch and ATM), budget plan purchases, ATM account payments, Garage Card transactions (including fuel purchases via Garage Cards), beneficiary payments, CashSends, prepaid and Lotto.
    • Set up a debit order to ensure you never miss a payment.
    • Budget facility: Buy items that cost over R300 and pay equal monthly instalments over 3 to 60 months. Items on budget can be moved back to normal/straight facility. Call the number on your card for assistance.
    • Minimum repayment; In order to ensure no customers will amortise negatively*, the minimum repayment is a maximum of either: 
      • 3% of balance calculation + initiation fee (where applicable) + budget instalments + arrear amounts + over-limit amounts for Visa Platinum and Signature card holders.
      • 10% of balance calculation + initiation fee (where applicable) + budget instalments + arrear amounts + over-limit amounts for Visa Infinite card holders.
      • R25.00 (if the account’s minimum payment is less than R25.00, but the outstanding balance is more than R25.00).
      • If the minimum payment is less than R25.00, but the outstanding balance on the account is also less than R25.00, the outstanding balance becomes the minimum payment.   

                         

    *Negative amortisation occurs when the principal amount on a loan increases gradually because the loan repayments do not cover the total amount of interest costs for the period. 

Your Absa debit card is contactless-enabled and can be used to tap to pay for all transactions where the contactless/payWave symbol is displayed.

For transactions over R500, or merchant-dependent limits, you will be asked to enter your PIN. However, you may not be asked to enter your PIN for all transactions above R500, due to factors such as merchant decision, the difference in international point-of-sale devices, the use of digital wallets and biometrics.

Contactless transactions on your debit card are debited to your transactional account and transactions on your credit card are debited to your credit card account. These transactions will appear on your statement with all your other transactions.

Please safeguard your contactless-enabled card to avoid fraudulent use. We will never ask you to share your PIN to maintain your card or transaction limits via telephone, SMS or email.

You can deactivate your card’s tap-to-pay functionality by calling the Card Call Centre on 0861 462 273.

If your contactless card is lost or stolen, you can request a replacement for a fee. Call Absa immediately on 0800 11 11 55 if your card is lost or stolen or your PIN is compromised.

Opt for our value-added NotifyMe service to get SMS and/or email alerts when you use your card.

Read more about your card's contactless functionality.

Apart from contactless payments with your card, we offer access to a host of other innovative digital payment solutions such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay.

Travel Insurance
Private Bank Visa Visa Signature
International trips: R3 million emergency medical and automatic basic travel insurance cover for 90 days* Medical expenses cover up to US$750 000**
Find out more about our top-up cover and the benefits and conditions for taking up Bryte Travel insurance.
 View benefits and conditions of your travel insurance
*Underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited **Underwritten by Chubb Insurance South Africa Limited on behalf of Visa

Airport lounge access

  Private Bank Visa Visa Signature for Young Professionals Visa Signature
Bidvest Premier domestic and international departure lounges at South African airports only

Primary credit card holder:
 24 visits per year.

Secondary card holders: 
Combined 24 visits across all secondary cards.

*Qualifying spend criteria

Spend R10 000 in the month in which the Bidvest airport lounge is used or spend a total of R30 000 over 3 consecutive months before and during the month of the lounge visit.

You still get access to lounges even if you spend less than the qualifying amount or have used all your complimentary visits, but at the Absa preferential rate.

Absa Rewards member

To qualify for your lounge benefits you must be registered on the Absa Rewards programme

Primary credit card holder: 
18 visits per year plus an additional 2 guest entries per year.

Secondary card holders: 
Combined 18 visits across all secondary cards plus an additional 2 guest entries per year.

Preferential rate is charged after you have used all your allocated visits.

Absa Rewards member

To qualify for your lounge benefits you must be registered on the Absa Rewards programme

Primary credit card holder: 
24 visits per year plus an additional 2 guest entries per year.

Secondary card holders: 
Combined 24 visits across all secondary cards plus an additional 2 guest entries per year.

*Qualifying spend criteria

Spend R12 000 in the month in which the Bidvest airport lounge is used or spend a total of R36 000 over 3 consecutive months before and during the month of the lounge visit.

You still get access to lounges even if you spend less than the qualifying amount or have used all your complimentary visits, but at the Absa preferential rate.

Absa Rewards member

To qualify for your lounge benefits you must be registered on the Absa Rewards programme
Find out more about Bidvest Lounge Access and Bidvest Lounge hours and services.
International lounges
Visa Airport Companion App (VAC), provided by DragonPass		 N/A

Complimentary airport lounge membership for primary and secondary cardholders via the Visa Airport Companion App (VAC), provided by DragonPass

Six access passes to over 1 200 of the finest airport lounges around the world (including one guest visit per entry)

Complimentary airport lounge membership for primary and secondary cardholders via the Visa Airport Companion App (VAC), provided by DragonPass

Six access passes to over 1 200 of the finest airport lounges around the world (including one guest visit per entry)
Find out more about Visa Airport Companion App (VAC), provided by DragonPass

Access premium experiences and everyday benefits with your Visa card.

Visa Local Offers

Redeem exclusive deals from local merchant partners to help you make the most of every occasion. Local Offers are available to all Visa cardholders.

Exclusive Deals

Visa have negotiated discounts across the world for you to enjoy, so you can be rewarded for using your Visa card no matter where you are. Explore the Visa website to see which rewards your card unlocks.

Buyers Protection

Your purchases may be entitled to Purchase Protection.

Extended Warranty

Use your Visa card to pay for your purchases and items purchased may be eligible for the benefit of Extended Warranty. This benefit automatically doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty for an item purchased with your Visa card. 

Concierge

Visa presents Visa Concierge services to Visa Signature cardholders. Take advantage of a host of services available to you over the phone or online, 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the world.

Services available

  • Flight reservations
  • Hotel reservations
  • Restaurant reservations
  • Car rental reservations
  • Event ticket purchases
  • Trip planning
  • Other general requests

Concierge hotlines

Visa Signature Concierge hotline:

  • Toll-free: 0800991556 (South Africa only)
  • International Direct Dialling: +44 (0) 207 136 8631

Alternatively, you can send an email to concierge@visasignature-SSA.com

Global Customer Assistance Service (GCAS)

No matter where you are, Visa’s Global Customer Assistance Service (GCAS) is ready to respond as your fast and reliable 24/7 support network.

If your card has been lost or stolen abroad, for example, GCAS will assist you immediately.

Services from GCAS include:

  • Quickly reporting and blocking a lost, stolen, damaged or compromised card
  • Expediting emergency cash disbursement so you are assisted within 2 hours
  • Expediting emergency card replacements so you are assisted within one business day
  • Cardholder inquiry service. You can call anytime, no matter where you are, to get quick answers or additional information
  • You’ll receive a direct transfer to your financial institution for any account-related questions that can’t be answered

South Africa: 0800 900 475 / Worldwide +1 303 967 1090

You may also visit Visa.co.za and use the drop-down menu to locate a more exact GCAS number based on your location.

Cardholders may register a profile on the Visa Cards Benefits and Offers platform to learn about redeemable offers.  Visit the Visa cards website and 'Create an Account' or just navigate the benefits on the page. The site is mobile optimized.

Please note: The Visa cards website does not store any Visa card details after your card tier is determined.

Manage your money while you’re on the move. Use your Absa Banking App to:

  • View your card details digitally (including expiry date and CVV).
  • Stop and replace your debit and/or credit card.
  • View your account balances.
  • View your 90-day transaction history.
  • Retrieve your card PIN.
  • Lock your card (if lost or misplaced).
  • Lock/Unlock specific transaction types that you don’t need (such as international purchases).
  • Do transfers and make electronic payments.
  • Change daily card limits.
  • Set travel notifications to enable your card to function across borders.
  • Buy prepaid airtime, data, electricity and buy Lotto tickets.
  • Absa Credit Coach in App – helps you monitor and improve your credit profile. Credit Coach is located under “Offers” tab.

Download our Absa Banking App and enjoy fast, convenient banking on your phone or tablet.

 

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See our rates and fees

Need more help?

Call us on 0860 553 553 or (+27) 11 501 5011 (International)

Email privatebanking@absa.co.za

For Lost and stolen cards call us on 0800 111 155 (24/7)
Log on to your Absa Banking App