Skip to content Skip to navigation
MENU
COTA Victoria Logo
Login
Get Involved
Home CLOSE
MENU
  • About
    About
    CLOSE MENU
    • Annual reports and financial statements
    • Staff
    • Board of Governance
    • Contact Us
    • Work with us
      • Current Job Opportunities
    • Our supporters
    • COTA Victoria Privacy Statement
  • Policy
    Policy
    CLOSE MENU
    • Our policy priorities
    • Policy positions
    • Stories of Change
    • Policy Development Committee (PDC)
    • Aged Care
      • Telling your story
    • Assistive Technology for All
    • Ageism in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Elder Abuse | Seniors Rights Victoria
    • Social Isolation
    • Submissions
    • Publications
    • End of life
    • COTA Green Sages
    Priorities for older Victorians: Submission for the Victorian State Budget 2023-24
    COTA Victoria's Strategic Plan 2023-2025
  • Information
    Information
    CLOSE MENU
    • Looking for information?
    • COVID-19 resources for older Victorians
    • COTA WISE services
    • How-to guides
    • It’s Your Energy - New Energy Rights for Victorians
    • Resources
  • News
    News
    CLOSE MENU
    • Latest News
    • Media
      • Media Releases
    • COTA Connects
      • COTA Connects Archive
      • Sign-up for e-Newsletter
    • ONE COTA magazine
  • Events
  • Our Programs
    Our Programs
    CLOSE MENU
    • Older Men: New Ideas (OM:NI) men’s discussion groups
    • Care Finders
    • Employment Support
      • Women Working Together
      • Locals Working Together
    • Living Longer Living Stronger
      • Find a Living Longer Living Stronger program in your area
      • Living Longer Living Stronger Online
      • Exercising at home
        • Random Acts of Exercise
      • Living Longer Living Stronger providers and instructors
    • Victorian Seniors Festival
    • COTA Cycling
  • About
  • Policy
  • Information
  • News
  • Events
  • Our Programs
  • Login
About
  • Annual reports and financial statements
  • Staff
  • Board of Governance
  • Contact Us
  • Work with us
  • Our supporters
  • COTA Victoria Privacy Statement
Work with us
  • Current Job Opportunities
Policy
  • Our policy priorities
  • Policy positions
  • Stories of Change
  • Policy Development Committee (PDC)
  • Aged Care
  • Assistive Technology for All
  • Ageism in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Elder Abuse | Seniors Rights Victoria
  • Social Isolation
  • Submissions
  • Publications
  • End of life
  • COTA Green Sages
Aged Care
  • Telling your story
Information
  • Looking for information?
  • COVID-19 resources for older Victorians
  • COTA WISE services
  • How-to guides
  • It’s Your Energy - New Energy Rights for Victorians
  • Resources
News
  • Latest News
  • Media
  • COTA Connects
  • ONE COTA magazine
Media
  • Media Releases
COTA Connects
  • COTA Connects Archive
  • Sign-up for e-Newsletter
Our Programs
  • Older Men: New Ideas (OM:NI) men’s discussion groups
  • Care Finders
  • Employment Support
  • Living Longer Living Stronger
  • Victorian Seniors Festival
  • COTA Cycling
Employment Support
  • Women Working Together
  • Locals Working Together
Living Longer Living Stronger
  • Find a Living Longer Living Stronger program in your area
  • Living Longer Living Stronger Online
  • Exercising at home
  • Living Longer Living Stronger providers and instructors
Exercising at home
  • Random Acts of Exercise

Debit cards for passbook holders

9 June 202003/05/2021
Consumer Rights, COVID-19, Finance, Information
Debit cards for passbook holders preview image

Australian banks have announced that they will issue debit cards to customers who don’t have them and who may be self-isolating. This will allow people to continue to pay for their goods and services online and over the phone throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, some customers have passbook accounts or transaction accounts with no linked debit card. These customers may have difficulty paying for goods because they can’t get to the bank, or because a retailer isn’t accepting cash. Debit cards will allow people to pay without cash in-store, online or over the phone.

How this might affect you

If you have a passbook account or a bank account without a debit card, your bank will contact you to let you know that a debit card is being added to your account. Alternatively, your bank may open a new account with a debit card and allow you to transfer funds from your passbook account to your new debit card account.

Do I need to use the card?

You don’t have to activate your debit card. If you’re not having trouble managing your current accounts and paying for the things you need, you may decide you don’t need a debit card. You can dispose of the debit card without activating it.

Is the card ready to use straightaway?

Before you can use your card, you’ll need to contact your bank to activate it. Your bank will ask you security questions to confirm your identity. Only you can activate your card. Once activated, your card is ready to use.

Do I have to use online banking with this new debit card?

No, you don’t have to use online banking. Only set up online banking for your new debit card if you’re comfortable using the internet or have a trusted person who can assist you. Don’t give your banking passwords or PIN to anyone.

Can I give my card to a friend or family member to do my shopping?

Giving your debit card or PIN to someone means they have access to the money in your account. Only do this if you trust the person and are sure they will not use your money for anything other than what you have asked. Make sure you ask the person for receipts so you can continue to keep track of your spending.

You can speak to your bank about setting up your debit account so it only has a small amount of spending money in it, while the rest of your money stays in your passbook account.

I’m not sure I trust my family member with my money

If you don’t trust a family member or friend, or if you think they might access your money without your knowledge, don’t let them help you set up the card or online banking. Don’t give them the PIN or password.

If you feel pressured by friends or family members to give away money or access to your accounts, talk to someone you can trust. You can call Seniors Rights Victoria’s helpline on 1300 368 821 for a confidential discussion and support.

How do I keep track of my money without using my passbook?

Keep track of your account by contacting the bank and asking them to post regular statements to you. If you notice unfamiliar or suspicious transactions, contact your bank.

I used my debit card a few times but want to go back to using my passbook

If you activated your card but decided you no longer need it, call your bank to ask them to cancel the card.

Where do I go for help?

Call your bank directly if you have any questions about activating or using your debit card.

 

COVID-19, debit cards, passbooks

RELATED NEWS

A new link between trusted health services and aged care services preview image

A new link between trusted health services and aged care services

20 March 2023
Read more
Read more
Information and education to plan for your future preview image

Information and education to plan for your future

17 March 2023
Read more
Read more
COTA Victoria responds to sharp rise in power bills preview image

COTA Victoria responds to sharp rise in power bills

16 March 2023
Read more
Read more
SHARE THIS CONTENT:
COTA Victoria Logo
  • About
  • Policy
  • Information
  • News
  • Events
  • Our Programs
Seniors Rights Victoria Registered Charity
Follow on
Facebook
COTA FEDERATION
  • ACT
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia
COTA Western Australia COTA Northern Territory COTA Queensland COTA New South Wales COTA ACT COTA Victoria COTA South Australia COTA Tasmania
Follow on
Twitter
GET INVOLVED
  • Seniors Rights Victoria
  • COTA Connects newsletter
  • Get Involved
  • COTA Insurance
  • Follow on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on LinkedIn
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Contact Us
Seniors Rights Victoria
TERMS PRIVACY CONTACT SITEMAP
© 2023 COTA Victoria ABN 81 960 500 420 WEB DESIGN CODE AND VISUAL
Back to top
All correspondence may also be collected and stored, particularly in regard to registrations, including Email. Any information collected by COTA Victoria is collected via correspondence from you or your organisation. This may be via the telephone, Email, mail, fax or directly through our website.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT