Debit Card Support

Your New Debit Card Does it All:  Swipe, Dip, and Tap!

Newly-issued debit cards from Mercantile  include contactless-enabled payment technology built right into your card!   With your new contactless card, you can enjoy a safe, convenient, new way to pay with your debit card.  Best of all, you will save time and continue to experience all the benefits of using your card!

To use your new contactless card, simply "Tap to Pay" wherever you see the contactless symbol:  nfc-payments-logo-0.jpg

  1. Spot the contactless payment symbol on the merchant's payment terminal.
  2. Place your card near the symbol on the terminal (within 2 inches or less).
  3. Look and listen for your payment approval with a ding, green checkmark, or "Approved" message.

For additional contactless options, you may also enroll your Mercantile debit card in your smartphone's mobile wallet (Apple Pay or Google Pay) and often pay with your phone whenever you see this same contactless payment symbol. 

No matter what type of payment terminal you come across, all the options are yours - swipe your stripe, dip your chip,  tap your RFID-enabled contactless card or use your smartphone's mobile wallet at participating merchants!

Important Steps upon Receiving Your New or Replacement Debit Card

  1. Please sign your card upon receipt.
  2. For newly-issued cards, your personal identification number (PIN) will arrive separately from your card in the mail. Memorize your PIN. Do not write it on the back of your card or keep it with you, and never disclose your PIN to anyone.  For replacement cards, PINs remain the same and are not mailed.
  3. Activate your card.  Before using your card, you must first activate it by calling: 800-992-3808.
  4. Destroy your old card(s) when expired or when your new card is activated.
  5. Keep your card in a safe, secure place in your wallet and return it to this same place after each use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I have lost my debit card?

Please contact our dedicated E-Services Team immediately, toll-free at 844-637-2411 Monday-Friday 7am-6pm and Saturday 8am-12pm. If it is outside these hours, please call 877-328-2016 to report your card lost or stolen.

You may also use Card Controls to help protect a lost card.  Simply login to your Online or Mobile Banking experience and select "Cards" to turn your debit card "off" right away.  This way, you can easily turn it back "on" again once you find it.  This will help you protect it from any unauthorized use while you attempt to locate it.

To activate a new debit card, please call the following number, toll-free: 800-992-3808. You may also visit your nearest location for assistance.

Please visit the lobby of one of our banking centers. Bring your ATM or debit card, along with a valid photo ID to verify your identity. You will then be able to choose a new PIN that we will help you activate.

If you know your PIN and would like to change it, you may do so using Card Controls in your Online and Mobile Banking experience.  Simply select "Cards" and "Set PIN" under Managa Card.  You may also call, toll-free, 800-992-3808 and follow the prompts.  However, if you have forgotten your PIN or misplaced a new PIN, you will need to visit your nearest location for assistance. This is for your security and account protection, so please be sure to bring your ID and we will be happy to help you select a new PIN.

You may not exceed $5,000.00 (or your available balance if less than this amount) in point-of-sale signature and PIN-based transactions in a 24-hour period.  If you are anticipating a large purchase or group of purchases that will exceed this amount in one day, please contact your E-Services Team, toll-free at 844-637-2411 to request a temporary daily limit increase. 

You may withdraw up to $500.00 from an ATM each 24-hour period. 

Keeping track of your debit card purchases is easy with Online Banking and Mobile Banking.  You can monitor card authorizations as soon as they post, often in real time, and view posted transactions in your account history and on your E-statements

You may also use Card Controls and/or set up Beacon Alerts in your Online or Mobile Banking to turn on real-time transaction alerts.  

We provide continuous, automated monitoring of all debit card activity to help identify and prevent fraudulent transactions on your account.  Transactions and authorizations are analyzed and compared against a database of merchant types, locations, and cardholder behaviors to help quickly spot patterns and incidences of fraud. 

When a transaction is deemed suspicious, you may be contacted by phone, text, or email and asked to verify the transaction and/or recent activity.  These messages will come from the United Community Bank Fraud Center and will direct you to respond to a toll-free number or by replying to the text or email to review and confirm the transactions as authentic or fraudulent.  It is important to be sure your personal contact information is always up to date so that we may reach you in a timely manner.  Visit your nearest location with your photo ID to review and update your contact information. 

IMPORTANT REMINDER:  Once provided to us at account opening, we will never initiate contact with you and ask for your Social Security Number or bank account number(s). If you contact us, we may ask you to verify one or more as a means of identification, but we will never call or email you and ask for this information unsolicited. We advise you to never give out your Social Security Number or any account numbers to anyone that you have not initiated contact with first. 

For more tips on protecing yourself from fraudulent solicitations, visit How to Avoid Phishing Scams in our Financial Resource Library.

Yes.  As long as you use care in protecting your card and notify us right away of any unauthorized use, you are protected by Visa's Zero liability policy. This means you will not be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your debit card or debit card account information. You are protected if your Visa debit card is lost, stolen, or fraudulently used, in stores or online. The only transactions not covered under the Zero Liability policy are certain commercial card, ATM, and non-Visa branded PIN transactions.  

We recommend frequent monitoring of your account transactions and history using Online Banking and Mobile Banking.  You can monitor card authorizations as soon as they post, often in real time, and view posted transactions in your account history and on your E-statements

You may also use Card Controls and/or set up Beacon Alerts in your Online or Mobile Banking to turn on real-time transaction alerts.  

If we suspect that your debit card information has been compromised, even if no fraudulent charges have yet occurred, we will contact you and a replacement card will be issued.  Depending on the nature and severity of the compromise, you may be able to continue to use your card until a replacement card arrives.  If your card does need to be deactivated right away, and you are unable to wait for a new debit card to be mailed, you may request an "instant-issue" debit card.  These cards do not include an EMV chip and are not contactless-enabled, but they can be a convenient solution in an inconvenient situation.

Whenever you receive notice from us or from any creditor or service provider that your personal or financial data may have been compromised or included in a data breach, we encourage you to actively and frequently monitor your bank accounts and your credit reports. 

To easily monitor your bank accounts, use Online Banking and Mobile Banking.  You can monitor card authorizations as soon as they post, often in real time, and view posted transactions in your account history and on your E-statements

You may also use Card Controls and/or set up Beacon Alerts in your Online or Mobile Banking to turn on real-time transaction alerts.  

To learn more about how to monitor and protect your credit, ask your Banker about Guardian Checking and check out the following articles in our Financial Resource Library:  

You may also request free cop­ies of your credit reports. You are entitled to receive one free report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and Trans-Union. Call 877-322-8228 or visit annualcreditreport.com to order your free reports.

Your debit card is accepted everywhere Visa Debit is accepted, even internationally.  However, we recommend you set up a travel plan using Card Controls in your Online and Mobile Banking experience. Simply login, select "Cards" and "Manage Travel Plans."  You may also call or visit us prior to any trips abroad or even if you are planning to travel outside your typical travel patterns in the United States.  This way, a travel notice can be placed on your account to help ensure smooth purchase transactions.   

Hotel Holds: If you use your debit card to reserve/pay for a hotel stay, a large hold may be placed on your account funds to cover the room rate and taxes along with estimated incidentals.  This hold can remain on your account for several days or even weeks after you check out.  Be sure to account for this potential hold amount when planning for your travel expenses and cash needs.

International Fees: When using your debit card internationally, your purchases may be subject to Visa's International Service Assessments and/or currency conversion transaction fees of up to 1% of the transaction amount. 

In the case of a debit card purchase that has already been authorized and/or posted, you cannot stop payment from occurring, but you can dispute the charge after the fact.

The first (and fastest) step to resolve a debit card purchase dispute of an incorrect amount, duplicate charge, or goods or services not received is to begin by contacting the merchant directly.  Most merchants will be able to help you correct any transaction errors that occurred on their end, and this is the quickest way to remedy the issue. 

If this is not possible or you are not receiving the cooperation you need, you may contact us to help you file a formal dispute. There is no fee to file a dispute, but depending on the type of charge and amount, you may be required to provide additional information or specific documentation.  Please visit with a Banker at your nearest location for assistance. 

Everyday Points rewards debit cards are special edition debit cards that allow you to earn points on all of your eligible purchases that you make every day. Points are earned on all qualifying signature-based or "credit" transactions. Once earned, points can be redeemed for gift cards, cash bank, the latest merchandise and electronics, digital downloads, events, entertainment, and travel discounts. 

Everyday Points debit cards come standard with our Rewards, Everyday Points, and Guardian Checking accounts, and are available as an upgrade for debit cards issued on all other checking accounts.  We also offer an Everyday Points Credit Card

To learn more about the program, to convert your current debit card to an Everyday Points card, or to redeem your points, visit Everyday Points or stop by a location near you for complete program details. 

When using your debit card to make a purchase at the point-of-sale (POS), you often have a choice between authorizing your purchase with your PIN (personal identification number) or with your signature, just like you would a credit card purchase.  Even on POS machines that automatically ask for your PIN, you can sometimes still choose "credit" to sign for your purchase. (When signing for your purchase you are not actually using credit; the funds will still be debited, or come out of your checking account for the purchase amount.) 

The primary difference between these options is how the transactions are processed on the back end.  PIN transactions may sometimes settle more quickly, however if you have an Everyday Points rewards debit card and want to be sure to earn points, you should select the signature or "credit" option whenever possible. Depending on the merchant's policies and procedures and/or the dollar amount of your transaction, you may not be presented with an option, and the transaction will automatically process without either your PIN or signature. 

Make a statement each time you use your debit card by adding your favorite photo for a one-of-a-kind card!  Visit our Custom Card Shop for more details and to personalize and order your free custom photo card today. 

Mercantile provides you with access to numerous ATM locations throughout our region, all free to use for any United Community Banks customer! To find one near you or your destination, please use our interactive Locations & Hours Finder.

Yes, however ATMs not owned by United Community Banks may charge you a fee.  You may use all United Community Banks' ATMs free of charge.  This includes all ATMs of United Community Bank, Brown County State Bank, Marine Bank & Trust, Mercantile Bank, Farmers State Bank of Camp Point, & Liberty Bank. See our Locations & Hours Finder to find the most convenient location for you. 

Lost or Stolen Card?

Login to your Online or Mobile Banking, and select "Cards" to access your Card Controls to turn your card "Off," or report it right away by calling:

  • During Business Hours:
    (Mon-Fri: 7am-6pm
    Sat: 8am-12pm):
    844-637-2411
  • After Hours:
    877-328-2016

 

Related

ATM & Debit Card Security Everyday Points Card Controls Mobile Wallet Custom Cards ACE Cards Gift Cards