Debit Cards for Online Shopping:

What’s not to like about a debit card? Debit cards offer several advantages that cheque and cash simply don’t have. They offer the convenience of making payment by just swiping the card at merchant outlets, saving you from carrying thick wads of cash, especially if you are making a large purchase. Unlike a credit card, you cannot fall into debt with a debit card since you can only spend what is available in your bank account. Moreover, you can use a Debit Card to make online transactions. Almost all banks offer this convenience. You just need to make sure that MasterCard or Visa card is accepted on the online platform you are buying on.

Are debit cards accepted for online shopping? Yes!

Online sites across travel, entertainment, dining takeaway and hotel reservations, apparel shopping, grocery shopping, etc. accept debit card as a payment option. Whether it be utility bill payments or just shopping for everyday things, you can easily manage payments with a debit card from the comfort of your home without ever stepping into a store.

How to buy online with a debit card

Making online payment with debit card is safe and convenient. Your online debit card transactions are secured by a 3D Secure (3DS) technology, which is an added layer of security for online debit card transactions. Remember you need to first register your debit card for online payment. There are several ways to pay with a debit card during online shopping:

• You can pay via NetBanking through your NetBanking account

• You can make a payment by authenticating the transaction using a One-Time Password (OTP). The OTP will be automatically sent to your registered mobile number via SMS when you initiate the online transaction.

• You can generate your Verified by Visa password and authenticate the transaction.

Not only are debit cards convenient and safe, they are also rewarding! Several banks offer debit cards that reward spending on online shopping. For instance, the HDFC Bank Rewards Debit Card offers 5% savings on everyday spends at partner merchant websites. The more you shop online using this debit card, the more you earn reward points. You can enjoy up to 2000 Reward points per month. This card offers reward points when you shop at partner sites across categories like grocery, fuel, railways, and pharmacy to earn your monthly reward points. Following are the partners:

• Online Shopping – Snapdeal

• Fuel - BPCL

• Grocery - Big Bazaar

• PayZapp – All payments on one app

• Railway – IRCTC (www.irctc.co.in)

• Pharmacy - Apollo Pharmacy (Earn additional 20% discount)

• HDFC Online Smart Buy

Similarly, State Bank of India offers several offers on its debit cards. You earn 1 Reward Point for every Rs.200 spent with your State Bank Debit Card. You can also shop across a range of products and categories on the State Bank Rewardz website and avail offers.

If you are a frequent online shopper, then it makes sense to opt for a online shopping debit card – not only do you get a discount on many selected sites, but you can also earn rewards on your other purchases as well. Get rewarded while shopping from the comfort of your computer or your phone!

Note: The cards mentioned in the article are merely indicative of the kinds of rewards available on the market. You will need to choose your card based on your specific requirements.