Unblock/reset pin code in banking app

HeparGirl24

Hi

Are there any banks that let you unblock or change your debit card pin using their banking app rather than physically going to an ATM? 

I lived in France for a while and a lot of their bank's apps facilitated it (probably because of the lack of ATM's in rural France) but I'm struggling to find a UK bank that does the same.

SiliconChip

I don't know how the French system works but in the UK a PIN change would normally require some data (which used to be known as a PIN offset, but may be different these days) to be encoded on the card itself, which is why the change is done in an ATM. The only circumstance in which this might not be needed is an online card where every transaction is authorised centrally, whereas most cards are able to work offline where there is no connection to the bank's authorisation processing. You may find that some basic accounts do this, but I can't say whether any of them offer app based PIN change.

pochisoldi

Unblocking a PIN needs to be done by plugging the card into a device that supports unblocking - an ATM.
The French banks may have a different way of doing it, probably requiring a specific application stored on the card, which allows for the PIN to be marked as unlocked when it is plugged into an online terminal.

(Yes, credit and debit cards have applications on them - thats why some cards will work with a card reader, even though the issue doesn't use the card reader, they have the required application)

DullGreyGuy

How would changing a PIN online work?

Given offline devices can interact with the card and determine if the pin is correct or wrong it must be in some way stored on the card even if hashed or some other non-reversible mechanism. Can't see how else offline devices would know a PIN has been changed online. 

HeparGirl24

I'm surprised the systems are so different.  You could also phone the French bank and use the automated service to unblock the PIN so obviously something is in the euro debit cards that allows for remote unblocking.  

Such a shame.  My father is constantly accidently blocking his card with 3 wrong tries (not usually all at the same time but over several days/weeks) and it's such a faff to find someone to take him to an ATM and help him unblock it each time. App or telephone banking PIN unblocking would be so much easier.

You live and learn.

sausage_time

RBS (and I presume NatWest) will let you unblock a PIN in the app, but only if you locked at a cash machine (but not POS it would appear).

https://www.supportcentre-rbs.co.uk/913225312