National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCBJ) has introduced a new feature in its mobile app that allows customers to instantly block and unblock their debit cards in case of loss, theft, suspicious activity, or to manage their spending. 

This feature gives customers greater control over their finances, helping them pause their cards temporarily when needed, and adds an extra layer of security and convenience.

With rising concerns over ‘friendly fraud’ — where individuals knowingly or unknowingly share their card or card details with friends or family members who then complete unauthorised transactions — NCBJ’s new feature empowers customers to act swiftly to block/unblock in the mobile app, ensuring peace of mind and protection against unauthorised use of their cards.

Danielle Cameron Duncan, NCBJ’s vice-president of payments and digital channels, highlighted the importance of this tool, stating: “Our new block or unblock feature allows customers to protect their cards immediately, whether it’s a misplaced card or unauthorised transactions from someone close.”

Simple and secure control at your fingertips

The block or unblock feature is seamlessly integrated into the NCB mobile app’s user-friendly interface. To activate, customers should log into the NCB app, go to the ‘Bank Accounts’ section, select the account linked to their Visa debit card, and choose the ‘Block’ or ‘Unblock’ option. They will need their RSA token to unblock their card, ensuring an additional layer of security.

Cameron Duncan also encouraged customers to keep their contact details up to date to benefit from e-mail transaction alerts.

“NCBJ customers can receive instant email alerts for every card transaction, and this helps in staying vigilant and provides an ability to act quickly if they notice any unauthorised use,” she noted.

Addressing Friendly Fraud

Friendly fraud occurs when someone close to the cardholder — such as a relative or friend — uses a card without permission after being trusted with the card details. In many cases, the cardholder has shared their card or information thinking it will be used responsibly, but it’s later used for transactions they did not authorise. Despite the relationship, these unauthorised transactions can still cause financial harm, making it essential for cardholders to have quick-response tools like NCBJ’s block/unblock feature when needed.

Building on NCBJ’s suite of mobile app services, this new tool extends the same level of convenience and security available to credit cardholders, now empowering debit card users to manage and protect their finances with ease.