QIB

QIB debit card

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) customers can now use their debit cards to make online purchases, a feature most local banks no longer offer due to security reasons.

QIB said customers can pay bills, make travel arrangements and go shopping online with the cards via a new secure portal.

When using the debit card online, a new window appears requesting users to enter a one-time password. This can be generated using QIB’s Aman app or via an SMS to a registered mobile phone number.

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Photo for illustrative purposes only.

In a statement, D. Anand, general manager for QIB’s Personal Banking Group, said:

“As a leading card issuer in Qatar, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance our products to provide new and unique services.

Being able to use their QIB debit cards online gives our customers more options for managing their purchases and payments – and the peace of mind that their transactions are always secure.”

Security issue

Debit card users who want to shop online have had trouble doing so in Qatar since 2013, after the Central Bank prohibited the cards’ use for internet purchases due to security reasons.

Credit cards were not affected.

In the past few years, however, banks have been coming up with some workarounds.

In December 2014 for example, Commercial Bank rolled out a more secure way of using the debit card online, and Barwa Bank followed suit in May 2016 for its debit MasterCard holders.

Meanwhile, Qatar National Bank (QNB) introduced a QPay Payment Gateway platform in November of last year for businesses.

This allows merchants such as Q-tickets to accept National ATM POS Switch (NAPS) debit cardholders card payments from customers.

Does your bank let you use your debit card online? Thoughts?

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