July 27, 2025 · 11 mins read
Santosh Kumar
Credit cards are an essential product of financial convenience in India today. They allow seamless transactions using Indian Rupees, possible from a person's grocery shopping in Hyderabad to a flight from Delhi.
However, before enjoying the perks of your newly issued credit card for cash back, reward points, or waivers and discounts for fuel surcharges, you will need to activate the card before you can trust the credit card. While most credit cards today come with online activation, there is also a complete credit card activation offline alternative.
Activating your credit card offline is an alternative available for people who live in areas with limited internet services or would like to take the credit card activation method from the comforts of their home without relying on the internet.
This article will discuss how to activate a credit card offline in India. We will explore activation methods, problems you may encounter, benefits, and finally show you step-by-step instructions for activating your credit card offline. You will be ready to make those purchases by swiping or tapping your new credit card in no time!
The offline credit card activation process is a better option, especially considering India's varied landscape, and, within India, both very tech-savvy cities, like Bangalore, and also the more rural parts of states like Uttar Pradesh, where internet connectivity is not as reliable. There are many parts of India where offline is often the only way to ensure accessibility for everybody.
The offline choice will greatly benefit senior citizens, first-time credit cardholders, and people who are cautious about using any online banking due to security issues. For example, a retiree in Chennai could use the offline route as they will likely have an SBI branch nearby to go to instead of navigating a website or mobile app; in contrast, a student in Jaipur could use the ATM activation option as it usually only takes a quick visit to the ATM.
As well, the offline credit card activation process method has the benefit of not having to navigate complicated mobile apps or websites, allowing users a greater spectrum of accessibility across India's varied demographics.
Furthermore, the offline credit card activation process serves the banking culture of India poorly, and banks and people rely on trust and face-to-face interaction rather than dealing with a digital option. Banks like HDFC, ICICI, Axis, and SBI have large numbers of branches, and ATM networks are geographically distributed, so that in India, you could be activating your card either as a wealthy individual in a metropolitan area or in a rural location. Let's consider the main ways to activate the credit card offline.
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Find a Branch: Use your bank's website, mobile app (offline), or customer care number to find a branch nearby. For example, if your bank is ICICI Bank, you can find a bank branch easily, as they have more than 5,000 branches in India, and even small towns like Bhopal and Guwahati will have one, so you are sure to be close to one.
Documents Required: You will want to take your credit card, one government-issued photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN, passport, or voter ID), and the welcome kit or letter that came with your card. These are used to verify who you are and quickly get you on your way.
Go to the Bank: Tell them that you want to activate your credit card (offline). They will either give you a form or take you to the Counter they have dedicated to credit card services.
Identity Verification: The bank may ask for a one-time password (OTP) received on your registered mobile phone number or through your ID verification. For example, Axis Bank usually asks someone to use the Aadhaar details, and it typically doesn't take long.
Generate Your PIN: You will be asked to generate a permanent 4-digit PIN with a secure terminal at the bank. This PIN will be used for transactions like (Point of Sale - POS) purchases or Cash Withdrawals (in Rupees).
Confirmation: The bank will tell you that your card is active at this point and ready to use. You will typically receive an
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With 200,000 ATMs operating in urban and semi-urban India, ATMs are a preferred offline credit card activation option and are typically the quickest way to activate your card by yourself. Several banks, such as SBI, Indian Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, and others, currently support ATM-based credit card activation.
Below are the common steps to make your life easy when activating via ATM.
Look for Bank ATMs: When activating your card via ATM, use an ATM operated by your card-issuing bank (for instance, an SBI ATM if you have an SBI SimplySAVE Card, etc.). You may want to check the bank's website for ATM locations or walk through local markets or the street outside your branch to find one.
Insert Your Card: After finding a Bank ATM, slide your card in and choose the language - English, Hindi, or your local/regional language, such as Telugu, Kannada, etc.
Choose Activation: On the menu options, select: Credit Card Activation or is it, to select options for PIN Generation. The wording may change with different banks; for example, HDFC ATMs list the option as, `Set Credit Card PIN."
Enter Your Details: There will be several prompts, including but not limited to: Date of Birth, CVV (back of card), or an OTP sent to your mobile number registered with the bank. Based on experience, ICICI Bank ATMs typically use the OTP as the primary method of verifying activation.
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If you'd prefer not to leave your house to activate your credit card, calling customer care is the best way to activate your credit card offline. Most Indian Banks, including SBI, HDFC, and ICICI, have a 24/7 interactive voice response (IVR) system for credit card activation.
Steps to Activate the Credit Card from the Customer Care
Find the Toll-Free Number: Look at the back of your card or in the welcome kit for the customer care number.
Choose the Language: Now that you have dialed the number, select either English, Hindi, or a regional language such as Marathi or Bengali.
Follow the Menu through IVR: Choose "Credit card services" or "credit card activation", you will hear an option for "credit card activation", from there you will get information on how to activate a credit card offline.
Confirm Your Identity: Enter your 16-digit card number, date of birth, or other forms, and you may receive a one-time password (OTP) to your registered mobile number.
Set up your PIN: You will get step-by-step instructions on how to generate your PIN. It is important you note that a PIN is needed whenever you make a payment.
Confirmation: You will hear confirmation that you are activated, and shortly after, you will receive a text message or email from your bank confirming you are activated.
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Several banks, such as Bank of Baroda or Kotak Mahindra, offer an SMS-based offline credit card activation process (subject to availability).
To activate via SMS:
Check your Welcome Kit: Check your welcome kit or the bank's website for instructions on activating online using SMS. For example, you might have to send “ACTIVATE ” to a number specified by the bank.
Send the SMS: Send the SMS from your registered mobile number in the specified format.
Receive OTP: The bank will send you an OTP to verify your identity.
Set your PIN: You will have to follow instructions thereafter, which may include an auto reply SMS or an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) process to set your PIN.
Confirmation: You will receive an SMS confirming that your card is activated and ready for use.
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Issues you may encounter and how to deal with them
OTP Delays: If you are not receiving your OTP, make sure to check your network coverage or update your mobile number at a branch or through customer care.
ATM Issues: If an ATM is not allowing you to activate, try another ATM or go to the branch. Make sure you are using the ATM of the correct bank.
Branch Crowds: If you are visiting a branch in a busy city like Bangalore or Ahmedabad, you may face wait times. Consider visiting earlier in the day, or call the branch and schedule an appointment.
Limited SMS Support: If you do not have an SMS activation option, try ATM or IVR methods instead, as these will be more widely available.
Language Understandability: If you do not speak or understand English or Hindi, choose a regionally supported language option when using the ATM or IVR systems. ATMS and IVR systems support several regional languages, such as Gujarati and Malayalam.
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Accessibility: The offline method works great in areas with no or poor internet connectivity, such as rural Rajasthan or parts of the Northeast.
Direct Engagement: If you go to a bank branch or call customer care, you can talk to a real person who can guide you through your first-time use, or for those unfamiliar with cards.
No Digital Skills Needed: No need to use apps or websites, and therefore, age does not matter, and everybody can use it.
Quick to Use: Most offline methods allow the card to be used right away, for UPI payments or shopping in Rupees.
India's credit card industry is growing rapidly; more than 80 million cards are circulating, primarily from banks like SBI, HDFC, and ICICI. In addition to the rise of RuPay Credit Cards, which facilitate UPI transactions, the function of credit cards in general has rapidly grown.
Whether customers are earning reward points in a mall in Noida or enjoying fuel surcharge waivers in Surat, the offline access credit card activation process allows everyone to benefit from credit cards without restrictions regarding their access to the online world.
Since there are several offline options for banks to provide access, their diversity reflects the diversity of India. For example, youth who are more comfortable in technology-driven environments may prefer mobile solutions contrary to traditional customers, and India's varied retail environments necessitate this method.
Yes. You can also activate your card where you have a card ATM or by calling the customer care number to activate your card offline. These are quick ways to activate credit cards without internet access, and there is no need to find a branch.
Yes, it is a requirement to set up a PIN on your credit card when you activate it offline, so you can have a secure transaction on your Credit card at POS, ATM, or for UPI transactions in Rupees.
The top banks in India, like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, and Bank of Baroda, all support offline credit card activation processes, which include activating at a branch, ATM, or customer care, making it easy nationwide.
Yes, as soon as your card is activated and your PIN is set, you are ready to go and are able to make instant purchases in Rupees, use UPI transactions, and withdraw cash from ATMs across India.
Check your network connectivity or update your registered mobile number, either by calling customer care or visiting a branch. Once the mobile number is updated, make sure to have the mobile on, in order to receive the OTP for verification.
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