BMO Debit Mastercard^®

Log in to your account at bmo.com, navigate to Your Account and Manage debit/ATM cards, Activate Card. You can also call 1-877-547-7994 to activate your card.

If it’s a replacement debit card, you can also activate your card by simply making a transaction using your existing PIN at any ATM or in store.

Yes, you can easily link your savings account to your debit card. Visit your nearest branch or call 1-888-340-2265 and we’ll be happy to help.

Call us immediately at 1-888-340-2265. Also, review your account for suspicious activity and report any transactions you don’t recognize.

Chip cards have an embedded microchip, which gives you increased protection against fraud every time you use your card at a chip-enabled terminal. Learn more about chip cards.

Your debit card has no annual fee and no fee for purchases. The only exception is if you use your card while traveling in another country, or to make a remote purchase from the United States with a foreign merchant, in which case a foreign transaction fee will apply, regardless of whether a currency conversion is required. If you use your debit card at another financial institution’s ATM, a fee may apply. Please see your Deposit Account Agreement for more information on fees.

Remember, BMO debit card customers get unlimited fee-free transactions at over 40,000 BMO and Allpoint^® ATMs nationwide.  Footnote 2²

You can use a debit card just like a credit card wherever Mastercard^® is accepted. The difference is, when you use a debit card the money is deducted directly from your BMO checking account, so you don’t owe anything after. It’s a great way to manage your money and avoid building up credit card debt.

When you use your debit card to make a purchase, the merchant will request an authorization — in other words, an approval — for the transaction to confirm that your account is open and has enough money in it to cover the amount. A merchant hold or authorization hold simply means that the amount of the purchase has been set aside in your account — it is, ‘on hold’ as a pending transaction. It will stay on hold for up to 3 Business Days if you made the purchase in person, or up to 5 Business Days for online, phone or mail order purchases. Once the transaction goes through, the actual purchase amount will be deducted from your account. It may take several Business Days for the final purchase amount to replace the pending transaction amount on your account.

If you have an issue with a purchase you made, please contact the merchant. If you need further help, please call us at 1-888-340-2265.

Log in to your account at bmo.com, navigate to Your Account and Manage debit/ATM cards, Change PIN.

You can also request a new PIN by visiting your nearest BMO branch or by calling us at 1-888-340-2265 for assistance. If you know your PIN, you can also change it at any BMO ATM.

When traveling domestically or internationally, you can use your debit card to make purchases anywhere that accepts Mastercard^®. If you need further help, please call us at
1-888-340-2265

In 2019, Mastercard^® made signature panels optional, with data showing that only 40% cardholders still used them. With enhanced security like the EMV chip and contactless payments (Ex. Apple Pay^®, Samsung Pay^TM, or Google Pay^TM), BMO has decided to remove the signature panel from its debit cards. Learn more here.

As long as the strip isn’t damaged, you shouldn’t have any issues. Most terminals don’t rely on the magnetic strip and focus on the chip or contactless payments to recognize your card. If your debit card is damaged, you can request a replacement through BMO Digital Banking, calling us at 1-888-340-2265, or by visiting a branch.