At the end of 2023, the number of bank cards issued by payment service providers in the Republic of Moldova reached 3.29 million. According to the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), each resident owns at least one payment card.
To ensure maximum security for every transaction made with a bank card, it's essential to understand how to protect your personal and financial data and follow safety measures for storing and using your card. In this article, created in partnership with Ziarul de Gardă, you'll learn how to secure your card, use ATMs safely, and what to do if you become a victim of fraud.
How to secure your card?
For safe card usage, experts at maib recommend following these basic rules:
- memorize your PIN and never save it in your phone or on the card itself;
- you can change your PIN directly from the maibank app if you’ve forgotten it;
- when creating a new PIN, avoid obvious combinations like your birthdate or the last digits of your phone number;
- if you have several cards, don’t set the same PIN for all of them;
- when making purchases, always keep the card within your sight. Request a mobile POS terminal or used a fixed one;
- always check the amount displayed on the payment terminal screen before confirming your purchase;
- ask for a payment receipt for any approved or declined payments at a merchant;
- regularly check your bank statement to spot any suspicious transactions and block your card if necessary.
In 2023, 73% of all transactions made with bank cards in the Republic of Moldova were cashless payments. However, in terms of value, cash withdrawals exceeded cashless payments. For instance, in 2023, cardholders in Moldova withdrew approximately 88.5 billion MDL, accounting for 59% of the total value of transactions nationwide, according to the NBM.
How to use ATMs safely?
- avoid using an ATM if you notice any additional devices that weren’t there before. Fraudsters may have installed such devices to steal card data;
- make sure no one is watching as you enter your PIN;
- always cover the keypad while entering your PIN.
Withdraw cash using only your phone at maib ATMs
At maib ATMs, you can withdraw cash using any card – whether local, international, or issued by another bank – directly from your phone's digital wallet:
- It works with any card – withdraw money from local or international cards, regardless of the issuing bank.
- No physical card required – use your phone with a digital wallet (Google Play, Apple Pay, or other compatible apps) for fast and secure withdrawals.
- 24/7 availability – maib’s ATM network (ATM and TSS) and maib 365 zones are accessible around the clock.
How to withdraw cash from your card using Contactless at maib ATMs:
- find a maib ATM with NFC (Near Field Communication) functionality. You can check for the nearest ATM by visiting the bank’s website “unit network” or using the maibank app “map”;
- hold your physical card near the ATM’s NFC reader;
- follow the on-screen prompts to select your currency and desired withdrawal amount;
- once confirmed, the funds will be immediately available.
If you become a victim of fraud and have shared confidential personal or bank data, follow these steps:
- immediately block your card through the maibank app;
- take the compromised card to the nearest bank branch;
- notify the bank and file a police report.
* This article is created in partnership with maib as part of the “Your Money – a Guide to Bank Security” financial education project.
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