OREANDA-NEWS. May 11, 2011. Starting in June, SEB clients will no longer need to come into a branch to collect their new bank cards – they will be sent to them free of charge by post. This change is related to existing cards which are renewed upon expiry, with the new cards having the same PIN as the original, thus making postage more secure, reported the press-centre of SEB.

“SEB issues around 150,000 such cards every year – which is to say new cards replacing those which have expired,” explained Eerika Vaikmäe-Koit, the head of SEB’s Retail Banking and Technology Division and a member of its management board. “To date clients have been sent letters telling them that their new cards were ready for collection from one of our branches, meaning they had to make time to come in and collect it before their old card expired. Needless to say it wasn’t a very efficient system, for our clients or for the bank. But starting in June we’ll be sending new cards to clients by post, around two weeks before their old cards are due to expire, and they can activate them whenever they like at an ATM, online via the Internet bank or by calling the telephone bank. It will be free, too – so far our clients have had to pay 20 kroons or EUR1.28 to have their cards sent to them by mail.”

Under the new system, clients will receive a letter or e-mail two months prior to their card’s expiry date informing them that their card is due to expire and they will be asked to confirm that the bank can send their new card to the address on file. Clients then have one month to change the address or to decline to have the card sent to them by post, after which the new card will be made and sent to them at least 10 days prior to the old card expiring. Where possible, clients will also be informed of the arrival of their cards by SMS. Bank cards issued by post will not be activated until the clients themselves activate them at an SEB ATM, via the Internet bank or by calling the telephone bank. Upon doing so, the old card will automatically become inactive. No PIN will be sent with the new card, since it will remain the same.

“We’ll only be sending new bank cards to the postal addresses we’re sure are correct,” Vaikmäe-Koit said. “That’s why it’s important that clients regularly confirm their contact details with the bank – otherwise they’ll have to come in and collect their card, as before. In future we’re looking at sending as many as 80% of clients’ cards by post, which will save at least 120,000 clients the worry of having to come into a branch.”

Information about the new procedure can be obtained by calling +372 665 5100.