Welcome » IT Booklets » Retail Payment Systems » Retail Payment Systems Risk Management » Retail Payment Instrument Specific Risk Management Controls » Debit/ATM Cards
A significant risk with PIN or signature-based debit or ATM cards is that unauthorized individuals will obtain them and make fraudulent transactions. Financial institutions and their technology service providers should mitigate these risks by executing financial institution-merchant and financial institution-customer contracts that delineate each party's liabilities and responsibilities. Institutions should also establish adequate physical safeguards including the installation of surveillance cameras and access/entry control devices. State and federal laws, particularly Regulation E, protect consumers by limiting their liability if they give notice of lost or stolen cards, or of unauthorized EFTs within a specified period.
ATM stand-in arrangements, which enable EFT/POS networks to authorize transactions if a card issuer or processor is unable to authorize and process transactions, also increase the potential for fraud since normal credit limit and authorization procedures are not in effect. Stand-in authorization arrangements should include reasonable credit limits and defined terms of duration to limit potential financial loss.