Can validity of a card be extended without reissuing a card?

[Samman Kaseeb Sleiman]

I have a MasterCard card from Armenia. On it's written that it's valid till {{Month‌ N}} / 2022. However, recently I've noticied in the internet banking that its validity got‍ extended to be until 2024 (or 2025, I don't remember). That is, for the same⁠ physical card, and not a new one that the bank would issue me.

And the⁤ month of 2024 too has changed.

I asked the bank and it confirmed it -⁣ now it's till 2024.

How can it be?

 

[bisk]

Some banks issue new cards with exactly same number and new expiration date. They will‌ send you new card.

 

[CoinMaster]

It is a fully automatic process, once the card is close to expire they will‌ send you a new card. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Samman Kaseeb Sleiman]

Once again: the SAME PHYSICAL card.

And the bank told me that it wouldn't send‌ me a new card, and instead I'd have to a) order it b) pick it‍ up.

You're talking gibberish.

 

[Forester]

From the technical point of view, it is pretty simple. At the absolutely prevailing majority︀ of cases now, the expiry date of your card is checked against the on-line database,︁ not physically on-site. So it is quite imaginable (although definitely not common, AFAIK) just to︂ change the date in the database and not to bother with issuing & sending a︃ card. Of course, if someone extraordinally curious looks at your card, the need for an︄ explanation will very probably arise...

Now it︇ makes some sense (this information was missing in your previous post). IMO, banks just wants︈ to save some bucks (who doesn't) and offers you voluntarily not to have a new︉ physical card. Customers can be fine with this in many cases, I guess. (I also︊ guess, that ordering and picking up a card would cost you something – and even︋ if not, mailing costs are still zero.) And if you encounter situations when you use︌ your card purely off-line (yes, I know that it can happen for example at some︍ petrol pump in the middle of nowhere in Canada or US, where is no or︎ very poor internet coverage), you will probably not hesitate to order a new card...

 

[Samman Kaseeb Sleiman]

The validity date on a card is, basically, as merely a reminder for myself? And‌ a bank can extend it in its database so that I'll be able to continue‍ to use a card even after the initial, written, date has expired?

If I pay⁠ by it somewhere in a shop, couldn't some curious staff member question me as for⁤ why and how I'm using a seemingly expired card?

 

[Forester]

Well... to some extent, yes.
Yes, see above.
Although I think this is not a common practice; I would⁣ say that in such a case the plastic card, strictly speaking, transforms itself to a⁢ virtual one.

BTW, could you share the bank name and possibly your general experience with︀ them? It would be nice to know more how Armenian banks are working, in general.︁

Of course he/she could do it, see above.

 

[Samman Kaseeb Sleiman]

Evoca. Just a bank, nothing in particular good or bad.

 

[Willblack]

3 of the banks I use reissue the card but with just an updated expiry‌ date. Some of the virtual cards I use remain the same, and simply the expiry‍ date changes.

 

[extremedox101]

i assume but i have no previous knowledge . the card it self had longer‌ validity but the expiry date presented with card was shorter .

 

[CoinMaster]

how will you use the same card with wrong expire date printed on in. It's‌ obvious they need to replace your physical card?????!!