If you’re acting with caution due to COVID-19, you may be looking for ways to limit physical touchpoints throughout your day. This may seem difficult when you have things you need or want to buy – whether it’s picking up your weekly groceries or getting a head start on holiday shopping.
One way to minimize touchpoints while still making these purchases is by using your PSECU credit or debit card to make contactless or minimal contact payments. We’ve highlighted ways to reduce physical touchpoints when making a purchase and noted how each one can help you maximize the benefits your PSECU credit or debit card has to offer.
While there can be some advantages to using cash, such as implementing the envelope method for your budget, there’s one large downside – coins and bills can change hands frequently, possibly multiple times a day in high traffic areas. This can make cash payments a physical touchpoint that you may want to avoid in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you typically prefer cash as a money management tool, consider ways you can get the same perks by using your debit card instead. Instead of keeping your cash in various physical envelopes, separate your funds into different PSECU shares. Keep the money you need for immediate purchases in your checking account, and use your debit card when you pay. This can help you manage your spending, as the money you spend will become unavailable right away, limiting your ability to overspend. Plus, by using your PSECU debit card, you’ll be able to monitor your balances in all shares and see transactions easily whether you’re at home or on-the-go using our recently redesigned mobile app.
In addition to making money management easy, using your PSECU debit card can give you cash rewards on eligible purchases, as well. Using a PSECU debit card can earn members $0.05 or $0.10 on eligible debit card purchases of $10 or over.* Purchases qualify for $0.10 cash rewards with a checking account and one or more qualifying monthly deposits totaling at least $500.
On rare occasions, cash may be the only form of payment accepted by a vendor, or using cash may be the only way to avoid minimum purchase requirements or card processing fees. If this is the case, use your debit card to get cash back at a point-of-sale device at a different location where you’re already making a purchase.
Doing this will streamline your errands and eliminate time spent making an additional stop at an ATM. It’ll also minimize your use of high traffic physical touchpoints by combining multiple transactions into one.
If you have a smartphone from a company like Apple®, Google, or Samsung®, you can pay in a quick and contact-free (or minimal contact) way by using one of their mobile pay solutions. If you have a PSECU credit or debit card, they’re compatible with these mobile payment options and you can enter the information for these cards into your phone’s digital wallet.
When you pay using a mobile device, you don’t have to take your physical card from your wallet while you’re in the store and insert it into the point-of-sale device. You just hold your smartphone or other compatible device, such as a smart watch, over the point-of-sale device to complete payment. Depending on the device you use and the vendor, you may be able to skip entering a PIN, as well. In these cases, you typically use touch or face ID on your own personal phone to complete the transaction instead, eliminating a possible high traffic physical touchpoint.
In addition to reducing touchpoints, if you choose to use your PSECU debit card or your PSECU Founder’s or Alumni Rewards credit card for these purchases, you can also earn cash rewards on eligible purchases. Using a PSECU debit card, you can earn $0.05 or $0.10 on eligible debit card purchases of $10 or over.* Using the Founder’s or Alumni Rewards credit card, you can earn 2%** or 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase.
Whether you order something online to be shipped in the future, schedule same-day delivery to your doorstep, or choose a curbside pick-up option, making your purchase online with a debit or credit card allows you to avoid a trip into the store altogether. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many retailers have begun offering or expanding their contactless home delivery or curbside pickup options, letting you receive online orders the same day without having to physically enter a store.
In addition to avoiding a trip to the store, your purchase could be eligible for the cash rewards mentioned earlier, and your cards will also offer an added layer of security for these online purchases. Using a credit or debit card for payment gives you a way to dispute claims if your funds are used fraudulently or you don’t receive a good or service that you paid for.
However you prefer to pay, we’re here to help provide you with payment methods that minimize physical touchpoints while providing you with benefits and rewards. For more information on maximizing your PSECU debit or credit card and managing money during COVID-19, visit psecu.com/learn.
*You can earn $0.10 cash rewards on eligible purchases of $10 or over with a PSECU checking account and one or more qualifying monthly direct deposits totaling at least $500. You can earn $0.05 cash rewards on eligible purchases of $10 or over for accounts with a PSECU checking account. Certain restrictions may apply. See the Visa® Debit Card Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for full details.
**You can earn 1.5% cash rewards on purchases. You can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases if you maintain a PSECU checking account and qualifying monthly direct deposit(s) of at least $500. See the Visa® Founder’s Card and Visa® Alumni Rewards Card Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for full details.
Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Google is a trademark of Google Inc.
Samsung is a trademark of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.