Kuwait, 15 July 2023: In its continuous efforts to raise the banking safety awareness of its customers, Kuwait International Bank (KIB) underlined tips and preventive measures through various media channels about the safe use of banking cards of all kinds as the summer holiday and travel season approaches. This initiative reflects the Bank’s continuous support of the “Let’s Be Aware” (Diraya) national campaign. 

In this regard, Basil Al-Suwaidan, General Manager of the Information Security, Privacy and Anti-Fraud Department, said: “Through this social campaign, we aim to educate KIB cardholders on how to safeguard their assets and protect their financial and personal data against the risks of fraud, hacking, theft, etc. Accordingly, we advise our customers to follow some general practices to ensure the optimal use of banking cards and maintain the confidentiality of their data. These include downloading the KIB Mobile application and activating the notification messages or SMS services to monitor the use of cards and banking operations completed through them, while keeping the card away from direct sunlight to prevent any damage.”

Al-Suwaidan added that cardholders must learn their passwords by heart instead of writing them down and should not share them with anyone. He also cautioned against sharing One Time Passcodes (OTP) for online payments and purchases. In addition, Al-Suwaidan affirmed that the Bank would never ask its customers for any personal or confidential information or data such as username, password, bank card details, or OTPs, whether via email, SMS, WhatsApp or verbally via a phone call. He also advised against connecting to Wi-Fi networks or computers available in public areas to browse the KIB website or log into bank accounts out of security concerns.

Adding to the series of banking travel tips, Al-Suwaidan urged customers to verify the validity of all cards before they travel, adding that credit cardholders must ensure that their credit limits are sufficient. Credit cardholders should also contact KIB to update their data continuously and notify the Bank of the countries they plan to visit before traveling, in addition to specifying the cards they plan to use abroad. These steps will ensure that their cards remain active during their holiday, as many banks immediately suspend cards when they suspect unfamiliar payments or withdrawals. 

As part of his awareness-raising statement, Al-Suwaidan called on travelers to choose the destination country’s local currency when making payments through points of sale (POS) devices rather than Kuwaiti dinars, to avoid incurring additional exchange and transfer fees. He also reminded them to examine the POS device screen to confirm the payment amount before completing the transaction. In addition, he recommended not to leave empty spaces on bills that customers fill for tips, or the total amount, blank, and to draw a line to cross them out to avoid any fraud. Keeping the receipt of rejected transactions, for reference if requested by the bank, is always a good idea.

Al-Suwaidan stressed that customers should be aware of any stranger approaching at an unsafe distance when using ATMs, whether inside Kuwait or abroad, and avoid asking anyone for help in performing any operation on these machines. Customers should also ensure that the machine is safe and not connected to or next to unfamiliar devices and avoid using ATMs located in non-public or dark places. Al-Suwaidan recommended against leaving receipts on the machine, noting that if the card got stuck inside an ATM machine outside the country, the cardholder must immediately contact the KIB call center to suspend it before leaving the device site.
Furthermore, Al-Suwaidan advised customers to immediately change the PIN of their banking cards after their safe return to Kuwait. He also urged them to dedicate time to checking account statements against paid invoices to ensure that numbers match and to immediately report any discrepancies, unfamiliar withdrawals, or suspicious transactions. 

Concluding his statement, Al-Suwaidan reiterated that KIB attaches great importance to serving and supporting its customers while they are traveling abroad, explaining that the Bank representatives are available for around-the-clock communication, whether through phone calls via the customer service center at the number (1866866), or the number (+96522957300) designated for international calls. Al-Suwaidan also mentioned the Bank’s electronic channels of communication, which include “Live Chat” and “KIB Online” services on the website www.KIB.com.kw and the video phone service through the “KIB Mobile” application on smartphones. Customers can also contact the Bank via the WhatsApp account registered on the local KIB number (+1866866). All these communication channels are intended for general inquiries about products and services offered by the Bank all year long.