Ask Discovery Card frequently asked questions
Discovery Bank
You aren’t yet a Discovery Bank client, but as a Discovery Card client you’ll be first in line to get your new credit card when we’re ready.
Be one of the first clients to join - add your name to the list and we’ll contact you as soon as our staff beta test is complete, early in 2019.
We'll let you know as soon as we're ready so that you can download the Discovery Bank app and register with your selfie. Your account and card will be waiting - and a lot more.
Your Discovery 1 Account gives you the next generation vertical credit card that transacts like a bank account too. So you’ll get one account, packed with all the features you need, including a built-in Vitality Savings Account, all for a single fee.
To make sure you’re ready, check that you remember your Discovery username and password, and that your registered cellphone number is up-to-date.
Yes, you can keep swiping your Discovery Card and enjoying all your current benefits and rewards. You’ll still earn Discovery Miles every time you swipe – and up to 10x your Discovery Miles in our wide partner network. You can still spend your Discovery Miles in-store, online or use them to pay for your next holiday.
You can still access your account information on the Discovery app, and on the FNB platform.
We’ll refund the value of your yearly payment based on how long you used the benefit
No, you will not be able to convert your Discovery Miles to cash. You will still own your current Discovery Miles balance when you join Discovery Bank.
Do not destroy your Discovery Card when you move to Discovery Bank. You may need to show your Discovery Card when picking up your car or checking into your hotel, etc.
Yes, you will still be covered by the travel insurance linked to your Discovery Card.
Anyone can join Discovery Bank. Once the staff beta test is complete, you can simply download the Discovery Bank app on your smartphone.
If you are a Discovery client, you will get even more out with:
- Boosted Vitality Rewards
- More affordable life insurance
- Faster growing investments
- Convenient pharmacy and health co-payments
- Smarter short-term insurance.
We have designed our products around you and your family.
Our Discovery 1 Account gives you one card for your transaction account and your credit card, with one interest rate and one limit. It's simple, transparent and efficient banking for all your needs.
Add an additional transaction account to build your Discovery 1 Plus Account for more active banking, features and rewards.
Our product offering includes Vitality Savings Account when you sign up where your rewards will accumulate even faster as you bank healthier.
Sign up on the app, and you'll be ready to go. You can customise your cards, accounts and limits and start transacting immediately.
We use biometrics extensively in our app to prevent any fraudulent activities. We also have other security features embedded on our platform to make sure your personal information is 100% secure.
As you engage, you can improve your Vitality Money status from Blue to Gold, and then Diamond. The higher your status, the better your rewards.
Discovery Bank incorporates a BBBEE Scheme in which a 10% shareholding in the Bank will be held by qualifying participants. The Scheme has been structured to achieve inclusive transformation in line with the legislative requirement, as well as a commitment as part of the licensing process with the South African Reserve Bank, for direct black ownership in the Bank. The approach is consistent with many other models in the financial services and banking sectors.
Our view is that a BBBEE Scheme with broad reach through directly linking to individual clients, is equitable and more beneficial than the alternative model through which only a few people or narrow groups would benefit. The Scheme will enable clients of the Bank, who qualify to participate in the Scheme, to pay for shares (and the interest on them) in the Bank through vendor financing. There will be conditional requirements that these participants will need to meet over the term of the Scheme. As Discovery Bank is not a separate listed entity, the shares will not be tradable.
More information about the Scheme and how to participate will be available in due course.
Card Activation
You can call 0860 11 2273 to activate your Discovery Card and also for all future queries.
You are able to activate your new or replacement Discovery Cards by logging onto the Discovery website (www.discovery.co.za) and following the below steps:
- From the landing page, select “Card”.
- Then select the "Activate card" button. The system will trigger a one-time PIN (OTP) process, which you will need to enter and then click submit.
- Once the OTP has been submitted, you must accept the terms and conditions disclaimer and click on the "activate" button.
- You will be asked if you want to activate Online Secure, by choosing "yes" or "no".
Discovery Miles
Discovery Miles are rewards you can earn everywhere you shop with your Discovery Card. You can spend your Discovery Miles on anything from electronics and appliances, travel, entertainment, fashion and more. Cardholders can earn one Discovery Mile for every R15 spent on the Discovery Card. The more the cardholder spends on their Discovery Card, the more Discovery Miles they will earn.
- Shop for popular products at leading retailers through our online portal, discovery/mall, without leaving home
- Make real time purchases in store at select partner stores through the Discovery App. See how
- Pay some, or all of your bookings with Vitality travel partners like kulula.com.
- Pay for your travel using your Discovery Miles
Discovery Miles can be activated for a yearly linkage fee.
To activate Discovery Miles online, click here to log in and follow these steps:
- On the drop down menu, select the Miles benefit that you need activated (Discovery Miles/Fast Miles).
- Accept the Terms and Conditions.
- The submit button will take you to a confirmation screen before the change is made.
- Alternatively, call 0860 11 2273 and we will activate the benefit for you.
With the Miles Multiplier benefit, you can multiply your Discovery Miles by up to 10x when you pay using your Discovery Card at select partners.
And good news, we’ve added new partner stores. From 1 November 2017 you’ll now earn up to 10x more Discovery Miles when shopping online or in store at these partners:
@Home| Babies R Us | Big Concerts | BP |Cape Union Mart| Clicks | Col’Cacchio| Computicket | Coricraft| Dion Wired | Dis-Chem | Exclusive Books| Hamleys | Hirsch’s | Incredible Connection | iStore |Kauai| loot.co.za | Nando’s| NetFlorist| Pick n Pay | Reggies | Shell| Sportsmans Warehouse | Starbucks| Sunglass Hut| takealot.com | TicketPro| Totalsports | The Golfers Club | The Pro Shop | Toy Kingdom | Toys R Us |Trappers| Vide e Caffè| Yuppiechef.com
Your Miles Multiplier is based on your Vitality status. Discovery Miles monthly earning limits, terms and conditions apply.
Fees and interest rates
Click here to view applicable fees. These are updated once a year.
You must wait until your statement closes before making payment. If you do not pay the full outstanding amount on or before the due date shown on your monthly statement, you will be charged interest. The interest will be charged from the date of each transaction on your account, on both the balance reflected on your monthly statement and on any new purchases made on the card. You will lose the interest-free period on the new purchases.
The interest-free period on the Discovery Card is up to 55 days. This is made up of a 30-day spend period and a 25-day payment period.
Get more value
For information about your active Discovery Card Protector benefit, contact 0860 00 54 33.
Online Secure
Online Secure (previously known as Verified by Visa) is a unique service from Discovery Card that uses a one-time PIN (OTP) to protect cardholders against unauthorised use of their credit card. Once activated, the Discovery Card cannot be used for online purchases at participating merchants without their OTP.
If you are registered for InSync notifications, you do not have to activate Online Secure on your card – we will do this automatically. Each time you get a new, re-issue or replacement credit card, we will automatically activate Online Secure on your card. If you are not registered for InSync notifications and you want to activate Online Secure on your card, you must log in to your Discovery Card online banking profile and follow these steps:
- Select the ’My Bank Accounts’ tab;
- Select the ’My Cards’ sub-tab;
- Click on ’Activate Now’.
- Log in to your Discovery online banking profile and select the ‘My Bank Accounts’ tab;
- Select the ‘My Cards’ sub-tab to check your card status;
- ‘Activate Now’ means Online Secure has not been activated on your card and you can go ahead and activate it;
- ‘Unblock Now’ means your card has been blocked;
- ‘Update’ means Online Secure has been activated on your card and you can update your details.
Travel
Yes, you can use your Discovery Card at all Visa outlets worldwide. We would however advise you to contact us before leaving the country, so we can adjust your Discovery Card’s international limits.
Certain countries have set country code limits that reject foreign transactions. If you travel to these countries and have not contacted us to have your limits changed, your transactions may be rejected. This doesn’t necessarily mean you are over the limit, but rather that the codes are different for that country.
Please call us on 0860 11 22 73 before your trip to change your Discovery Card international limits.
When you have book your holiday using your Discovery Card with one of our holiday partners, you will get cash back of up to 15% depending on your Vitality status and number of years on Vitality. We will pay this cash back into your Discovery Card. This cash back excludes airport taxes and any extras added to the holiday package.
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