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Card and ATM safety

Help keep your money safe by knowing how to protect your bank cards and PIN and what to look out for when using an ATM.


  • Avoid letting your card out of sight when using it to pay for goods and services.
  • When making a contactless payment, make sure you check that the amount you are paying is correct before tapping your card on the payment device.
  • Always cover your card PIN when entering it on the keypad in a shop or supermarket and make sure no-one is looking over your shoulder.
  • Do not choose a card PIN that might be easily guessed e.g. your date of birth, numbers in descending or ascending order, e.g 5432 or 1234, or four of the same numbers, like 1111.
  • Don’t reveal any of your banking details such as your card number, PIN or full password if requested by email or over the phone. Read more in Suspicious Emails (Phishing) and Suspicious Calls (Vishing).
  • When shopping online, check the website is secure before entering card details. Read more in Shopping Online.

  • Make sure no-one is trying to distract you or is looking over your shoulder and that other people in the queue are at a reasonable distance behind you.
  • Check that there are no obvious signs that the ATM has been tampered with or damaged.
  • If you are suspicious, walk away and use a different ATM.
  • Cover your PIN with your hand – even if a keypad cover is present – to prevent hidden cameras or people from capturing your PIN as you type it.
  • Never share your card PIN.
  • Use ATM machines which are in clear view and well lit.
  • If your card is retained by an ATM report it immediately.

Lost or stolen card?

As soon as you believe your card has been lost or stolen, please contact us as soon as possible via our Freephone numbers listed below. We’ll cancel your card as soon as you tell us it’s missing and get a new card issued to your address (the one we have on file for you) in 5 to 7 working days.

Fraud, suspicious activity or unauthorised transactions?

To report online fraud, suspicious activity, unauthorised transactions on your account or ATM fraud, please contact us as soon as possible via our Freephone numbers listed below.

Shared your online login details?

If you have shared your banking details in response to a suspicious email, text or call, please notify us as soon as possible via the Freephone numbers listed below.

Report a suspicious email or text

To report suspicious Bank of Ireland UK related emails or texts (both personal and business customers), send the suspicious email or text to 365security@boi.com

Emergency Contact Numbers

You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on:

Calling from UK

Freephone: 0800 121 7790 (personal customers)

Freephone: 0800 032 1288 (Business On Line and Global Market Customers)

Calling from ROI

Freephone: 1800 946 764 (personal and business)

Calling from Overseas

Not Freephone: 00353 567 757 007

Please note: If we need to contact you about a potential fraud on your account, we will do this via a secure channel including, but not limited to, SMS or email.