Manage card settings and transactions

Transactions that can’t be blocked

We will try to decline a transaction that you’ve authorised as a control on your account. However, there are some transactions that can’t be blocked:

• Transactions made when a merchant's system is offline.
• Money transfers and online gambling transactions unless you have enabled restricted gambling.
• Any transactions we get that don’t match the exact criteria used to define your controls.
• Transactions made using linked cheque or savings accounts.

What you need to know about contactless payments

Some contactless payments for purchases may not be blocked.

Contactless payment control may interfere with the use of public transport where travellers can use their credit or debit card to directly ‘tap on’ or ‘tap off’ public transport such as trains, trams, buses and ferries.

If you experience issues after turning the control off, speak to public transport staff for assistance as there may be unpaid fares associated with your card.

How to block and enable payments

Who can block or enable card payments?

NAB Visa credit cardholders

Information regarding primary cardholders

For personal NAB credit cards, only the primary cardholder can block or enable payment options for primary and additional cards that share the same card number.

As a primary cardholder, the control you set to block or enable payment options only applies to the NAB credit card you’ve selected.

If you share a card number with an additional cardholder, the control you set to block or enable payment options for your card will automatically apply to the additional cardholder’s NAB credit card.

It's your responsibility as the primary cardholder to notify the additional cardholder of any controls set on their card.

Information regarding additional cardholders

If your card number is different to the additional cardholder's card number, your controls will not apply to the additional cardholder's card.

An additional cardholder can view but not block or enable payment options for their card except for gambling.

NAB debit cards and commercial credit cardholders

For commercial credit cards, any cardholder can block and enable payment options.

If you have a NAB Visa Debit card or a commercial credit card, the control you set to block or enable payment options will only apply to the NAB card you select.

Multiple NAB cardholders

Usage control settings are specific to your card, so you can have different settings applied to different cards.

When you change Usage controls setting for one card, the change doesn't apply to any other cards.

Changes and declined transaction notifications

If a control setting to block or enable payment options is changed or a transaction is declined due to the control you selected, you will not be notified.

Lost or stolen cards

If you report your card as lost or stolen and you had previously set a control to block or enable payment options, these settings won’t automatically carry over to your replacement card.

You'll need to reset the Usage controls by selecting your replacement card from the Cards menu in the NAB app.

If you have used controls to set gambling restrictions, these will remain in place.

Expired cards

If your card expires and you had previously set Usage controls to block or enable payment options, these settings will automatically carry over to your new card.