Why was my debit card declined?

A debit card may be declined for many reasons, including:

  • Daily or weekly transaction limit has been reached
  • The account doesn’t have enough funds available (e.g. a recent deposit may be on hold)
  • Card details or PIN were entered incorrectly
  • New or replacement card isn’t activated yet
  • Card has been closed, cancelled, or is expired
  • Card is temporarily blocked (e.g. you reported your card as lost or stolen, or there’s been unusual purchasing activity)

To review your daily and weekly transaction limits:

  1. From the profile menu, select Edit profile and settings
  2. Select View transaction limits

If you have the available funds and haven’t reached any transaction limits, please call the number on the back of your card for support. If you’re having issues with your PIN, please visit your closest branch. To replace your ScotiaCard, you can visit your closest branch or request a replacement through online banking.

Last updated May 22, 2025