FAQs

Card Control

  1. Control settings take effect as soon as the Updating information message in the app stops.

  2. German American Card Control supports Android O/S version 7.1 and higher and iOS versions 11 and higher.

  3. German American Card Control controls are only invoked during authorization of a transaction. In some cases, such as gas stations, a card may be tested for validity by doing a $1 preauthorization, and the actual transaction amount is charged to the card after the transaction. Some gas stations will preauthorize for a maximum amount, example: $126, and some gas stations will check validating, example: $1. In the latter case, the actual transaction amount may exceed the limit, while in the former case, an authorization may be denied.

  4. The information needed is the same level of detail entered for the original card. This information includes the:

    • Card Number
    • Address
    • ZIP code
    • Expiration Date
    • CVV/CVC Code

    Multiple individuals can register the same card as long as they know the card details.

  5. Alerts are always sent for denied transactions, a credit, a refund, suspected fraud, when a shared user changes a control setting, or if the card status changes.

  6. My Location is only effective for the enrolled user. To limit the dependent's card, you can use the Region Location feature. You can set up to 3 regions using the map to designate the area.

  7. The 30 days of transactions begin after you register in German American Card Control.

  8. When performing an edit check on My Location and My Regions, German American Card Control compares the geographic location of the mobile device as well as the merchant’s information that is sent within the transaction. It is possible for the merchant’s transaction information to be an address other than the physical location of the merchant i.e. Corporate or Regional address. In these instances, the transaction will bypass the Card Control edit checks since the information is not within the set boundaries.

  9. Each time an incorrect username or password is entered the message displays. On the third attempt the account is disabled; for security reasons the message continues to display even if the correct username/password is entered. To unlock your account, please contact us at (800)482-1314.

  10. German American Card Control only shows the transactions that are performed with the card. It does not show the transactions that are done on the account without using your card, such as teller transactions or bill pay. 

  11. The primary device is used to track the GPS for My Location alerts and controls, all merchant and threshold alerts, and all fraud alerts will be sent to the primary device. All devices that have registered a particular card can view or change the German American Card Control settings for that card. Controls (including the On/Off setting) are set at the card level, so the last update to a control will be honored regardless of which phone was used to make the change. Alerts are set at the device level, so each primary device will receive alerts that were set up from that particular device. The primary device can be re-set by accessing Settings > Primary Device.

  12. Yes. You can unsubscribe through the German American Card Control application. To unsubscribe, uncheck all cards and accounts and tap OK.

  13. Yes. International transactions can be blocked using the Block International location control. Transactions will be limited to the United States.

  14. Card Control passwords must be between 8-12 characters in length and must contain at least 1 upper case character, 1 lower case character, 1 number, and 1 special character.

  15. ATM transactions are categorized within Others merchant type.

  16. Yes. The app shows the last 50 card-based transactions posted within the last 30 days.

  17. Yes. Simply register as a new user. However, you will be required to select a new user name.

  18. Yes. An alert is generated regardless of whether or not a control preference is set.

  19. German American Card Control is specifically designed to provide you with “realtime” alerts for check card transactions. You are notified almost immediately of card transactions to help identify suspected fraud. Also, any time suspected fraud is identified, you will receive an alert right away. Card Control is not intended to be a replacement for Online or Mobile Banking.

  20. The app automatically logs you off after 10 minutes of inactivity.

  21. Previously authorized recurrent payments will continue to process and will bypass the German American Card Control edit checks.

  22. German American Card Control alerts are sent as push notifications to the phone. The alerts also display under Alerts in the Card Control app.

  23. German American Card Control performs a proximity check of 5 miles at the granularity of ZIP code or city, so if the merchant is close to home then the transactions will still go through.

  24. No. The alerts are consolidated into one message.

    Example: if the message has violated Threshold and Location settings then you will see only one alert and not multiple alerts.

  25. The region shows the approximate area where the card can be used; the area must be greater than 5 square miles. German American Card Control can typically map the transaction down to a ZIP code or city. If the city or ZIP code of the merchant overlaps with the selected region in the map, then the transaction can still go through. There are instances where a merchant location cannot be mapped down to a ZIP code or city, in which case Card Control will default to a state-level match.

  26. No. The location controls are applicable to in-store transactions only.

  27. Specific merchant types have been created within German American Card Control, and these merchant types can be used for controls or alerts via the Alert Preferences or Control Preferences screen.

  28. The My Location controls and alerts will check to ensure the merchant location is within a 5-mile radius of the device set as primary within German American Card Control. These controls impact card present transactions only, therefore internet transactions are not impacted.

  29. Yes. Additional cards can be added within the Menu > Manage Portfolio > Add Card screen.

  30. Yes. The new card number must be registered. The replacement card can be added via Menu > Edit Cards > Add New Card. The old card cannot be removed but can be unmanaged via Edit Cards.

  31. German American Card Control ignores location information that is more than 8 hours old. So, if the phone is off for more than 8 hours, My Location controls will not take effect, and the transaction will not be denied on the basis of the old location information.

  32. Each person who registers a card will have access to controls for the card. In many cases, the child will not know about German American Card Control unless the parent shares the information.

  33. There is no limit.

  34. You can access your Fraud Alerts under Activity. Tap on the alert and provide a decision for all of the suspected transactions.