Card tokenisation: How to save card details in Amazon for future payments

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated the implementation of tokenisation of card transactions, the deadline for which is June 30, 2022. after the industry sought more time to comply with the latest data safety rules.

Tokenisation is the process by which card details are replaced by a unique code or token, allowing online purchases without sharing details that might be considered sensitive.
Which means that merchants like Amazon, for example, will no longer be able to hold credit card information of users. Customers should enter the card details every time for making payments. However, customers can give their explicit agreement to save their cards under the new restrictions.


What is tokenisation?
According to the RBI FAQs, “Tokenisation refers to replacement of actual card details with an alternate code called the “token”, which shall be unique for a combination of card, token requestor (i.e. the entity which accepts request from the customer for tokenisation of a card and passes it on to the card network to issue a corresponding token) and device (referred hereafter as “identified device”).”

Companies have been sending notifications to users to complete the process by June 30, 2022.

According to the Amazon website, “As per the new RBI guidelines, from 30th June 2022 onwards, only card networks (VISA/Mastercard etc.) and/or issuing banks can store credit/debit card details. You will not be able to see saved cards starting 1st July unless you provide consent to Amazon for card tokenization.”

How to save card in Amazon
Step 1: Click on the link
Step 2: Enter your card details
Step 3: Ensure “Save card as per new RBI guidelines’ checkbox is selected
Step 4: Complete a refundable payment of Rs 2.
After this your card will be saved for future use on successful transactions. Rs 2 will be refunded back to your card within 48 hours.

Benefits of saving card details

How to avoid entering card details every time
“After July your card details will be erased without your agreement, and you will have to input card details for every card purchase. However, we also give you the opportunity to give approval and keep cards for future transactions for your convenience,” states the Amazon website.

Customers can agree to have their credit cards tokenized by Amazon Pay. This signifies that Amazon Pay requests that the card network encrypt card information and perform further authentication. The encrypted information is received by Amazon Pay, which keeps the card for future transactions. Once tokenized, Amazon will display the card's last four digits, as well as the issuing bank and network name.

What happens to previously added cards
“You can accept your agreement to tokenize VISA and Mastercard cards before July 1, 2022. This ensures that you can continue to place orders in the same manner as before. Your card details will be erased without your agreement after July 1, 2022, and you will have to input card details for every card purchase. However, we also give you the opportunity to give approval and keep cards for future transactions for your convenience,” states the Amazon website.