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This guide explains how to manage a card’s lifecycle state: freeze, unfreeze, or permanently delete a card, plus what to communicate to the cardholder.
For exact API calls, open the Cards API reference.

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Common statuses (what they mean)

  • active: the card can be used for transactions
  • frozen: temporarily suspended (usually by you / the cardholder)
  • deleted: permanently deactivated (irreversible)
  • blocked: suspended by BFinance or the card network
  • expired: past expiry date (no longer usable)

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Freeze

Use freeze to temporarily stop usage without losing card context.
  • Transaction attempts are declined
  • The balance (if any) is preserved
  • You can later unfreeze to restore usage
  • The customer reports suspicious activity
  • The customer wants a temporary hold
  • You’re waiting for internal review

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Unfreeze

Unfreeze restores a frozen card to usable status.
Freeze/unfreeze is for cards you control. If a card is blocked, contact your account manager.

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Delete (permanent)

Delete is irreversible and permanently deactivates the card.
Withdraw remaining funds (if applicable) before deleting. After deletion, the card cannot be reactivated.
Important: Deleted cards cannot be unfrozen or reactivated. If the customer needs a new card, use the issue flow instead.

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FAQ (common questions)

Can I unfreeze a blocked card? No. Blocked cards are managed by BFinance or the card network. Contact your account manager to resolve the block. What happens when a card expires? The card stops processing transactions automatically. The balance is preserved but no new purchases or withdrawals at POS/ATM are possible. Can I freeze a blocked or expired card? No. Freeze only applies to cards in active status. What happens to the balance when a card is frozen? The balance is preserved. No transactions are processed while frozen, but the funds remain on the card. What happens to the balance when a card is deleted? Any remaining balance should be withdrawn before deletion. Contact your account manager if funds were left on a deleted card.