Why it’s required and what to do if your card isn’t 3DS-enabled.
3D Secure (3DS) is a security feature that helps protect your card from unauthorised use when making online payments. It’s an extra verification step required by banks and card issuers to confirm that you — the cardholder — are the one authorising the payment.
If you’ve ever seen a “Verify by Visa,” “Mastercard SecureCode,” or “American Express SafeKey” prompt when checking out, that’s 3D Secure in action.
🔒 Why NALA Requires 3D Secure for Card Payments
NALA uses 3D Secure (3DS) to make sure your transactions are safe and compliant with banking regulations, especially under the European Union’s PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2).
Here’s why it’s required:
✅ Enhanced security — verifies that only you can authorise payments from your card.
🏦 Bank regulation compliance — most banks in the UK, EU, and US require 3DS for online payments.
🚫 Fraud prevention — helps reduce the risk of unauthorised or fraudulent transactions.
💬 Instant confirmation — ensures that your payment is verified in real time before it’s processed.
💡 Without 3D Secure, your card may be declined or unavailable for use with NALA.
💡 What to Expect During a 3DS Payment
When you make a card payment on NALA:
You’ll enter your card details in the app.
Your bank will redirect you to a secure verification page.
You may be asked to confirm the transaction by:
Entering a One-Time Password (OTP) sent by SMS
Approving the transaction in your bank’s app, or
Using biometric authentication (fingerprint, Face ID).
Once you verify the transaction successfully, your payment will go through, and your NALA Wallet will be funded instantly or within a few minutes.
⚠️ If Your Card Is Not 3D Secure (3DS)-Enabled
If your card doesn’t support 3D Secure, you won’t be able to use it for payments on NALA.
To fix this:
Contact your bank or card provider to check if your card can be 3DS-enabled.
Some banks may require you to activate online transaction verification via their mobile app or website.
If your current card cannot be 3DS-enabled, try:
Adding a different debit card that supports 3DS.
Using a bank transfer option (currently only available in the UK and EU).
🔁 Once your new or updated card supports 3D Secure, you’ll be able to use it for instant payments on NALA again.
🧭 Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re unable to complete a 3DS verification:
Double-check that your bank has your correct phone number on file for OTP delivery.
Ensure your mobile banking app is up to date.
Try again with a stable internet connection.
If the problem persists, contact your bank — NALA cannot bypass or override 3D Secure checks.