What defines the Card Activation process for a debit card?

The Card Activation process for a debit card is typically characterized by the requirement for account verification to ensure that the legitimate cardholder is activating the card. This can often involve verification through a phone call, where the cardholder is asked to confirm personal information or provide a PIN to validate their identity. This step is essential for security reasons, as it helps prevent unauthorized individuals from activating cards that do not belong to them.

The other options do not accurately reflect the established processes. For instance, while some activation methods exist that involve using the card in a store, it's not a universal requirement. Similarly, activation can occur through various channels, not just online. Automatic activation upon transaction is also misleading, as while some transactions might enable the card for use, activation typically requires a prior step to validate that the card belongs to the targeted account holder before it is deemed ready for transactions.