The Royal Bank of Scotland’s standalone digital bank Bó has asked around 6,000 customers to shred their debit cards as it catches up with new EU rules on customer card security.

The app-only digital bank, which launched in November last year, has written to customers asking them to destroy debit cards issued before 3 January 2020, as it re-issues cards which comply with tougher rules on Chip & PIN and contactless payments.

The standalone digital operation said the re-issuing of its distinctive bright yellow cards will prompt customers more frequently to use Chip & PIN as a result of new Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) legislation, which requires one in every five transactions under £30 to use manual PIN input. The rules are intended to crackdown on fraudulent transactions.

A Bó spokesperson said: “We’ve chosen this option because we believe it provides a better customer experience.

“In order to comply with new legislation designed to protect customers from fraud and increase security around all forms of payment, Bó will be re-issuing cards to all customers who received their Bó card before January 3 2020,” the statement continued, adding: “The new Bó cards will message the customer via the payment terminal when they need to make a Chip & PIN transaction.”

The request comes at a critical time for the fledgling digital bank, which was launched to compete with the likes of Monzo, Starling and Revolut.

The bank is set to lose its chief executive Mark Baillie later this year, as RBS’ new chief executive Alison Rose reshuffles her top team.

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