Available off the shelf for even non-bank customers, the card is valid for two years and can be loaded with a minimum amount of Rs1,000 and thereafter in multiples of Rs100 upto a maximum load of Rs50,000.

Acording to Hemant Kaul, President retail banking, UTI Bank, "While a gift voucher or gift cheque restricts you to only one merchant establishment, the gift card is accepted at 1.30 lakh Visa-enabled outlets and can be used as many times till the loaded amount is exhausted," he said.

However, the card cannot be used at ATMs to withdraw cash. The issue price for a card is Rs100 or one per cent of the loaded amount, whichever is higher.

UTI Bank has a debit card portfolio of 57 lakh cards. In the past it has launched foreign currency travel card, remittance card and corporate pre-paid card.