About Debit Cards - Bank Debit Cards

Bank Debit Cards

The easiest way to get a debit card is through your bank. You don't have to qualify, and you shouldn't have to pay a fee. And they're generally accepted anywhere and are safe debit cards.

Getting a Debit Card from Your Bank

When you open a new checking account, getting a debit card is a given. Banks give customers debit cards now instead of ATM cards. In fact, bank debit cards double as ATM cards. And the spending is practically limited only by your checking account balance.

The advantage of most bank debit cards is that you generally don't have to pay a fee. If you do, switch banks. Like credit card companies, there are so many banks out there trying to get your business that you shouldn't have to pay a fee for anything. In fact, some banks are now paying you to become a customer.

Since most of these debit cards are Visa debit cards or MasterCard debit cards, they are accepted anywhere that Visa and MasterCard are accepted. You can type in your PIN and use the card that way, or you can use them the same way you use a credit card and just sign your name instead. Some banks even have a sweepstakes that you can enter just by signing your name instead of skipping the PIN entry, and every time you sign your name instead, you're entered in the sweepstakes again. Generally if you want cash back though, you have to type in your PIN.

Speaking of cash, most bank debit cards will allow you a higher limit on the amount of cash you can withdraw from your account in one day. Instead of the traditional $300 or so, some banks allow you to get up to $2,500. Most of us wouldn't, but when you're traveling, wouldn't it be nice to be able to get more than $300 a day out if you need it? Or, for some of us, wouldn't it be nice to have a balance high enough to withdraw $350 a day? As dreams of dollar signs dance in your head, we hope we've provided you with at least a little bit of an education about bank debit cards.

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