A debit card is a payment card that deducts money directly from your checking account. Also called “check cards” or "bank cards," debit cards can be used to buy goods or services or to get cash from an ATM. Debit cards can help you reduce the need to carry cash, although using these cards can sometimes entail fees.
Is a debit card a check or a credit card?
Indeed, because debit cards usually draw funds from checking accounts, they are often referred to as “check cards.” And yet, in its physical appearance and technology, a debit card is more like a credit card than a check.
What is the difference between a credit card and a debit card?
Many bank debit cards are issued by credit card companies, so it may seem like there is little distinction between credit and debit cards. For example, a Mastercard debit card can look like a Mastercard credit card. However, they differ in many ways, from the way they finance a purchase to the amount of consumer protections they provide.
