debit card

Debit Card

An electronic card issued by a bank which allows bank clients access to their account to withdraw cash or pay for goods and services. This removes the need for bank clients to go to the bank to remove cash from their account as they can now just go to an ATM or pay electronically at merchant locations. This type of card, as a form of payment, also removes the need for checks as the debit card immediately transfers money from the client's account to the business account.

Notes:

The major benefits to this type of card are convenience and security. Along with the convenience of accessing account funds at anytime it also removes the hassles associated with having to write checks as payment like showing ID and associated fees. Debit cards are also considered to be a safer form of payment as a code is required to access the account funds, while checks can be easily stolen.

See also: Checking Account, Credit Card, Debit, Identity Theft, Savings Account

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Debit card

A card that resembles a credit card but which debits a transaction account (checking account) with the transfers occurring contemporaneously with the customer's purchases. A debit card may be machine readable, allowing for the activation of an automated teller machine or other automated payments equipment.

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debit card

A plastic card that may be used for purchasing goods and services or for obtaining cash advances for which payment is made from existing funds in a bank account. Because a debit card provides about the same float as a checking account (one to three days), it is a less desirable method of payment than a credit card. These cards are often part of the comprehensive all-in-one accounts offered by many brokers.