Articles Tagged ‘debit card’
How Debit Card Holds on Your Funds Can Cost You Money
Wednesday, April 30th, 2014
For quick and easy access to the funds in your checking account, nothing is quite as convenient as a debit card. Branded with a Visa or MasterCard logo, you can use a debit card at any merchant that accepts a credit card, and doing so is much quicker than paying by check.
But the process by which payments are processed whenever you make a purchase with a debit card is much different than the impact of paying by a check or using cash. Debit card use often involves the use of “holds” that can tie up funds that are in...
Risky Places to Use a Debit Card
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
Debit cards and credit cards certainly appear to be quite similar. They both carry a Visa or MasterCard logo, they both allow purchases of products and services without having to carry around large amounts of cash or hassle with a checkbook, and both contain some degree of protection against fraud or unauthorized account use.
But there are also some significant differences between the two types of cards. In fact, there are some situations where using a debit card comes with a higher degree of risk than using a credit card.
Here’s a list of some of the riskiest places when using...
What is a Debit Card?
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013
With the prevalence of online banking and electronic funds transfers, as well as the large number of automated teller machines that are available, there are more ways than ever for us to access the funds in our checking accounts. One of the most common ways for people to gain access is through the use of a debit card.
Debit Card Basics. A debit card is a banking card that provides direct and immediate access to the cardholder’s funds. The most common type of debit card is one that’s linked to a checking account. This allows the account owner to spend...
Debit Card Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Debit cards are handy little pieces of plastic. They give us easy access to the funds in our checking and savings accounts. They’re as simple to use as credit cards, but they don’t come with monthly payments or require us to pay interest. And if we need quick cash, we can get it from an ATM 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
But just like credit cards, debit cards can cost us money if we do not use them properly. There are numerous mistakes that can be made that may result in unnecessary headaches and expenses.
Here is...
New Rules for Debit and ATM Cards
Monday, September 13th, 2010
Good news for consumers! Earlier this summer a number of new rules on what banks can charge for overdraft protection went into effect. Previously banks automatically provided overdraft protection to consumers who make ATM withdrawals or one-time debit card transactions that caused their accounts to become overdrawn. However, such coverage often incurred a fee of $35 or more. As a result, consumers paid an estimated $38 billion in overdraft fees in 2009.
The new Federal Reserve rules prohibit banks from charging consumer fees for paying overdrafts on ATM and one-time debit card transactions, unless a consumer opts-in to the overdraft...
Keep Your Debit and Credit Card Receipts
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Have you ever balanced a checkbook? Maybe you learned in school. With everything being electronic these days, keeping track of your finances can be done through receipts. Keeping a shoebox of receipts isn’t only for the tax man. You can avoid some major trouble if you hang on to your ATM and credit card receipts each month. Now, most people crumble their ATM receipts up or don’t ask for them.
Get in the habit of holding on to them. Here’s why. Identity theft is a real threat. Criminals are finding more and more high tech ways to steal what you...