Debit Cards

Debit and prepaid debit cards provide convenient and secure payment options for consumers, allowing easy access to funds without the risk of accruing debt.

Best Debit And Prepaid Cards

Best Checking Accounts

How To Get A Debit Card

Debit Vs. Credit Cards

Explore debit card basics

Smiling businessman making payment with credit card

Debit cards can offer additional perks to help you save more of your money.

Man paying with credit card while shopping with woman at supermarket

Debit cards and prepaid cards can be used similarly, but debit cards tend to have fewer fees.

woman sitting on her couch and looking at her phone and credit card

Knowing your limit before making a purchase can help you make smarter decisions.

Use your debit card wisely

DEBIT

Where to avoid using your debit card

Just because you can use your debit card almost anywhere doesn’t mean you always should. Bankrate's experts keep you informed on the risky places to avoid swiping your debit card.

Checking

Daily ATM withdrawal limits

It's important to know how much you can withdraw from your bank's ATMs in a given day to help you better handle financial emergencies that require cash.

Checking

Available account balance vs. current balance

Understand the differences between the two balances you may see when looking at your bank account.

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BANKING

Checking account and ATM fee study

Maintaining a checking account with a debit card can come at a high cost. Learn how rising ATM fees and other banking fees are impacting consumers.

Experts in all things banking

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About Bankrate's team

Greg McBride, CFA

Chief Financial Analyst

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Senior Economic Analyst

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Latest articles

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Man renting a car at Hertz

Most rental car companies make you take extra steps to rent with a debit card.

Man paying with credit card while shopping with woman at supermarket

Debit cards and prepaid cards can be used similarly, but debit cards tend to have fewer fees.

Woman banking

Follow these tips for the lowest fees and highest rates when opening an account.

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Learn about the benefits of having multiple bank accounts and what to look for.

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Watch for these money headaches if your bank fails and no other bank takes over.

man buying concessions at the movie theatre

Prepaid cards can be used to make purchases, but you only have access to preloaded money.

Daughter and father using mobile phone

Several banks continue to offer savings accounts well above 4 percent APY.

Man working on laptop and cellphone simultaneously

If you’ve been thinking of getting a longer-term CD, you may want to make a move.

Woman watering plants.

Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.

Design element with Jerome Powell

Bankrate’s experts are reacting live to the Fed’s latest interest rate decision.

Jerome Powell, chair of the US Federal Reserve, during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

The Fed has now gone six months without cutting interest rates.

Spend money, pay bills, write checks or make fund transfers with a checking account.

Fed Chair Powell Holds News Conference Following FOMC Rate Decision

This Fed communication tool is important, but be cautious when interpreting it.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

The Federal Reserve announced that it’s holding interest rates steady following its March 18-19 meeting.

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