Although their appearance is the same, CREDIT, and DEBIT cards are NOT the same. We encourage you to use the information on this page as well as on the credit card page to assist you in determining which card is right for you.
Debit Cards
Any time you use a debit card to buy something, money is deducted from your account. With a debit card, you can really only spend the money you have available to you.
Connected To: Checking or Savings Account
Monthly Bills: No Bills
Application Process: Since this is your money, it is just another way to access it.
Spending Limit: However much money is in your bank account is how much money you have access to.
Interest Charged: No interest is charged because no money is borrowed. It is your money.
Fraud Liability: High. If someone steals you card and makes purchases, that money is removed from you bank account. Investigating this damage takes time. The longer you wait to report the fraud, the more likely you will be held liable for your own losses.
Credit History: Does not affect credit history.
Overdraw Fees: High. Overdraft fees are possible.
Set Up Your PIN by Calling: 877-267-6914
For any fraud or disputes for any other reason please call the issue support line 1-800-808-6402
Hours: M-F 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2pm
Identifying Charges
The name of the vendor or merchant should appear alongside any charges. However, sometimes the name isn’t helpful—the business might use a different name than the one you think of, and abbreviations add to the problem.
If you see something you don’t recognize, do a web search for the exact name you see in your transaction history. In many cases, you’ll find a more helpful description because others have wondered the same thing. If you’re still stumped, look back through your calendar and think back to all of the spending you’ve done. Ideally, that will help you verify if you’re responsible for the charge.
Debit Card FAQs:
- Is there a limit on the amount that I can use on my Debit Card?
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Yes, there is a daily limit to the amount that you can use with your debit card. You are able to withdraw up to $400 from an ATM on a daily basis, and you can use your debit card in stores for up to $1000 on a daily basis.
- Can you use a debit card to check into a hotel?
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Using a debit card when you check into a hotel can be dangerous because of the hotel’s practice of putting a hold on funds in your account. When booking with a debit card, the hotel will most likely place a hold on you account for a fixed dollar amount to cover the potential balance of your stay, along with estimated incidental charges you may incur during your stay. If you do not maintain a high balance in your checking account, the hold could take your account into negative territory even though you haven’t actually spent that money, resulting in other debit card purchases being refused. When making reservations of any kind, it may be best to use a credit card. You can still pay for the stay with a debit card when you check out. This scenario would also be true for car rentals.
- Is it necessary to notify the bank before I travel?
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Yes, with both debit and credit cards it is best, and in many instances necessary, to notify us of your travel plans so that you do not encounter any issues.
- When shopping online, is it better to pay by credit card or debit card?
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The most significant difference has to do with fraud. If someone makes fraudulent charges with your debit card, the money comes directly out of your bank account. Even if you are able to get a refund, it can take weeks or months to get that money back. With a credit card, you can dispute charges and the funds will never leave your account.
If you do use your debit card online, we recommend the following:- Look of the lock: Make sure you are shopping on a secure website, especially when it’s time to enter your card number. Look for the lock icon in your browser and pay attention to any security warnings that pop up.
- Monitor your account: Check your accounts regularly and set up alerts on your account so that you know when money goes out. FMBND online banking provides many alert options which can be found under the settings gear in the upper right hand corner. VISA also provides card alerts which can be set up at https://purchasealerts.visa.com.
- Use secure connections: Mobile devices and free Wi-Fi make it easy to get things done, but you never know how secure a public hotspot is. If you are going to access financial accounts or punch in card numbers, save those tasks for when you are home and know your traffic is safe.
- A word of warning about “FREE TRIALS”:
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Many websites offer a product or service FREE, most often for a limited amount of time. If you were to read the fine print that is disclosed when you initially sign up for this “free” service, you would find that if you don’t cancel within the stated amount of time or by a certain date, you will start to receive charges for whatever it is you have signed up for. Please understand that if you are asked to enter a card number, there is a very real possibility that you will incur charges at some point down the road. Almost on a daily basis, we receive calls from customers who claim fraud on charges such as these. Closer investigation shows that it is a legitimate charge that the customer didn’t quite understand they had agreed to.
New Debit Card App!
Apple app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mobimoney/id920665300
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vantiv.mobile.android