Visa Talks About Using Debit Cards as Credit Cards

If so, it probably has a logo from MasterCard or Visa on it. That means you can use it as a debit card (where you access your checking account directly) or as a credit card (where you go through the credit card networks). Which option is best?

I personally prefer to keep my debit card guarded and only use to to get cash from ATM's, but some people successfully use them all the time. Like all things in life, there are tradeoffs.

If you use your debit card for purchases, you should know how your choice of debit vs. credit affects the transaction. Consumerism Commentary recently interviewed Visa for some insight, and hopefully you can make an educated decision on what's best for you.

Further reading:

• Debit Cards - Should You Choose Debit or Credit?
• Debit Card - Definition