# Debit cards-only use at the bank?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-cards-only-use-at-the-bank/837887>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 30, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-cards-only-use-at-the-bank/837887 "2019-07-30T17:40:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-cards-only-use-at-the-bank/837887/61 "2019-08-01T13:54:16Z")

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IMHO You should never keep a large balance in any checking account tied to a debit card.

It’s too vulnerable to Debut card fraud.

I have two checking accounts at different banks.

The account with the debit card has less than $700 dollars. That’s still money I don’t want stolen. But, it’s better than risking $2500.

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**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-cards-only-use-at-the-bank/837887/62 "2019-08-01T14:08:24Z")

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I use my debit card at the bank only or where they take debit but not credit cards. Otherwise I use credit cards for EVERYTHING I can. Pay the bill monthly so I don’t have to pay the loan sharking rate of interest they charge. When you use the credit card as an extension of your pay cheque that’s what you get into financial trouble. Pay the bill monthly and there won’t be any issues.

Besides…why not use someone else’s money free for 3-6 weeks??:smack:

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-cards-only-use-at-the-bank/837887/63 "2019-08-01T19:25:06Z")

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> [@Mallard](#):
>
> I use my debit card at the bank only or where they take debit but not credit cards.

It’s not necessarily where you use it, it’s having one at all that’s potentially dangerous. If some nefarious evildoer installs a skimmer on the ATM at your bank (it happens every so often) then your account is compromised.

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**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-cards-only-use-at-the-bank/837887/64 "2019-08-03T05:47:16Z")

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> [@AlsoNamedBort](#):
>
> Inner Stickler has the right answer. It’s not how you use the card, it’s what happens if someone else gets access to it.

However, the more you use it, the more chances someone has to get access to it.

And a compromised debit card can cause a lot more short-term hassle than a compromised credit card. If the money is taken from your bank account, it’s GONE until the bank does its investigation.

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