A debit card is a card connected to your checking account, using the funds you have to make purchases. A credit card is connected to a line of credit, carrying a balance each month based on the ...

With more than 15 years of experience crafting content about all aspects of personal finance, Michael Benninger knows how to identify smart moves for your money. His work has been published by Intuit, ...

Jessica Gibson is a content update editor and writer for Investopedia. She has over 10 years of experience in digital publishing and three years of experience covering financial topics like insurance, ...

Debit cards pull funds directly from your bank account when making purchases or withdrawing cash. Setting up a PIN and monitoring account balances via mobile apps helps avoid overspending and fees.

Debit cards give you easy access to the money you currently have available in your linked checking account. They’re different from credit cards, which allow you to make purchases with loans offered by ...

Sophie Venz is a former Deputy Editor at Forbes Advisor. She is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously ...