A bank debit card is a convenient modern means of non-cash payments. Debit cards are offered by many banks on a variety of conditions, so those who decide to keep up with the times face a difficult choice of such a card.
Instructions
Step 1
Unlike a credit card, the owner of a debit card can only dispose of the amount that is on his account. This is convenient, since there is no danger of falling into debt dependence on the bank. Salaries and pensions are transferred to debit cards, the cardholder can withdraw the required amount in cash at any ATM.
Step 2
Choosing a debit card starts with defining a payment system. The most widespread in the world are two - Visa and Master Card. Having maps of these systems, you can use them in almost any country in the world. Visa and Master Card are equally reliable, so feel free to choose a card from any of these payment systems.
Step 3
Having decided on the payment system, select the type of card that you want to receive. For Visa, these are, in ascending order of capabilities and prestige, Visa Electron, Visa Classic, Visa Gold and Visa Platinum. For MasterCard: Unembossed, Maestro, Standard, Gold, Platinum. Please note that along with the increase in opportunities, the cost of servicing the card also grows, it can range from 100 rubles to several thousand rubles per year.
Step 4
Before choosing a type of card, decide why you need it. If only in order to withdraw cash from ATMs and pay for purchases in stores and via the Internet, a Visa Electron, MasterCard Unembossed or Maestro card is enough for you. These types of cards are the most common due to the low cost of service - about 300 rubles per year. It should be noted that these types of cards are also the least protected from counterfeiting - they do not have a field for signatures, holograms, etc.
Step 5
If you are concerned about the issues of prestige, get a card not lower than the level of Visa Classic and MasterCard Standard. The cost of servicing such a card will be approximately 700 rubles per year. Expensive cards provide additional opportunities - for example, bonuses in some stores, when buying tickets from airlines, etc. You can find out a specific list of additional services by reading the description of the card on the website of the bank issuing it.
Step 6
Much more important than the type of card is the choice of the bank serving it. Be careful - the more favorable conditions the bank offers, the less reliable it can be. Therefore, it is best to choose time-tested banks. For example, Sberbank, which offers all types of debit cards.
Step 7
When choosing a bank, take into account the availability of its ATMs for you: if you withdraw money through a “foreign” ATM, you will be charged increased interest for this. Withdrawals through your bank's ATM are usually free of charge or have a minimum percentage.
Step 8
When receiving a card, be sure to activate the Mobile Bank service or its analogue, which exists in almost all banks. After connecting it, your mobile phone will receive information about all incoming and outgoing transactions made with the card. This is convenient, because in case of fraudulent actions with your card, you will immediately find out about them and you can immediately block it.
Step 9
Whichever card you choose, always follow the safety rules when using it. Do not give your card pin-code to anyone and under any circumstances, do not write it down on the card itself. When shopping on the Internet, avoid dubious sites - sometimes they are created only in order to find out the card details you enter: the owner's name, card number, expiration date and security code. Having received this data, fraudsters will be able to use your card for purchases on the Internet.
Step 10
If there is a significant amount on your card, start another one with a small balance for purchases on the Internet, or use the so-called virtual cards. When withdrawing money from an ATM, make sure that no one from behind your back can see the entered pin code. Look carefully for any overlays on the receiving device and the ATM keyboard - fraudsters use them to read your card data. If the appearance of the ATM raises at least some suspicion, use a different one.
