What's Involved in Having a Merchant Account - Business

Online, it's a no-brainer. More customers will buy from you if you accept credit cards.

Customers have gotten used to instant gratification, and if you can't offer a way to make a safe, secure, and immediate transaction most of them will do business with someone who can.

It's true that you can accept credit cards without a merchant account, using online services such as Paypal. But these services require users to register, log on, and jump through many additional hoops.

Merchant accounts are the safest, most convenient form of online payment processing available. However, not all merchant accounts are created equally.

If you're considering merchant account services, you need to understand how online credit card transactions function, and how fees are typically structured. By knowing what to expect, you can find the merchant account service that best fits your situation.

One of the first things you need to understand is that a merchant account can involve several different services. Some business owners put together a patchwork of different service providers. But a one-stop shop, such as Ensight Merchant Services, can save you a lot of extra expense and confusion.

If you're a retailer with a brick-and-mortar store, you'll usually have a credit card terminal that links you directly to your merchant account.

However, in order to accept credit cards online you'll need a payment gateway and a service to integrate your gateway with your website, shopping cart, or whatever system you plan to use to accept credit cards online.

The payment gateway allows you to accept a customer's payment information, and also validates the information prior to sending it on. The information is transmitted to your merchant account itself, where the transaction is processed.

All of these services have to be seamlessly integrated in order for you to accept credit card transactions. That's why it's helpful to have a single merchant services provider who can handle it all for you.

Different merchant account providers charge different fees, which makes it hard to compare your costs without doing some heavy number crunching and a little bit of guesswork.

The fees you can usually expect to pay are an application fee, a fixed monthly fee, discount rates, transaction fees, termination fees, and miscellaneous fees.

Not all merchant account providers will charge you an application fee, and if you can find one that meets your other needs, this is a good way to reduce your startup costs.

On top of this, there's a monthly fee that's fixed, regardless of the number or amount of sales you make.

Your "discount rate" and transaction fee will vary each month, and they depend on several factors.

The transaction fee is a fixed amount that you pay every time you process a credit card transaction. The discount rate is a small percentage of each sale, usually two to four percent.

This rate assumes the most simple, low risk transaction. But sometimes you'll have to pay a higher fee for credit card transactions that are considered to be complex or risky.

Merchant accounts for retailers will usually get the discount rate. The sale is made in person, with the buyer physically present, so the risk is low.

Online credit card transactions are another matter. When you're setting up a merchant account to accept credit cards over the internet, be sure to ask if you'll qualify for the discount rate. It's possible you won't qualify, and will have to pay a higher rate.

Many merchant account providers have a termination fee. Be sure to ask about this before you sign on. Termination fees will tie you to a merchant service provider who may not be the one best suited to you.

There are many merchant services out there, and it's possible your first choice won't turn out to be your best choice. A termination fee just makes it more costly to switch, and it's usually worthwhile to avoid merchant services which charge one.

You should also be aware of miscellaneous fees such as chargebacks and refunds. You'll only have to pay these on rare occasions, but it's important to be ready for them.

It pays to give your selection of a merchant account some thought. For example, if you sell big-ticket items you'll usually be better off with a merchant account service that charges a smaller percentage of each sale, even if the fixed costs are higher. Likewise, for a new business that may start out slow, you'll probably prefer to keep your fixed costs down.

Starting a new business or expanding your current one can be exhilarating and exhausting. By knowing how the fees are assessed on your merchant account, you can avoid unexpected charges and make a smooth, profitable transition.

Free Credit Report Scores Online - Checking Your Credit Scores Online Is Easy! - Finance - Credit

Many people understand the value of regularly monitoring their credit report scores. Identity theft affects millions annually. Furthermore, credit report score errors can result in credit card or loan denials. Sadly, many people do not take the necessary precautions to safeguard their credit. There are many ways to protect our credit. To begin, you should make a habit of checking your report every six months.

Why Check Your Credit Report Score Online?

Checking your free credit report score online is the first step to protecting your credit rating. It does not take long for someone to steal your identity. Within a few weeks, a thief may have attained several credit card or credit accounts in your name; and these accounts will appear on your credit report score.

The Purpose of Personal Credit Report Scores

A person's credit worthiness is judged by information included in their credit report score. When applying for any type of credit, lenders will review your credit score or full credit report. The credit scores are often reviewed by retailers and lenders that offer instant credit. However, if you are hoping to obtain a major credit card, auto loan, major purchase, or mortgage, the credit lender will request a detail copy of your credit report & scores.

What Is A Credit Report Score Used For?

Credit report scores include information such as number of credit accounts, balances, past due accounts, judgments, collection accounts, etc. Based on the information, a lender will determine whether you qualify for a loan. People with several negative scores, or credit report score errors, have a lower chance of getting approved and a higher chance of larger interest rate payment terms if accepted..

When Should I Check My Credit Report Scores?

However, creditors make mistakes. An example, a creditor may have failed to report a past due balance that was paid in full. By checking your credit report score every six months, you will be able to detect suspicious activity and resolve inaccuracies. For double credit protection, subscribe to a credit monitoring service. For a low monthly fee, these services notify subscribers whenever new credit accounts are opened in their name.

It's Easy To Review Your Online Credit Report Score

Checking your credit report score online is free and convenient. Various credit reporting companies offer free credit report scores online. Simply verify information such as your name, address, social security number, and within minutes you are able to gain access to your report. Reports are easy to read and viewable for a month.

Go to Check My Credit Report For Free.com for more information

10 Keys to Credit Card Processing - Business - Small Business

10 KeysInterchange Plus Pricing (IC Plus)This type of pricing used to be reserved for Fortune 500 companies. Not any more. Now, even Mom and Pop shops can take advantage of IC plus pricing savings. Banks are hesitant and sometimes outright refuse to give IC plus Pricing to small businesses because the banks are unable to maximize their profits. They would rather sell you the much more lucrative Enhanced BillBack or 3-Tier pricing, which is much more lucrative.

The recent Durbin Amendment makes it imperative that you switch to Interchange plus pricing to ensure you realize the cost reduction savings. Merchants that are not on interchange plus pricing will see their savings go to the processor, which is not compelled by law to lower the rates. (Please see Durbin Amendment Savings at the end for more details.)

There are many independent credit card processing organizations (ISO) that will offer you IC Plus pricing. You should take them up on their offer. There are many reputable ISO's in the market. Blindbid has prescreened the best ones on our site. They will give you the best deal available.

Why Interchange Plus Pricing?

As mentioned before, there are 440 different Visa/MasterCard/Discover Categories and you want each one of your sales transactions to qualify for the lowest possible rate category. IC Plus Pricing places each transaction in the appropriate category and charges the corresponding rate. No other pricing method does this.

IC Plus pricing is pretty simple. There are three components that make up your rate.

Interchange + Visa/MasterCard/Discover Assessment Fee + Processor Rate

Interchange consists of 440 rate categories. For most businesses, only about 60 categories will apply. That is still a lot. The range of rates varies widely from 0.95% + $0.10 for debit cards to 3.25% + $0.10 for certain corporate cards.

Assessment fee is the rate Visa/MasterCard/Discover charge for each transaction. Currently this fee is 0.11% + $0.02 and does not vary by card or transaction types.

The processor fee is the rate and/or transaction fees your processor charges. To get the final rate, you simply add up all the components.

Please remember in choosing your pricing method, you want to lower your effective rate. The rate range is more important than the lowest rate. 2. Know your Business Type Visa/MasterCard use pricing indicators or business types to apply discounts to your rates. In the beginning, Visa/MasterCard used to charge one rate for every industry. Some industries refused to accept credit cards because they thought the rates were too high and cut into the profit margin. Supermarkets were one of the biggest holdouts. So, Visa/MasterCard began offering discount rates to specific industries, card types, and processing methods. Your business may qualify for one of Visa/MasterCard's special programs. For example, if your business has an average transaction of less than $15, you may qualify for the small ticket program. If you are paying 1.64% + $0.25 per transaction now, then under the small ticket program you could get your rates as low as 1.65% + $0.04. Now your processor will probably t ack on another six cents to cover its costs. Still, you would save fifteen cents a transaction or 1.5% on a $10 transaction.

Visa/MasterCard has programs for most industries like restaurant, B2B, MOTO, quick serve restaurants, convenience store, hotel, gas stations, supermarkets, charities, insurance, utilities, government etc.

3. Get Set Up Properly Once you know your business type, make sure that you are processing under that correct business type to take advantage of the savings. You will need to call your processor and ask. If you are not set up properly, you need to find out why and fix it. Your processor may not have intentionally set you up under the wrong business type, but it has reaped a financial reward from you. This is why you need to constantly be pro active in accepting bids for your merchant services. Do not become complacent with your current provider because, like it not, many have their best interests at heart.

4. Know Your Card Mix and Average Transaction There are dozens of card types such as personal cards, rewards cards, corporate cards, debit cards, purchase cards. Each type of card has a direct impact on the rate that you pay. Having a break down of the card types effectively minimizes your processing charges.

If you are not sure of your card mix, your processor should have a website so that you can review your transactions. Some processors' websites provide in depth analyses of your transactions. Use this valuable information to your advantage.

Although IC Plus pricing offers the greatest savings for most businesses, there are some exceptions. For example if you accept 95% personal cards swiped through your credit card terminal, you would be better off with a low 3-Tier pricing. The reason is that you can predict that nearly all of your transactions will qualify at the lowest qualified rate and only a few transactions will qualify at the higher mid- and non-qualified rates.

Knowing your average transaction will save you money. You can find your average transaction on your statement or simply divide your monthly volume by the monthly number of transactions. This is important to know, because if your average transaction is below $15, you may qualify for the small ticket program. If you have a high average ticket, your business may benefit from pin debit savings. 5. Use Latest Technology A few years back, there was the story of the merchant who had purchased one of the first credit card terminals, the VeriFone Zon Jr. XL, which was very expensive. He had heard so many stories about his fellow merchants getting swindled on terminals that he vowed never to buy another terminal again.

One day a merchant services rep walked into his store and analyzed his statement. He noticed that his rates were extremely high. When he saw the Zon Jr. terminal, he realized that the obsolete equipment was the cause for the surcharges. The sales rep tried to convince the merchant that to save money he needed new equipment. Another factor to consider is PCI Compliance. PCI Compliance is the credit card processing industry's program to eliminate fraud by compelling merchants to follow their security regulations. Some older terminals are no longer PCI compliant and merchants who continue to use those terminals will face heavy fines if their terminals are compromised. 6. Review Your StatementsMost merchants seldom, if ever, review their statements on a monthly basis which is not a good idea. Do not expect your accountant to review and pick up irregularities from your statement as many CPA's are unfamiliar with statements.

When you look at the statement, look for any changes in rates and fees and any other irregularities.

April and October are the two months out of the year when you must review your statements. These months are when Visa/MasterCard Association meets to set rates for the year and when your rates are most likely raised. If they are raised, talk to your dedicated account executive or your processor's retention department and kindly ask them to lower your rates.7. Accept All Card Types and Transaction MethodsThere is an old adage in business - if you want more sales, make it as easy as possible for your customers to pay. That means accepting all the cards - Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, JCB and debit cards.

Some merchants refuse to accept American Express because the rate is too high. The question you need to ask yourself is if you mind paying the higher transaction costs to gain a sale or mind losing the sale to save on the higher transaction cost. If the former is more important to you, accept American Express.

If you are a retail business, ask your processor if they offer check guarantee. If you truly want to lower your transaction costs many check guarantee companies like Telecheck and Certegy offer rates below 1%. Then put up a sign that you welcome checks because some people still write checks.

8. Be In Contact With Your Account Executive Do you have a dedicated account executive? Do you know who your account executive is? If not, then you need to get a new processor with an account executive assigned to your business. There are so many changes occurring in credit card processing industry that you need to be pro active in your response. You need a go to guy to help you. That's your dedicated account executive.

A good merchant services account executive can help you analyze your statement; ensure that you are set up under the correct business type; help you decide the best pricing method; advise you on the latest technology; help you win charge backs; and, resolve other issues. 9. Get Multiple Bids for Card Processing Service When was the last time you had your statement analyzed? More importantly, when was the last time you even looked at your statement. If your business is like most businesses, 50 percent or more of your revenue is generated through credit card payments. It pays to know what you are paying and ensuring that you are not paying too much.

The best way to the best deal on credit card processing is to get multiple bids. When banks compete, "you win" is not just a slogan but good advice. Getting multiple bids may appear on the surface to be time consuming. With Blindbid, you receive multiple bids from the top processors in the industry, but only the lowest bidder will contact you.

10. Buy Value - Not Price There is a famous saying that goes "price is a one time thing, cost is ongoing." Many merchants are lured into bad processing agreements by artificially low rates and/or "free terminals." These offers are constantly advertised on the Internet. "Rates as low as" and "free terminal with every account" are just some of the offers. Don't be fooled. If you have reached this point in the guide, then you have educated yourself pretty well.

Go with a company that offers the latest technology. Do not pay extra fees or PCI compliance penalties because of obsolete equipment. Look for added value like loyalty programs, gift cards, check guarantee, online account access, POS systems. Other services and products like these can give you a competitive advantage. If you do not take advantage of them, your competitors certainly will.

Go with a company with a dedicated account executive. Ask the processor what happens if your account executive leaves?Go with a reputable company that tailors its processing to your business needs. Many merchants think they can solve this problem by going to their banks. Banks do not have the same control over merchant services like other products they sell. Most banks outsource their merchant services to big processors like First Data, Elavon, and Paymentech. As mentioned before, the banks want to profit off of you by making a profit from your business. Do not expect to get a good deal from your local bank. But do expect to get a sympathetic ear when something goes wrong. Do not expect your banker to be able to do something about it.

Second, your processor should be able to accommodate your needs. If you need next day funding, have large transactions, take advanced payments, or want to accept health savings cards or fleet cards, your processor should be able to work with you to create a plan that will meet your needs. If not, find a processor who can help you with these objectives.

Be wary of free terminal offers. As the sayings go, you get what you pay for and there are no free offers. Credit card terminals are not free to the processor and the processor will make sure it gets a return on the "free" terminal it gave to you. Find out what that cost is. The cost could be an obsolete terminal, a long-term commitment, or excessive penalties for non-return of equipment.

Keep searching. If you are not completely satisfied with your current processor, then change processors. The competition for merchant service accounts is fierce. You are in the driver's seat. The best advice when choosing a credit card processing company is picking a company which you believe has the most integrity and honesty. This will keep you in a good position over the long run. The Durbin Amendment Savings

Small businesses have received the biggest reduction in their credit card processing charges in the history of the electronic payment industry, but if they are set up correctly.

The Dodd - Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 included an amendment, the Durbin Amendment, which greatly impacts your credit card processing or more specifically your debit card processing charges. This Durbin Amendment affects both signature and pin based debt interchange rates by drastically lowering them as of October 1, 2011.

Merchants that process debit cards whether signature debit or pin debit will see huge savings on their merchant account processing statements in the future. Debit, both pin and signature, comprise nearly 50 to 70 percent off all card transactions. Merchants could see their credit card processing charges cut in half. That equals real savings.

Unfortunately, many merchants, who do accept a high percentage of debit cards, may not see any savings, because their current credit card processing plan does not allow for the Durbin Amendment reduction. Instead their debit interchange savings will be going to their processors.

This is especially true for merchants who are on 3-Tier and Enhanced BillBack pricing. Processors are not compelled by law to reduce the rates. They are only reducing one component of your rate, Interchange, but not the other two components, Visa/MasterCard assessment and the processor's percentage.

The reason is that under IC plus pricing, the processor is compelled to set the interchange rate at the current bank rate and then add his percentage on top. About Blindbid

Blindbid is a small business cost reduction company. We help you negotiate with the top processors to get the best deal. Our online forum allows the top credit card processors to bid for you business. The Blindbid process saves you both time and money in the following ways:

1. Lowest Rates -- Multiple processors will compete for your business.

2. Privacy Protection -- We really do take your privacy seriously. That's why we named our company, Blindbid. We "blind" (conceal) your contact information from our vendors. Only the vendor with the lowest bid will contact you, while you will have the choice of multiple vendors.

3. Control -- There is no haggling with vendors. You choose how many vendors you want to speak too.

4. The Most Reputable Vendors -- We've pre-screened and assembled the industries top processors, saving you valuable due diligence time.

Are Universal Prepaid Debit Cards Good for Our Economy? - Finance

Universal prepaid debit cards have become increasingly popular in our culture. If you are wondering what they are, they are basically credit cards attached to a savings account. There is some controversy about them though. Some people are concerned that illegal aliens or undocumented immigrants (depending on which side you pull for) are using them to legitimize their presence and open bank accounts where they otherwise would be unable to open one. Believe it or not, the loudest outcry is coming from the check cashing companies that have been "sticking it to" immigrants for years.

It seems that once the person initiates the account they can simply send their checks into the savings account and spend money on their universal prepaid debit card. The companies who promote the cards charge fees as well that is not too much different from the check-cashing places. The real difference is that this card that has a Visa insignia on it that can double as identification in most places that require two id's. Some of the companies that offer the universal prepaid debit cards are careless at best when verifying identification when setting up new accounts.The plus side to the debit cards is the ability to control cash spending with teens. If you have a daughter in college instead of giving her the Visa card for "emergencies" (like pizza and parties" you can put a pre-determined amount on her card. Regardless of which State she is in all you have to do is fund the card straight from your bank and she has cash within the hour. Another good thing is that the debit c ards offer people who are re-building their credit the ability to access the products and services that require a Visa or Mastercard.

It has almost reached the point that you have to have some sort of debit or credit card to operate normally in our society. This writer feels that the good out-weighs the bad in the larger scope of things. The main thing to do is make sure you get a good universal prepaid debit card when you apply. Rarely if ever do these companies perform a credit check to open an account but some cards tend to focus on the customers with no credit or bad credit.

Their advertising draws in people who feel as if they have nowhere else to turn and then they charge higher fees to open the account. We have found that regardless of your credit history or nationality even the best-prepaid debit cards will accept you. If you think about it they really do not have any risk they are just giving you back your money in an electronic format.

So my advice is to compare which card has the lowest fees and upfront charges. Many people will choose the card that looks the coolest or the one they heard advertised on the TV or radio. Some of the least known prepaid debit cards are offered by smaller banks to build up their deposit assets I suggest that you begin your search at a website that offers this kind of selection.

Prepaid Debit Card Offers: Are they Right for you? - Finance

If you have less-than-perfect credit, you may find it hard to get approved for a regular credit card. You still have some credit options, however. One of these is the prepaid debit card. Following is information on how this type of card works, its advantages and disadvantages, and two to consider applying for.

About Prepaid Debit Cards. Prepaid debit cards entered the market in the 1990s. They are similar, in some ways, to a prepaid phone card. You place money into your account, and then are able to make purchases. Once the balance runs out, you have to load more money into the account.

Loading money onto the card is fairly easy. Some cards let you call in and transfer money from one account to another. You can also load money by accessing your account online. The amount of money you put on the card becomes your credit limit.

Advantages of Prepaid Debit Cards. There are several advantages to this type of card. First of all, it is available for just about anyone over the age of 18. So if you have a history of poor credit, this may be a smart choice for you. You can use the card instead of carrying around cash. Paying with plastic is sometimes safer and easier when it comes time to check out.

Most prepaid debit cards are issued through Visa or MasterCard, which means they are widely accepted around the world. Since the credit limit is determined by the balance on the card, you do not have to make monthly payments. This saves you the hassle of bills and potential late fees.

Disadvantages of Prepaid Debit Cards. Many prepaid debit cards come with a number of attached fees. You might be charged an application fee, as well as a fee for monthly maintenance. Some also include a charge every time that you make a purchase.

These costs may seem steep; however, it is important to remember that this card is an option for you if you're having trouble getting approved for different forms of credit. By understanding the fees involved, you can make sure you use the card in a way to get the most out of it as possible.

Two to Consider: There are a variety of options available if you want a prepaid debit card. One of these is the READYdebit card issued by Visa. This card has a minimum amount of fees. You can load money for free through direct deposit and bank account transfers. Also, it advertises that all who apply will be approved.

Another option to look into is the Bank Freedom Prepaid MasterCard. No credit check is performed when you apply for this card. There are also very few fees involved. With both of these options, you can enjoy many of the benefits of a credit card without having to worry about having good credit in order to get approved.

If you decide to get a prepaid debit card, do some research before you apply for one. Look online at the different choices available. When you find one that fits your needs, fill out the application. The card will arrive in just a few days.

Direct Deposit and Prepaid Debit Cards - Finance

Prepaid debit cards, on the other hand, offer employers the ability to immediately transfer funds to employees anywhere in the world, and allow employees to quickly and easily access money in their home currencies, without the necessity of opening a foreign bank account. They are powered by your own money, so the amount you have on the card is the amount available to spend. But not limited to prepaid phone cards, and more particularly, to a package assembly and methodology for permitting activation the card at a point of sale from a remote location. Issuers point out that they can create conveniences for employers and employees beyond monthly payroll. Since this will be disbursed to workers at the place of employment, to business owners at the tax offices, and to the unemployed and dependent at the social assistance agencies, the reference income could be readily determined.

Direct deposit and prepaid debit cards, however, may be less than 50 cents per transaction. You have the freedom to make purchases anywhere at any time without carrying around too much cash. And are accepted at locations and shopping outlets. Since it carry a Visa insignia on them, people can use them any place that accepts Visa or Master Card. As with any card, they carry some limitations on usage. They are providing the cardholders with some of the best financial services. Some are offered by smaller banks to build up their deposit assets I suggest that you begin your search at a website that offers this kind of selection. In this way, the retail merchant need only pay the costs associated with the prior to the actual sale.

Prepaid debit cards work well with programs that allow an employee or benefits recipient to choose between direct deposit or check disbursement. Meta Bank specializes in prepaid debit cards for those with poor credit. They are sold by participating retail locations, banks and card companies, and are typically available without a credit check or prior bank account. Most consumer credit comes from banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions, finance companies, and credit card companies check cashing payday loans money transfers bill payments money orders and many other services are offered by these financial. International It can be issued to just about anyone in the world without requiring credit, banking and employment history. Experts are predicting more growth, linked to flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements. Debit News, the named defendants in the case have sold millions.

Loan to Value

Value equals the lower of appraised value or purchase price

Title I Improvement Loans Terms- customers come to money tree for check cashing payday loans money tree your cash solution. Some locations of some car rental companies do not accept prepaid debit cards. This takes all of two or three minutes to do and tend to be extremely convenient wherever they are sold and accepted. It looks like and acts a lot like one, too, but have a few important stopgaps that parents can appreciate. With the increased competition from companies like Master card and Visa along with major Banks are looking to for new innovative ways to generate awareness. This help you to control your spending. Treasury has begun to institute a new system in several states across the country, including Oklahoma.

Great progress has been made in the security of prepaid debit cards. Specifically, no banked individuals will be able to deposit and withdraw finance funds and utilize mobile payment technology to transfer funds, make instantaneous purchases, and accept payments using a cell phone. Although there are sometimes fees associated with them. Here are some of the advantages that are inherent. With auto sales falling and gas prices rising, General Motors and Ford are helping new customers pay for gas. You can find any bank you want from business, college students, general consumer, secured cards, we got it all.

The Unique Flexibility of Debit Cards - Finance

Debit cards are becoming very popular. A debit card is often tied in with a major credit card so they can be used like a credit card, however, unlike a credit card a person can only spend the amount of money they actually have. A debit card is tied into a persons checking account.

Basically the idea of debit cards is to reduce the need to write checks. With everything quickly becoming paperless this fits right in. Debit cards are also the persons ATM card. They can use them just like any other debit card. Unlike a credit card, though, as long as they use it at their banks ATM they will not receive additional charges for a cash advance because they are actually taking their own money out of the bank.

Distinguishing between a credit card and debit card is done in a few different ways. First of all, while the credit card logo is on the debit card, there is also usually the banks logo and the word 'debit'. However, a credit card and debit card do look familiar and usually only the person using the card knows it is a debit card not a credit card.

The main difference is the way the card works and where the money comes from. Debit cards can be used as either a debit card or credit card. Credit cards can only be used as a credit card. Debit cards do not carry a line of credit. The purchases made with a debit card can not exceed the amount of money a person has in their bank account. This is the main difference between a credit and debit card.

Another major difference between credit and debit cards is the risk involved. Because they are attached to a bank account, loosing a debit card is very risky. A person does not need a pin number to use a debit card and therefore can easily drain a persons bank account, causing extreme problems.

With a credit card the only problem is proving that someone else used the card. With a debit card the persons has to figure out how to get their money back and if any checks bounced they are responsible for those as well. The legal liability is much greater with a debit card than with a credit card.

The good thing about a debit card, though, is that it gives a person the freedom to use it anywhere credit cards are accepted. They liminate the hassle of having to write a check and show id. They are easy to use and accepted in a large variety of places.

Debit cards are convenient and easy to use verses checks or an ATM. They do have some risks, though. That makes it important for a person to use their debit card carefully and make sure they keep it in a safe place.