I need a debit card, but can only get one by opening a checking account. Please read on for more info?

Question

I currently only have a savings account. My roommate pays the bills and I just give him cash at the end of each month. However, I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling in January and will need a debit card (definitely not a credit card) to book my flights, etc.

However, it has come to my attention that I can only get a debit card by opening up a checking account! Can you please tell me why and how this works? And what should I do -- just transfer my money from my Savings into my Checking account? I can't figure out how the bank will even allow me to maintain a checking account when I won't be cashing any checks or writing any out... Please help how to go about operating my way through this checking account situation. Thank you.

Answer 1

It must be different in the US then than in Canada, because I have a debit card for a savings account - no checking account at that bank. Talk to someone at the bank.

Answer 2

A debit card draws money from a checking account. It's that simple. Make sure you get one with a Visa or MasterCard logo on it and not just an ATM card. Make sure it says "check card" on it.

However, you want to be VERY careful if you are going to be using a debit card when traveling. If you rent a car or get a hotel room, they block out a certain amount of money on the card that you use as a deposit in case you run off with the car or trash the room. It is not unusual for the amount blocked to be more than the actual bill-----up to a few hundred dollars. While that amount is frozen, you will not be able to access it which could tie up money you need.

If your debit card is stolen, someone could wipe out your entire bank account and it takes a LONG time to get it all back. (forget that 24 hour replacement you see on tv....I had to FIGHT with my bank when mine was stolen and it took several days to get a temporary credit back to my account) Basically, if someone makes bad charges on your account, you are out of money until the bank investigates which can take a while.

If a credit card is stolen, you are not responsible for the charges as long as you report the theft timely. I usually don't advocate getting credit cards but they are much safer for travel than a debit card. Also, many cards automatically offer additional insurance or buyer protection on purchases made on the card. This can be great if there is a problem with your flight or if something you purchased on your trip gets broken.

Answer 3

In order to have a debit card you will need a checking account to draw the money from each time you use the card. Where else do you think the debits will come from. They will be glad to take money out of your savings and establish you a checking account. You will have to keep money in the account all the time in order to use the debit. . .They will not let you debit your savings account, it has to be checking , there is no way around it. . . .Hope this has helped.

Answer 4

Go to the bank where you have your savings account and tell them that you want to open a checking account. You will fill out an application for the account, and they will want a minimum amount to put into your checking, which you will probably just be able to transfer from savings. Just because you have a checking account, it doesn't mean you have to write checks. It is just an account that allows the bank to process transactions in a variety of ways, where as the savings account is just that, for saving money.

Answer 5

You answered your own question. If you want a debit card, then open a checking account. Just transfer money from your savings to your checking when necessary. You don't have to use checks at all. You'll just have a second account in which to keep your money. It's that simple.

Answer 6

Go to your bank and talk to a new accounts person. You can have a checking account and not write checks. Plus there are accounts that will give you free checking if have direct deposit or if you wirte les than 10 checks a month.

All you have to do is transfer your money from savings to Checking very simple. Theres nothing to worry about.

Answer 7

a debit card takes money straight out of the checking account. its like writing a check, just takes less time, since you just pass over the card. if you open a checking you can transfer however much you can to it. debits will only go through checking accounts.

Answer 8

it works like that because a debit card is the same as writing a check except its easier u have to have a checking account because when u use ur card the money comes straight out of ur account so u just move money over from ur savings to back what u will be spending on ur card.

Answer 9

You don't have to write checks to have a checking account. I haven't written a check in years. Just go to any local bank and they can tell you what options you have available. Some banks offer free checking which is nice cuz they pretty much just hold your money until you need it. You can also go online to most banking sites and they can give you a run down of what they offer probably. Don't be scared to get one. It's a lot better than carrying cash around which can be lost easily.

Answer 10

Go to your bank and open a checking account. You will get your debit card.

I also recommend that you sign up for online banking and billpay. That way, you can check your accounts, transfer money from your savings to checking, and pay bills -- even schedule automatic payment of recurring bills.

The day will come when you will need to be able to write checks and online billpay is definitely the way to do it.