ATM & Debit Cards

If you have a checking account with a bank, you are offered different ways to access your money other than using a check or a credit card.  You may qualify to receive a plastic card, which can be an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) Card, Debit Card, a Check Card or a card with combined features.  When you want to get cash or make a purchase, you put your card in a machine, enter a pin number (a secret identification number), type in the amount you want to withdraw or use to pay a bill (not necessarily in this order) and the machine will check to see if you have the money in the bank.  If you do, the transaction will be processed and you can receive your cash or merchandise.  If you don’t, it will deny the transaction.  This is one way to make sure you don’t spend more than you have in the bank.  If you use your card other than in a branch of your bank, there might be additional fees for the use of the ATM.  You will always be shown what the fee is.  You can agree to accept the fee and proceed with your transaction or, deny it and you get your card back and your transaction will not be processed.