What is a Debit Card?
A debit card is a payment card that is linked to a bank account. The cardholder puts money in the bank account, then spends that money to buy things or withdraw cash. In some cases, the cardholder can attempt to withdraw more than the amount in the bank account. These excess withdrawals or attempts to withdraw excess funds may be subject to overdraft or insufficient funds fees. These fees may mount up. Debit cards often require cardholders to create and use PIN numbers to use the card or withdraw funds from the bank account.
Can You Use Your Debit Card Outside the U.S.?
Some debit cards can be used outside the U.S. You should check with your bank for information on whether or not your debit card can be used outside the U.S. and, if so, what fees and limitations apply (e.g., foreign transaction and currency conversion fees). There may be additional fees for withdrawing cash using the debit card, including ATM and currency exchange fees.
What Should You Do with Your Debit Card Before Leaving the Country?
Since a debit card is linked to a bank account in the U.S., you should decide whether or not to close the bank account associated with the debit card before leaving the country. If you close the bank account, then the debit card will no longer work and should be discarded. If you haven’t transferred the remaining balance to another bank account before closing it, the bank will generally send you a physical check with the amount of your balance to the address on file with the bank. You should make sure you can receive mail at the address on file before leaving the country, or otherwise should contact the bank to have the check mailed to a different location. If you keep the bank account, then you should check with your bank for information on whether or not your debit card can be used outside the U.S. and, if so, what fees and limitations apply.
If available, you should also download any smartphone applications associated with the debit card and enroll in electronic notification delivery options. You should generally monitor your bank account and debit card transactions on a periodic basis to make sure that your card is not being used to make fraudulent charges. You should contact the bank immediately if you identify any charges to your card that you did not make or authorize.
If the debit card has rewards, you should contact the bank to understand how best to redeem the rewards you have already earned. You may also want to stop any recurring payments being charged to the debit card if they no longer will apply.
What Should You Do if Your Debit Card is Stolen or Confiscated?
If your debit card is stolen or confiscated, you should report the theft or loss to your bank as soon as possible.