Visa Debit Card

By: EconomyWatch   Date: 6 October 2010

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The Visa Debit Card works in a way similar to a check, which has led to it being popularly known as the Visa check card. The Visa Debit Card allows you to make purchases, with the amount being deducted directly from the cardholder's checking account.

Essential Features of the Visa Debit Card

The Visa Debit Card offers better transaction facility as compared to issuing a check for every purchase. Global acceptance makes the Visa Debit Card a convenient payment option. Some of the added features of the Visa Debit Card are:

  • Pay for a range of purchases: The Visa Debit Card allows the cardholder to pay for almost every purchase through the card. One can make payments for movie tickets, groceries, dining, shopping at malls and monthly service bills, such as telephone or electricity bills. The Visa Debit Card also allows you to make purchases online or through the phone.


  • Security protection: Visa provides a secure gateway for transactions through its debit cards. The company monitors operations of the Visa Debit Card 24x7. Under its Zero Liability program, the customer is protected against unauthorized expenses and fraudulent use of the card.


  • Customer assistance: Visa offers 24x7 customer support services. A Visa Debit Card user can access this service to report lost or stolen cards, inform about fraudulent charges or to get information about the company's products and services.


  • Monthly account update: A Visa Debit Card holder can check his/her account summary and transaction history through the Internet or phone. In addition, a monthly account statement is also mailed to the user for detailed information.

    • Visa Debit Card: The Visa Extras Program

    With the Visa Extras program, an individual can earn a qualifying purchase through his or her Visa Debit Card. This scheme is available for select Visa Debit Cards through the financial service provider. Under this program, qualifying purchases include signature-based purchases, phone order purchases, internet purchases and bill payments. To avail the benefits of this program, one has to:

    • Enroll the Visa Debit Card: It is possible to enroll the card online in a few minutes.


    • Earn points: Cardholders earn points with every qualifying purchase. The points to be earned with every dollar spent are determined by the card issuer.


    • Redeem points: Through the Visa Extras online facility, you can redeem earned points to get rewards. Rewards include savings on the purchase of electronic goods, hotel bookings, dining at restaurants and travel expenses.

    How to Obtain the Visa Debit Card

    Purchasing a Visa Debit Card does not require sound credit history. Any individual can ask his or her financial institution to provide a Visa Debit Card for ease of transactions with the checking account.

    Some of the financial institutions offering Visa Debit cards are Abbey, Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Barclays Bank Halifax Bank of Scotland, Merrill Lynch, Provident Central Credit Union and Bank of America.

    ‘Visa Debit Cards’ are a trademark of Visa, who can be found at www.visa.com.


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