ATM Card Asshattery

[Jetfire]

The Canadian Banking system and especially the Debit card system is mostly throuhg the Interac network, so Debit transactions go through pretty much immediately. Probably because of that banks and Credit Unions don't do any sort of credit checks (that I've seen) to get an ATM/Debit card; you can often just go into any branch and get a card for your accoutn right then and there. (Depends on the banks, my BMO card is purely a number with no other visible id to tie it to me, and doesn't expire, whereas my CU Debit card does have my name on it and does expire eventually)

[wagegoth]

In the U.S., it would probably depend on the size and technological set-up of the bank as to whether they would give an ATM card or debit card out.

[Primer]

Believe it or not but a lot of people commit ATM fraud by depositing bogus items and/or nothing at all.

You can make deposits at ATMs?? I've not seen one of those since the early 80's!

In the U.S., it would probably depend on the size and technological set-up of the bank as to whether they would give an ATM card or debit card out.

Pardon my ignorance, buy just what is the difference between an ATM card and a debit card? I thought they were both tied directly to your account to get money out either as a purchase (in lieu of a check), or as cash.

Yeah...I don't use them for purchases--only to get cash at the bank. I prefer credit cards for purchases.

[Jetfire]

Also in Canada, you can usually deposit into ATM's, but usually ONLY in your bank/CU's banking machine. And they tend to automatically put holds on any deposits automatically.

As for the diff between an ATM or Debit card, I have no idea. Up here it's all "Debit card", or a strict Debit, Credit or Cash question (No Credit/Debit on the same cards here and Checks are virtually extinct)

[Ghel]

Deposits at ATMs: It's pretty much the same in the US - you can only deposit at an ATM at your own bank (we don't even offer that option), and the bank usually puts a hold on the funds to give it time to be processed.

An ATM card can only be used for PIN-based transactions. Basically, just ATM withdrawals and purchases at stores that allow you to enter a PIN.

Our debit cards are Visa-branded, so can be used just about anywhere Visa cards are taken. (Technically, a vendor can accept Visa credit cards and decline Visa debit cards, but I haven't heard of anybody doing that.) So the debit cards can be processed as a credit transaction, meaning you have to sign the receipt, but are still debited from your checking account. It can be used to make online purchases and payments over the phone (or reserve a hotel room, which you can't do with an ATM card).

Other banks' cards may function differently, or they may choose to offer only one type of card.