Difference Between Credit and Debit Card
Understanding the difference between a credit card and a debit card allows us to make decisions related to our finances in a much wiser way. There are a large number of people who are confused about it and when they visit a bank they do not know exactly what type of card to request and the implications of choosing one or the other.
Both cards are accepted in the same places and both (depending on how they are used) can bring benefits to the user, however, there is a fundamental difference between debit and credit card that should not be ignored.
If you also have doubts about it or simply want to be better informed, continue reading below, since below we tell you everything you need to know about this topic.
DEBIT
This type of card offers the benefit of credit, but works differently from the other type. The way they work is by extracting the money directly from your account, that is, it can only be used if you have money deposited in the bank.
When you make a purchase using your debit card, the amount of money or the price you have to pay for the good or service is not taken “out of the bank’s pocket,” but yours.
The transfer of money from the bank to the seller or merchant can be carried out within a period of several days in some cases.
In this case, it is important that the user is always aware of the balance of his account, in order to avoid that they do not accept him to pay with his debit card.
CREDIT CARD
On the other hand, what this type of card basically does is borrow money from the bank in order to pay for the purchases and services that the user requests.
In general, the amount of money that can be withdrawn using them is limited, but in the case of some users, certain extra benefits are offered that include the availability of a larger sum of money. Also, depending on the bank, sometimes there are offers and contests in which customers could be rewarded if they make good use of their credit cards.
When using the credit card, you have to pay the money used plus an interest rate established by the bank when payments are not made on the stipulated dates.
Finally, it is important to note that the fundamental difference between a credit card and a debit card lies in the fact that the former does not withdraw money from your own account, but from the bank’s; reason why not paying the debt that is acquired on time brings with it different kinds of warnings or penalties.