Bank card

A bank card is a plastic card issued by a financial institution (bank, credit union, etc.) to its customers, allowing them to access various banking services. These services typically include withdrawing cash from automated teller machines (ATMs), making purchases at points of sale (POS) both physically and online, and sometimes accessing other banking functions like transferring funds or checking account balances.

Bank cards come in several forms, primarily debit cards and credit cards. Debit cards are linked directly to the customer's checking account and funds are deducted directly from the account balance at the time of transaction. Credit cards, on the other hand, provide a line of credit that the cardholder can borrow and repay later, typically with interest charges if not paid in full by the due date. Prepaid cards, while functioning similarly, are loaded with a specific amount of money in advance and are not directly linked to a bank account or line of credit.

The functionality of a bank card depends on the underlying network it is affiliated with, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. These networks provide the infrastructure for processing transactions globally. Cards also often include security features such as EMV chips, magnetic stripes, and card verification value (CVV) codes to help prevent fraud.

The terms and conditions associated with a bank card, including fees, interest rates (for credit cards), and usage limits, are determined by the issuing financial institution.