Types of Debit Cards in India

A debit cards is basically a card used for fund transactions. Going by the name plastic cash, bank card and more, you can enjoy electronic access to your savings account in any bank via ATMs.

Visa Debit Cards These debit cards are issued with the bank’s tie-up with VISA payment services providing the Verified by Visa (VbV) platform for online transactions.
Visa Electron Debit Cards Visa Electron debit cards are very similar to Visa debit cards but these cards do not provide the overdraft feature.
MasterCard Debit Cards A MasterCard Cirrus Card or a MasterCard Maestro Card gives customers access to their funds worldwide and they can perform online transactions using their bank accounts on the MasterCard SecureCode platform.
Contactless Debit Cards Customers can make payments with just a tap or wave of their contactless debit cards near PoS terminals, with the cards working on Near Field Technology (NFC) thereby making electronic payments safer.
RuPay Debit Cards Introduced as a domestic card scheme by the NPCI, RuPay debit cards facilitates online purchases and transactions on the Discover network and ATM transactions under the National Financial Switch network.
Maestro Debit Card Founded in 1992, Maestro from MasterCard is a premier, international debit card service that has been popularly adopted at over 13 million locations spread across 100+ countries around the world. Maestro, as easily identified by the signature logo on all partner cards, helps the customer gain immediate access to his/her money through a robust, international network of compatible ATMs, POS outlets and online resources.

Difference between an ATM card, Debit card, and Credit card

ATM cards, debit cards, and credit cards are payment cards issued by a bank which allows customers to perform certain specific transactions. Not only does it make your purchases smooth and convenient, but some retailers require it for billing purposes. Banks these days are trying to add more value to the services offered by them and hence the cards come with a lot of offers and discounts.

ATM Cards

ATM cards can be used only at ATM machines to withdraw cash
You will require a Personal Identification Number(PIN) to carry out a transaction
An ATM card is linked to your current account or savings account maintained in the bank
The card does not offer credits and hence money is deducted on a real-time basis
ATM withdrawals charge you a fee if the transaction is being carried out in an ATM machine of a different bank

Debit cards

Debit cards come with almost every feature of a credit card even though it doesn’t allow credits
Just like an ATM card you will require a four-digit Personal Identification Number to complete your purchases
In addition to ATM machines, your debit card can be used at stores or restaurants and can also be used for online payments
There are usually two types of debit cards—Visa debit cards and MasterCard debit cards.
Much like ATM cards, the debit card allows you to use the money from your savings account
It is different from a credit card as the customer does not have to pay interests or make a repayment schedule

Credit cards

Though credit cards facilitate ATM withdrawals, it is mostly used like a loan option and is issued by the bank after reviewing your creditworthiness
Your credit score impacts your credit card application. Too many credit card applications may have a negative effect on your overall score
It allows you to purchase any product that is within your spending limit and make payments later
It offers attractive discounts on certain brands and services
Besides standard and premium versions, there are many variants in credit cards which offer a wide range of activities, right from shopping and dining to booking an air ticket

Safety Tips for First-Time Debit Card Users

As per RBI guidelines, banks issuing the debit cards are responsible for keeping the information of their customers safe. But there have been multiple instances of data breaches due to negligence on the part of debit card users as well. Listed below are some of the dos and don’ts for first-time users of a debit card.

Sign on the back of your debit card as soon as you receive it. Your card is considered authentic only if you fix your signature in the space provided on your card.

Sometimes fraudsters may jam the Enter and Cancel button in an ATM machine to put your transaction on hold. In such cases, do not leave the ATM counter without cancelling the transaction.
Make sure that you have memorized your debit card PIN. Do not write down your debit card PIN number anywhere.
While making a transaction at an ATM counter, make sure that no one else is there with you.
As an enhanced security measure, keep changing your debit card PIN from time to time.
If you are withdrawing cash from an ATM located in an open space, ensure that you hide the PIN combination while making the entry.
Dispose your old debit cards if you are not using them anymore.
Do not dispose of balance receipt in the ATM counter itself. Hackers and fraudsters can use this information to gain access to your bank account.
Track your account transactions on a regular basis. This will help you in identifying any unusual activity in your account.
Register for email or SMS alerts. This will help you in staying up to date with your transactions.
While transacting at petrol bunks, restaurants, and similar places, ensure that your debit card is swiped in the POS machine only in your presence. Otherwise, there are chances of your information being skimmed. Skimming is the process of duplicating a debit card with the use of a skimming device.
In case you doubt a skimming device being installed in an ATM machine, refrain from making any transaction and inform the concerned authorities immediately.
Get your debit card blocked immediately, in case it is lost or stolen. You can do so by calling the bank on their hotline number.
Whenever you receive an email or a call asking for your account details or debit card information, report the incident to your bank.
Your bank will never ask for your debit card information. Never share your information with anyone over phone, call, or message, even if the person claims to be from the bank.
While shopping online with your debit card, make sure that the website of the e-tailer starts with ‘http’. This is a sign that the website is secure and genuine.
Do not save your debit card details on merchant websites for ease of making payments. Because in case the website is hacked, you will be at the risk of losing your baking information to hackers and fraudsters.

Top Banks providing Debit Cards in India

Indian consumers can choose from a wide range of debit cards offered by various Indian banks tailor-made to suit their banking requirements. The list of banks are as follows

State Bank of India Debit Card SBI provides an eclectic array of Visa, MasterCard and RuPay debit cards customizing the card features depending on the customer’s needs. State Bank of India offers 10 different debit cards comprising of personal and business cards.
HDFC Bank Debit Card Hassle-free cashless shopping with HDFC debit cards and secure online transactions can be done with on Visa and MasterCard SecureCode platforms. Eleven debit card alternatives are offered by HDFC to Indian customers.
ICICI Bank Debit Card Pick an ICICI bank debit card of your choice and customize it with an image that is a reflection of your personality. ICICI customers can choose from an extensive selection of 31 cards categorized under Premium, Personal, Business, Expressions and Unifare.
Axis Bank Debit Card Axis Bank debit cards are packed with privileges and offers and customers also have the option of designing their own debit card. The bank offers a total of 17 debit cards categorized as Business, commercial, premium and other segment cards.
PNB Debit Card PNB debit cards are offered in collaboration with MasterCard and RuPay and are accepted at multiple merchant outlets worldwide. Customers can choose from 5 different types of debit cards along with the add-on card if required.
Canara Bank Debit Card Customers can enjoy the convenience of cashless shopping with a Canara Bank MasterCard or Visa debit card. Offered in two variants the Canara Bank debit card comes loaded with exclusive privileges and features.
Bank of India Debit Card Offered on MasterCard, Visa and RuPay payment platforms, the Bank of India debit card is a one-of-a-kind card which is valid for domestic and international transactions. With a wide assortment of cards totaling up to 14, BOI debit cards are customized to suit the needs of every Indian consumer.
Bank of Baroda Debit Card Bank of Baroda offers six different types of personalized debit cards in association with Visa, MasterCard and RuPay to suit the lifestyle requirements of customers.
Union Bank of India Debit Card Union Bank of India provides international debit cards with multiple account access and add-on cards on the Verified by Visa (VbV) platform. Union Bank provides two types of debit cards to customers including a RuPay debit card.
Syndicate Bank Debit Card Customers can transact in a currency of their choice but pay in Rupees using their Syndicate Bank Global Debit Card. With half a dozen debit cards, Syndicate Bank tries to offer convenience and efficiency to its banking customers.
HSBC Debit Card HSBC offers Visa based debit cards to personal banking customers and HSBC debit cards can be used at multiple merchant outlets and ATMs worldwide. HDFC offers 11 types of debit cards and customers can choose a debit card depending on their savings account.
IndusInd Bank Debit Card IndusInd bank offers a mix of international and platinum debit cards on the Verified by Visa platform along with an exciting rewards program for customers. The bank offers four different types of debit cards depending on the account holder.
Citibank Debit Card Citibank offers debit cards along with savings accounts and customers can enjoy unlimited benefits and add-on features with their Citibank debit cards.
Standard Chartered Debit Card Access your bank accounts from anywhere in the world, enjoying attractive privileges and offers with a Standard Chartered debit card. Offered in seven different variants, a standard Chartered debit card is a must-have card.
YES Bank Debit Card YES Bank offers two variants of international MasterCard debit cards namely – Gold and Silver, with unparalleled benefits. YES Bank provides four types of debit cards depending on the customer’s requirements.