How you spend your money matters. Using a more secure debit card can prevent certain types of theft, while a less secure one might not.
Especially if you default to your debit card for daily purchases, choosing the right one is key. Otherwise, card fraud could turn a simple grocery purchase into a months-long headache. These ten debit cards are smart choices for security-conscious consumers.
1. Chime Visa Debit Card
Chime provides one of the most secure online debit cards on the market. Chime's card can be enabled and disabled with a simple swipe, making it easy to shut off the card if it's accidentally left somewhere. And to ensure debit card data isn't intercepted, Chime uses 128-bit AES encryption - the same standard commercial banks use.
Chime also offers a secure, automated approach to savings through its round-up feature. Any time a purchase is made, the difference between the total and the next dollar is deposited into a linked savings account.
2. Citibank Debit Mastercard
Another card with 128-bit encryption is the Citibank Debit Card. By scrambling information sent over the internet, encryption makes it impossible to decipher stolen data.
The Citibank Debit Card also recently gained EMV chip technology. Chips are not only more secure than magnetic stripes, but they're also standard in more countries. As a result, the Citibank Debit Card is a great choice for international travelers.
3. Chase Secure Banking Debit Card
Although not required to by law, Chase offers something called zero-liability protection. That way, you're never responsible for unauthorized charges on your card. Every penny spent by someone else is refunded to you.
The promise of fraud reimbursement should give you some peace of mind, but it doesn't technically keep your information safer. That's why Chase also provides 24/7 fraud detection services. Your card is constantly being monitored for suspicious activity, ensuring no unauthorized user gets away with it for long.
4. KeyBank Debit Mastercard
Like many of the other cards on this list, KeyBank's debit Mastercard contains a chip technology and zero-liability protection. However, it also comes with identity theft resolution services just in case the user's personal information is stolen.
KeyBank's cards also come in tiers, with bigger accounts providing even more robust protections. Some enhanced cards also come with 24/7 fraud monitoring, for example.
5. Bank of America Debit Mastercard
Monitoring fraudulent activity is tricky. Institutions are finding creative ways to catch criminals in the act in order to protect your data and money more effectively. Bank of America is using a newer approach using an app that's paired with your debit card.
When enabled, Bank of America can check your phone's location when purchases are made. If the point of sale doesn't match up, the transaction will be flagged. If your card is lost or stolen this method can catch it early.
6. Ally Bank Debit Mastercard
Protecting your card means protecting your account. That's why Ally uses firewalls and anti-virus software to protect its programs and your devices from hackers and malware. The more barriers to entry, the less likely fraud is to occur.
Ally also monitors more than just your debit card's activity. Because insecure apps are a serious issue, Ally regularly reviews app stores to detect phishing scams. It uses two-step authentication in certain situations, such as when a login occurs from an unrecognized electronic device, to ensure the person entering the password is actually the cardholder.
7. Wells Fargo Visa Debit Card
Like Ally Bank, Wells Fargo leverages two-factor authentication when a login attempt is made from an untrusted device. But Wells Fargo goes further with a couple of next-generation biometric modes of authorization.
For phone calls, Wells Fargo uses voice authentication so no one other than the cardholder can make changes to their account. Finally, it uses fingerprint scanning on smart devices to access the app. It is much more difficult for hackers to access your account when these measures are in place.
8. US Bank Visa Debit Card
Mobile wallets are increasing in popularity. The more common they become, the bigger targets they'll be for hackers. US Bank wants to keep your debit card safe no matter how you use it, which includes protecting it when it's added to a mobile wallet.
US Bank makes sure that when you use your debit card through a mobile wallet, your data is never stored with retailers. It encrypts your card, protecting it from any attack that could occur at point of sale transactions. This makes mobile pay both a safe and convenient option.
9. SunTrust Debit Mastercard
Hackers will likely try to use your card information in ways you normally don't. Not only are they unfamiliar with your typical spending habits, but they may use variety as a tool to hide their tracks. With SunTrust, you can limit the ways your card can be used, protecting it from unauthorized use.
You can lock and unlock your SunTrust debit card by transaction type. If you lock online purchases when they're not needed, you add a barrier for hackers who try to use your card information online. You can also set spending limits that deter invaders from draining your account in one go if they have a successful run.
10. Old National Visa Debit Card
Alerts make it easy to know when and where your card is used. Old National's custom notifications let you decide: Do you want to be notified when your card is used online? What about at an ATM or at a grocery store?
If your card is misused, Old National's card controls make it easy to switch off your debit card immediately. And if Old National sees the suspicious transaction first, it'll send a text alert, phone call, or email. If you respond that you didn't make the transaction, it'll shut down your card.
Debit cards are an efficient and convenient way to make payments. Don't let that convenience leave you susceptible to card fraud. Choose a card that has your back, wherever you do or don't decide to use it.
