Offline Debit Card

Definition

• Cards that share traits of both ATM and credit cards. Offline debit cards have the VISA or MasterCard logo on them and can be issued by a bank, either instead of or in addition to an ATM card. These cards can be used at any establishment that displays the VISA or MasterCard logo, but using them doesn't access a line of credit -- it debits a customer's chequing account. It is "offline" because the account isn't directly accessed -- there's a delay of 24 to 72 hours before the debit is made in the account. If you sign a slip of paper to conclude the transaction, it was offline. In the Canada, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) may be required to use an offline debit card.

Synonyms
unplugged, disconnected

Related Terms and Acronyms

• Credit Card (CC) — Acronym, Very Important,
  • A plastic card with a coded magnetic stripe that, when signed, entitles its bearer to a revolving line of credit, with a credit limit and interest rate determined by the borrower's income and credit report.
  ➥ A payment card that gives customers access to a revolving line of credit.
• Debit Card (DC) — Acronym, Important,
  • A payment card that is linked directly to a customer's bank account. Some cards require a personal identification number. Others require a customer's signature. A PIN-based or direct debit card removes a purchase price from a customer's chequing account almost immediately. A signature-based or deferred debit card has a Visa or MasterCard logo and removes the purchase price from a customer's bank account in two or three days.
• Online Debit Card — Definition,
  • A method of payment in the form of a card that immediately deducts funds from a person's bank account when used. The card may have a VISA or MasterCard logo on it, or just the name of the bank that issued the card, similar to an ATM card.
• Personal Identification Number (PIN) — Acronym, Important,
  • A unique, confidential number or pass code, usually consisting of four to six digits, entered by a customer when using an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or Interac Direct Payment, that gives the customer access to his or her account.
• Smart Card — Definition,
  • A card with an embedded computer chip which stores more information, performs more functions and is more secure than a credit card or debit card.