A debit card is linked to your checking account and allows you to make purchases or withdraw cash directly from your account. Here's how to get a debit card.

See NerdWallet's picks for the best checking accounts of July 2025. These banks have low fees and consumer-friendly features.

If you don't keep a close watch on your checking account balance, making a debit purchase or writing a check without enough funds in your account to cover it could end up costing you.