Bank Card

A bank card, also known as a bankcard, is a payment card issued by a financial institution to its customers. This term encompasses a variety of card types including debit cards, credit cards, and ATM cards. Debit and credit cards issued by banks are typically sponsored by major card associations such as Visa and MasterCard, enabling their use across a wide range of merchants and ATM networks globally. Unlike these, cards like American Express, Discover, Diners Club, and JCB are generally issued directly by their respective companies and not through banks.

A debit card allows customers to make purchases by directly accessing their bank accounts, effectively using their own money rather than a line of credit. Credit cards, on the other hand, provide customers with a line of credit issued by the bank, which can be used for purchases and paid back at a later date, usually with interest if the balance is not settled in full by the due date.

ATM cards are primarily designed for withdrawing cash and performing other transactions directly at the bank's ATMs. Some ATM cards also function as debit cards, allowing broader use beyond just ATM transactions.

Overall, the term 'bank card' is broadly used to refer to any card issued by a bank that facilitates the process of accessing funds, whether those are directly available in a customer's account or provided through a credit facility. These cards simplify financial transactions for users by providing convenient, fast, and secure methods of paying for goods and services or accessing cash.