The growth of point of sale (POS) acceptance and debit card accessibility at merchant locations has increased the popularity of both on-line and off-line debit cards with members. CSI supports both of these products. CSI assists credit unions with the implementation of the program and provides support once the program is available to the credit union's members.

On-line debit cards: These cards are enhanced ATM (automated teller machine) cards, which work the same as they would in an ATM transaction. It is an electronic transfer of money from the member's credit union account to the merchant's bank account.

To access your account at a store terminal, you must enter your personal identification number (PIN), as you would at an ATM. The system processes the transaction and posts the debit to the member's credit union account.

Off-line debit cards: These are cards that usually have a Visa or MasterCard logo on the front of the plastic and the debit transactions work more like a credit card transaction than an ATM transaction. The merchant's terminal reads the member's card and creates an authorization against the member's credit union account. However, instead of debiting the member's account immediately, the transaction posts to the member's account in approximately 2-3 days.

Instead of using a PIN for on-line debit transactions, the customer must sign a receipt, as he or she would with a credit card.

Many institutions issue cards that process both on-line and off-line debit card transactions.

The most influential factors in determining which debit program is right for a credit union are authorization processes, pricing and merchant acceptance. CSI has assisted dozens of credit unions in Georgia in evaluating their options, making choices, understanding regulation and compliance issues, ordering plastics, implementing the program and marketing a successful debit card product. We can provide assistance with:

Please contact Dawn Colegrove or Maureen Bock if you would like more information about debit cards or would like to start a debit card program.

Debit card marketing materials from Growth by Design

Growth by Design offers a wide range of marketing materials to help you promote your debit card program. Please click here to read more or here to order online.