Most debit cards have replaced the ATM and check cards, and in the future the debit card could be replaced by the smart card. Credit counselor Ed Roach says the answer is as simple as dollars and cents. The government wants you first to have a debit card because they don't want the high expense of printing cash. The banks want you to use a debit card because their cost of transaction is much lower processing electronically than processing your checks. These transactions are normally made with cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo on them, and require a signature rather than a PIN number.
Financial advisors warn that it is better to use a credit card when traveling.
Counselors also caution that debit cards don't provide the same protection as traditional credit cards when it comes to returns or disputing charges.