There may be costs associated with using your debit card. For example, some banks impose a fee if you use a PIN (personal identification number) instead of signing your name to complete a transaction. If you exceed the credit limit of your account using your debit card, you may be charged a fee, just as if you bounced a check. You may be charged if you use your debit card as an ATM card at a machine your banking institution does not control. Your banking institution, like other banks, must offer disclosures describing the possible costs connected with a debit card. To prevent an unexpected cost, make sure to read the disclaimers.