http://www.aboutprepaidcards.com/debit-cards/citi-debit-cards.html Citi debit cards offer the same things as most debit cards, but Citi debit cards have a rewards program too. en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 Why are debit cards so much better than checks? Advantages to Debit Cards There are many advantages that debit cards have over checks. First of all, you spend less time in line at stores. Writing a check, getting your ID out and waiting for approval is very time consuming. But with debit cards, you just swipe, type in your PIN (or not) and wait for approval. Then sign (if you didn't type in your PIN). And what about getting cash back? You can do that with a check, or you can go to an ATM, but generally the limits are low. Most of the time, you're only allowed to get $300 or so from ATMs on a given day with your ATM card. But if you use your debit card instead, you can get up to $2,500 (depending on what your bank allows) or the entire balance of your checking account, whichever is less. Some companies who offer debit cards (like Citi debit cards and Chase debit cards) also offer rewards programs. That's right--it's not just for credit cards anymore. Most rewards programs offered through a debit card focus on free airfare or free roundtrip tickets, but you can find some that offer other rewards if you don't like to fly. One thing to remember, these rewards debit cards come with fees, and the better the rewards, the higher the fees. If your $50 gift card to Red Lobster means you pay an annual fee of $25, is it really worth it? On the other hand, if you fly overseas a lot, you probably pay a lot in airfare, so a $65 annual fee for one roundtrip ticket might be attractive to you. Then again, if your trips are usually $150-$200 each, you might think twice. Or not. One thing is certain, however--the choice is yours. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT