Should my teen use a credit or debit card?

Published: May 24, 2015 08:00 AM

Q. My 18-year-old daughter is new to banking and credit. She knows to pay off any credit-card balances each month. However, should she carry a debit card? And what are the protections associated with using a credit vs. a debit card?—Phillip Ortiz, Queensbury, NY

A. If your daughter has shown that she's able to spend responsibly, you might consider giving her a debit card. The advantage of choosing it over a credit card is that it can limit spending: Funds are immediately withdrawn from her account. (Be sure she doesn't opt for an overdraft program because that can lead to high fees.) But a debit card has some disadvantages. She won't be developing a credit history as she would with a credit card. If someone steals the card and makes purchases, she's out the money until the bank resolves the dispute. And she might incur fees from out-of-network ATMs or for foreign transactions. But debit cards do offer many protections; check with the card issuer.

For more information check our credit card guide and reviews.

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Editor's Note:

This article also appeared in the July 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.