Victory State Bank: Read This Blog Before Swiping Your Debit Card

Staten Island, N.Y. – It is back-to-school time on Staten Island and across the nation. As parents head to retailers to purchase missing items on their school supply lists, some will be shopping with debit cards.

Before you wipe your debit card, Victory State Bank suggests you consider the following information from the U.S. government:

Although both credit cards and debit cards are easy ways to pay for your purchases, debit cards have some different levels of consumer protection and the potential for consumer fees.

 Debit cards are directly connected to your bank account, so when you swipe your card make sure that you have the money in your account to pay immediately. If you don't have enough money in your account, your bank may "loan" the money and pay the overage.

However they may charge you up to $35 for this courtesy, even if the dollar amount the bank covered was small. There may also be fees applied to your card when you use your card with your PIN.

Debit cards don't offer as much protection against fraudulent use, or if your card is lost or stolen. Also, if you need to dispute a purchase, you are in a weaker position because the merchant already has the money and it will only be returned if you win the dispute.

Another fact to keep in mind is when you use your debit card to make reservations for hotels or rental cars, a hold is placed on your debit card (and your checking account) which can affect your other pending transactions. Even if the hold is removed, it may take as long as a week to make the funds available to you again.

About Victory State Bank:

VSB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSBN) is the one-bank holding company for Victory State Bank. As Staten Island, N.Y.’s only community-based commercial bank, Victory State Bank operates five full-service locations on the Island: The main office in the community of Great Kills, and branches in the communities of West Brighton, St. George, Dongan Hills and Rosebank. For additional information, Victory State Bank may be reached at 718-979-1100 or visited online http://www.victorystatebank.com . 

Media Inquiries:

Relevant Public Relations, LLC

Headquarters: 718‑682‑1509

www.RelevantPR.com

Mobile: 917‑715‑8761

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it