Debit cards make it easy to make purchases, shop online, and pull cash out of an ATM. But to use one, you need a checking account—and not everyone has one.
If you’re a part of the “unbanked” community, meaning you don’t use or have access to mainstream financial services such as checking or savings accounts, you aren’t out of luck. Prepaid debit cards are designed to be loaded and used right away as opposed to being a credit line that you pay each month. If you want to actually build credit, a secured credit card may be a better choice. But if you just need a handy way to pay, a prepaid debit card will do the job.
