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Sybel,<BR>Are you sure your branch manager is offering you an ATM card that can be used as a debit card (from your check book). I think he is offering a regular ATM card which requires a pin number for all withdrawals.

Jack, yes I did go in and got mine changed to a gold card without a logo (I can withdraw $500 cash per day instead of the blue card limit of $300). Nothing has changed at all. The only difference is that now should I purchase something in a store,and use my ATM as if it were a debit card, I will have to enter the 4 digit PIN...perfect! This is exactly what I want. No swipe and go for me or anyone who could happen to try to use my card should it ever be lost or stollen. As for those of you who think there's nothing to worry about because you only have a $50 limit should it be stollen...you're missing the point of the inconvenience of not having ready available cash when you need it because of your account being drained, as well as the hassle of having to complete a seperate claim form for each time your card was fraudulantly used....regardless if it was $1.00 at Burger King or for an expensive item. Each fraudulant swipe requires a seperate claim form. Who wants this hassle even if you eventually prevail?? Like the one posting mentioned which was her case, a thief could do a lot of dammage if say it was stollen on a Saturday evening and you can't even report it until your bank opens on Monday morning. No THANKS..I don't want the remote chance of any of this hanging over my head.

Just saw on CNBC today that the banks are not obligated to cover fraudulant purchases made with a debit card. Many will try to help you , but they are NOT under any federal obligation to oblige. It is at the discretion of the individual bank and they can change policy at a moments notice. No Federal Regulation for this. This sounds too dangerous without regulations!

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SallyB...<BR><BR><BR><BR>Banking laws do vary from state to state, that is why when you sign into Bank of Amrica's website you have to specify which state you are in.<BR><BR>Too bad PINs are not required for all transactions ! I think they do that in UK, but not sure

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YEA! I got my ATM card in the mail and wahla, NO ATM Visa logo! I've already programmed in my 4 digit PIN so will try in tomorrow at the grocery store prior to heading for Ireland in 2 weeks. I'm so excited. I know it was the right switch for ME. Thanks to ever gave the website alarming us of the downfalls and the lack of bank protection (great info for naive people like myself) for the ex-debit card I held up until last week. I will sleep better tonight!

Help! What, exactly, does an ATM/ATM straight card look like, as opposed to a credit card w/o a logo? I appreciate all the above ideas, but I'm still confused about this one. Thanks. Syd

Thanks for all the good info. I just read in the WSJ about this problem. The main problem is that a credit buy with your card does not require a PIN. Which of course leaves you open to all kinds of problems as outlined in previous posts. I went done to my Bank of America branch and had them change my ATM VISA Debit card to an ATM only card. We should get our new cards within the next 10 days.

After dealing with a robbery a few years ago, I, too, have changed my VISA check debit card to a ATM only card. It was done on the spot at my credit union.Having a check debit card replaced overseas is next to impossible since you have to have the pin sent separately and that can take over a week.

Syd, the cards look identical except one will have a Visa or a Matercard logo in the corner, the other will not. They also operate exactly the same except the straight ATM without a logo will require the user to enter a PIN each time they make a purchase. Both of course require a PIN for withdrawing money from a bank ATM machine. The concenus is overwhelming that most people want the security of being required to enter a PIN rather than just swiping the card when used for purchasing, thus are obtaining (switching to) the straight ATM without any logo. The banks are automatically issuing cards with logos (debit cards) so you have to specifically request your card be changed to a straight ATM card. There have been some recent articles in the Wall Street Journal on the dangers which probably started this rush to change. Art

This is all very interesting. I think Julie's idea is a good one.<BR><BR>However, all you folks switching to an "ATM-Only" card should make sure that it can be used in Europe. I've heard of banks who "encourage" their customers to use their debit cards by only offering US-Only ATM cards. If the back of your card has the Cirrus or Plus logo, you should be fine in Euorpe. If not, you'd better check with your bank before getting on that plane.

Brian,<BR>I am a busines owner in Los Angeles. I have made it a standard policy to physically turn each ATM card over at the register to confirm that it is signed. I have NEVER seen an ATM card that does not have the various logos on the back such as Star, Cirrus, Plus etc. I could be mistaken but I don't think there is such an ATM card without one of these affiliations as I've seen thousands from banks all over the country. I'd be interested to find out the answer to this. Individuals, check your card and as long as it has this on the back, you will have no problem using that straight ATM card anywhere world wide.

Hi Laura. You're right about Cirrus and Plus networks in Europe, but Star and Honor can only be used in the U.S. And I agree that most all ATM cards from large banks have either Plus or Cirrus affiliations, however many credit unions and non-traditional banks often do not (ex. USAA will issue an ATM-only card that won't work in Europe).<BR><BR>Bottom line: if it says Plus or Cirrus on the back, you're fine in Europe.

Thanks Brian for the clarification!

To Art-- and Brian-- I now understand. Thanks for the clarification. Syd.

Read the latest issue of consumers report regarding debit cards and be fore warned.

I'm curious since there have been TV shows, radio commentaries, newspaper reports and now you say Consumer Reports all warning of the dangers of these logo debit cards, is there any type of legislation in the works to outlaw them?? It seems that all of us originally received them from our banks without ever requesting them. My old ATM worked just fine for years, then wallah....several years ago, unsollicited, I received the logo Debit card! Isn't this the type of thing that our legislators are suppose to be doing for the "public's best interest"?

If Enron can scam their employees/ investors and rob California of power/reselling it back to them at 1000% more than they bought it for....why wouldn't the banking industry be able to screw us as well? Art