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Standard current accounts from all banks will provide the account holder with a debit card that allows you to withdraw cash from any ATM that bears the Cirrus logo. This includes ATM machines abroad, which can prove a convenient way of withdrawing money when you need it and in the local currency. However, do check fees for doing so. The debit card supplied with a standard current account will display the Maestro logo (formerly Switch) which allows you to make purchases anywhere you see the Maestro sign.
Maestro, Visa and Delta are the main debit payment systems in the United Kingdom.
When making purchases, retailers are not obliged to seek authorisation from the bank before making the transaction. Any transactions that are made are not usually processed until the next day, meaning it is possible to overdraw on your account. For this reason, debit cards are not usually provided as part of a basic current account.
Other debit cards include, Solo and Electron: With these cards, each and every transaction is sent to the card issuer for authorisation and there is usually a longer process period of up to 3 days.
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