Offline Debit Card

An offline debit card, also known as a check card, is a payment card that has features of both a debit card and a credit card. While funds are deducted directly from the cardholder's checking account, offline debit card transactions are processed like a credit card purchase.

Keep in mind that in this context, “offline” has nothing to do with how the purchase was conducted, just how the payment is processed. Most debit cards can be run as either a debit card (online) or a credit card (offline). There are several differences between the two. First, online debit card transactions are processed in near-real time and require the cardholder to enter a PIN.

Offline debit card sales, on the other hand, are authorized based on the card's available balance and, in many cases, a predetermined spending limit. They require only a signature, and like a paper check, there may be a 1-3 day delay before the money is debited from the cardholder’s account. Finally, consumers cannot obtain cash back on an offline debit card transaction.