Can you transfer a debit card balance?

Everybody knows that you can carry out balance transfers on credit cards. It is a great way to reduce interest obligations. But, can you transfer a debit card balance? 

You can transfer a debit card balance. Most of the time, it involves nothing more than logging into the bank account of the sending account and initiating a transfer.

There are very few benefits to doing so. It is normally used when a person wants to shut down one of their checking accounts. 

Luckily for you, I’ll show you if you can transfer your debit card balance. I’ll even show you how to make the transfer and if there are any benefits to doing so. You’ll be on your way to making the transfer in no time!

This article may contain affiliate links which pay a commission and support this blog. Thank you for your support!

Can You Transfer a Debit Card Balance?

You can transfer a debit card balance. All you are doing is moving cash from one checking account to another. Transferring your debit card balance is typically done through your online banking account.

As you will discover shortly, there aren’t many benefits to going down this route. Unless there is some benefit that you will get from having your cash in one bank account and not the other, then it may not be worth going through the process.

Remember, you are not moving debt here. You are just moving cash that is sitting in your bank account. It is the equivalent of taking $1 from a pot and putting it in another. You still own the cash. It is just in a different place.

How Do You Transfer a Debit Card Balance?

To transfer a debit card balance, you will need to have access to the online banking for the accounts that you wish to transfer between. You will also need the bank account numbers and may need the routing number of the receiving account.

You do not need to have access to debit cards. This means that this process can be ideal if you have lost access to a card.

The process can vary slightly between accounts, so that we will give you a general overview. It is suggested that you go through the information for your checking accounts to see the exact process.

1. Write Down The Checking Account Number Of The Receiving Card

First things first, you will need to have the checking account number that belongs to the receiving debit card. You do NOT need access to the debit card. You may want to grab the routing number as well.

2. Log Into Online Banking For The Account Sending Cash

Next, log into the online banking account that holds the cash you wish to transfer.

Look for an option on your account that allows you to send transfers. This can vary between banks.

3. Initiating The Balance Transfer

The next step is to initiate the transfer. This can vary between accounts.

Most allow you to just tap in the recipient’s checking account number and the amount of cash that you want to transfer. You will have to verify the checking information.

The bank may send a small transaction to verify that the account exists in some cases. You will then have to verify that you received this transaction before you initiate the full transfer.

4. Verify Deposit Amount On Your New Debit Card

Once the full transfer has been made, log in to the recipient account and ensure that the cash is there. It may take a couple of working days for it to arrive. Some transfers are not instant. 

5. Shut Down Old Checking Account, If You Require

If you are moving your balance intending to shut down your old account, then now is the time to reach out to the bank. They will walk you through the process. Some banks charge fees on inactive accounts, so it is important that you shut it down as quickly as possible. 

Are There Any Benefits To Transferring a Debit Card Balance?

There won’t be quite as many benefits as if you were transferring balances between credit cards. After all, when you transfer between debit cards, you are just transferring cash you own. You are not transferring debt.

There are some situations where transferring a debit card balance may come in handy. For example, some accounts may give perks if you pay a certain amount each month, e.g., insurance perks or a boosted interest rate for any cash into your account.

You may want to do this outside of taking advantage of perks (or shutting down a particular checking account) if you have lost one debit card and you need access to cash far quicker than a new card would arrive.

Remember, transferring a debit card balance means maintaining at least two bank accounts, which can get tricky for some. It means that your money is spread throughout multiple checking accounts.

Final Word

You can transfer a debit card balance between accounts. Balance transfers can be done through your online banking account. You will need the account number, and in some cases, the routing number.

To initiate a debit card balance transfer, log into your online banking. Look for your bank’s “Make a Transfer” button or link. Your bank will then walk you through the process of making a balance transfer.

Recommended

Based on this article, we think you’ll enjoy the following:

• How to check the balance of your debit card
• Why is my debit card balance negative?
• What happens when you have a negative debit card balance?
• How to check debit card balance without pin
• How to check debit card balance on phone
• Can you check your debit card balance online
• Can debit card go to a negative balance?