I use a debit card almost exclusively, even at fast food.
Very convenient, and safe. My bank has guaranteed that us debit card users will receive the same treatment afforded to CC users as far as fraudulent use.
It’s a small, local bank, and I do check my activity every morning during breakfast.
I’m not a security expert, but it looks like I don’t suffer any more risk than those who pay by check, as those are also processed electronically.
How can you believe that? If someone uses my debit card fraudulently, my bank account balance is lower. I am at the mercy of my bank until they restore my true balance. What if somebody sitting in their empire at the small, local bank decides I made the charge, even if I didn't? I'm out the money.
On the other hand, if somebody fraudulently uses my credit card, Visa is out the money. They're sure as heck not getting it from me. They can decide I'm lying, but I'm still not going to pay it if I know the charge was not rightfully mine.
“It’s a small, local bank, and I do check my activity every morning during breakfast.”
With online banking? Most people who do online banking use the same computer they use for everything else, including the web. That is a big risk. If you’re going to do online banking it is best not to use a Windows computer, and don’t use that computer for anything else. It should be a computer dedicated solely for banking.