There are other problems with using debit cards, even though they seem at first glance, a good idea.
While federal law limits your liability to $50 if the card is lost or misused by others, but the limit for debit cards is $500, if you notice and report the theft within 48 hours. This means, you are on the hook for at least the first $500 that is stolen from you, with no recourse. If you do not notice and report the theft within 60 days, you can be liable for the total amount in your checking account PLUS you maximum overdraft line-of-credit.
Many banks claim to limit your liability with a debit card to $50, but there have been complaints that many banks have not honored this limit.
Of course, the way you will notice that you have been robbed is that your checks will start to bounce, causing you great embarrasment and piling on the huge fees that ICOT speaks of above.
You can ask your bank for an ATM card that is not a debit card (doesn’t have the Visa or Mastercard logo on it) that will only work in ATM Machines.