What is a bank card?

A bank card is a card that is linked to a depository account and is issued by the bank to help the account holder effect certain transactions such as cash deposits and withdrawals, according to Investopedia. Bank cards include automatic teller machine cards and debit cards.

When the account holder uses a bank card to deposit or withdraw money, the bank account against which the card is issued changes in balance by similar amount, explains Investopedia. A bank card may be restricted by the issuer to certain activities. For instance, some bank cards can only be used with automatic teller machines, while others can only effect particular purchases.