Bank Debits: What are They, How They Work, Example (2024)

What Are Bank Debits?

A bank debit is a bookkeeping term for the realization of the reduction of deposits held by bank customers. A bank debit occurs when a bank customer uses the funds in their account, therefore reducing their account balance.

Bank debits can be the result of check payments, honored drafts, the withdrawal of funds from an account at a bank branch or via ATM, or the use of a debit card for merchant payments. Economists also study bank debit statistics to forecast national economic trends, including the demand for cash.

Key Takeaways

  • A bank debit is a bookkeeping term to record the reduction of deposits in a customer's bank account.
  • Deposits in a bank account can be a result of cash withdrawals, merchant payments via a debit card, check payments, or honored drafts.
  • Economists analyze bank debit statistics to forecast various national economic trends, such as the demand for cash.
  • Bank debits are a liability on a bank's balance sheet, as they are obligations owed to a customer, whereas they are assets to the customer.
  • A bank debit can only occur with the permission of the account holder.
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Understanding Bank Debits

Anytime money is moved out of a customer's account it is recorded as a bank debit. Bank debits can also include any overdraft fees, annual account fees, or other fees associated with the management and upkeep of the bank account. Bank debits are only permitted by the account holder and any fees are legally allowed when a customer legally signs the account opening documents.

On a bank's balance sheet, deposits are liabilities; they represent a source of capital and obligations to the customer and are an asset to the customer. When a bank debit occurs and funds are withdrawn, the bank's liabilities are reduced, and the bank's liabilities are debited.

When a check is paid, the bank's obligation to the customer becomes smaller, since fewer funds are supplied to the bank. The liability that deposits represent is reduced through a debit for the amount of the check.

Example of Bank Debits

If you live in an apartment and pay a monthly rent and it is now May 31 and June's rent is due tomorrow, you write out a check for your monthly rent amount to be paid to your landlord. When the landlord deposits the check and the funds are withdrawn from your bank account, a bank debit will be marked on your account statement.

Another example would be if you have no cash on hand and decide to make a trip to the ATM around the corner. You take out your debit card and use it to withdraw $200 from the ATM, a bank debit of $200 will be recorded on your bank account statement. Taken a step further, if you only had $175 in the account you will be charged an overdraft fee of $25, which will be a bank debit once you increase funds in your bank account.

Bank Debits: What are They, How They Work, Example (2024)

FAQs

Bank Debits: What are They, How They Work, Example? ›

Some examples of a debit are when you set up a direct debit and money is automatically taken out of your account to pay a bill, you write a check and it is cashed, or you use a debit card, which enables you to take money from your bank account and use it to purchase goods and services, like an electronic check.

What are examples of bank debits? ›

A debit (DR) is an entry made on the left side of an account. It either increases an asset or expense account or decreases equity, liability, or revenue accounts (you'll learn more about these accounts later). For example, you debit the purchase of a new computer by entering it on the left side of your asset account.

What are debits in banking? ›

What Are Bank Debits? A bank debit is a bookkeeping term for the realization of the reduction of deposits held by bank customers. A bank debit occurs when a bank customer uses the funds in their account, therefore reducing their account balance.

How do bank direct debits work? ›

A Direct Debit lets your bank or building society know that businesses and services can take money from your account on a set date. People use Direct Debits to pay monthly bills and make one-off payments. They're a simple way to manage regular payments, such as: Utility bills.

What is debit in short answer? ›

A debit is a record of the money taken from your bank account, for example when you write a cheque. The total of debits must balance the total of credits. Synonyms: payout, debt, payment, commitment More Synonyms of debit. 3. See also direct debit.

What is an example of using debit? ›

Debit cards take money out of your checking account immediately. Debit cards let you get cash quickly. You can use your debit card at an automated teller machine, or ATM, to get money from your checking account. You also can get cash back when you use a debit card to buy something at a store.

Where does debit work? ›

You can use your debit card to manage the funds in your savings or chequing account, withdraw money from an automated teller machine (ATM), or pay for goods and services. You can even use a debit card as a form of ID when you need in-branch banking services.

Are debits good or bad? ›

There is no good or bad when it comes to debits and credits. I've seen people say “oh, debits are good because they increase the assets accounts” but if you do that, you're going to have a problem with expense accounts, which also have debit balances. Put very simply, debits (dr.)

How does debit work? ›

Debits can occur when you set up a direct debit order and money is automatically taken out of your account to pay a bill, when you write a check and it is cashed, or if you use a debit card, which lets money be taken from your bank account to pay for goods and services.

Can someone debit your account without permission? ›

Introduction of digital transactions brought convenience but also raised concerns such as banking fraud. In case of unauthorized money debited from an account, banks have designated investigators to resolve fraud cases. Customers' responsibility includes informing the bank immediately.

What happens when an account is debited? ›

In effect, a debit increases an expense account in the income statement, and a credit decreases it. Liabilities, revenues, and equity accounts have natural credit balances. If a debit is applied to any of these accounts, the account balance has decreased.

What to do if money is debited from my account? ›

Notify your bank immediately. For more details, give a missed call on 14440.

What are the negatives of Direct Debits? ›

You can be charged overdraft or late fees: If there are insufficient funds in the buyer's account, the Direct Debit might still go through with overdraft protection. However, they'll be charged a fee by the bank – and potentially the biller.

What are the most common Direct Debits? ›

Direct Debits.

This is usually on a set date and for a fixed amount, though the amount can vary. Common Direct Debits include bills such as energy, council tax and broadband, plus you'll likely pay your mortgage, loans and credit card bills with one too.

What happens if not enough money in bank for Direct Debit? ›

If you don't have enough money in your account

Most banks will contact you if a payment has failed, giving you a deadline to put enough money in – often by 2pm that same day. If they still can't make the payment, you might have to pay an unpaid transaction fee or overdraft interest if they make it anyway.

What is the golden rule of debit and credit? ›

The three golden rules of accounting are (1) debit all expenses and losses, credit all incomes and gains, (2) debit the receiver, credit the giver, and (3) debit what comes in, credit what goes out.

What are three golden rules? ›

1) Debit what comes in - credit what goes out. 2) Credit the giver and Debit the Receiver. 3) Credit all income and debit all expenses.

What is a debit for dummies? ›

Debits (often represented as DR) record incoming money, while credits (CR) record outgoing money. How these show up on your balance sheet depends on the type of account they correspond to.

What is debit in simple words? ›

to take money out of an account or keep a record of this: The bank debited my account. The bank debited the money from my account. The unauthorized borrowing fee will be debited to your account.

What are examples of debits? ›

Imagine you purchase $1,000 of inventory from a supplier with cash. Cash, of course, is an asset — and so is inventory. Cash is flowing out of your hands in exchange for receipt of this inventory. We received inventory, so we debit the inventory account, increasing its value.

Why do people use debit? ›

Convenient Banking

Many checking account holders enjoy the convenience of using their debit cards. You can skip trips to the ATM and leave your checkbook at home. Using a paper checkbook is becoming increasingly outdated, and many retailers won't even accept checks anymore.

What are two disadvantages of debit cards? ›

Disadvantages of a Debit Card
  • You can't charge purchases with a promise to pay later: One of the benefits of credit cards is that you can make charges now with a plan to pay off the balance later. ...
  • Large purchases can be a hassle: Some debit cards have spending limits that can complicate efforts to make large purchases.

Can a bank take money from your account without permission? ›

Banks and building societies can take money from your current account to cover missed payments on other accounts you have with them. This is called the 'right of set off'. It can also be called: The 'right of offset'

Is it safe to pay bills with a debit card? ›

Debit cards

While there are a few instances when paying with debit over credit is useful, it's not as secure as other payment methods and shouldn't be relied on regularly.

What transactions are debits? ›

To keep your business's financial records in order, you need to track the money coming in and going out — also known as balancing your books. The individual entries on a balance sheet are referred to as debits and credits. Debits (often represented as DR) record incoming money, while credits (CR) record outgoing money.

What expenses are debits? ›

A debit to an expense account means the business has spent more money on a cost (i.e. increases the expense), and a credit to a liability account means the business has had a cost refunded or reduced (i.e. reduces the expense).

What is an example of a debit and credit in banking? ›

For example, when two companies transact with one another say Company A buys something from Company B then Company A will record a decrease in cash (a Credit), and Company B will record an increase in cash (a Debit). The same transaction is recorded from two different perspectives.

What are debit orders examples? ›

The debit order authorises the third party to take funds from your account. For example, if you take out a loan, you will be required to agree to a debit order for the repayments. Your bank cannot cancel a debit order because the agreement is not with the bank but with another company or individual.

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