Quoted from johnwartjr:Debit card has the exact same protection through Mastercard and Visa as a credit card does. Bank proved it this week. It was just a pain in the *ss!
Possibly things have changed, but when my wife lost hers and someone found it and went on a shopping spree it took 45 days to get back access to the money they spent. It was "temporarily credited" soon enough but wasn't released until they wrapped up their "investigation". Granted, this was at a credit union and only $500 but I could only cringe at what could've been.