Which payment option is linked directly to a customer's bank account?

The correct answer is a debit card because it is directly linked to a customer's bank account, allowing for immediate access to the funds available in that account. When a customer uses a debit card for a transaction, the amount is deducted directly from their bank balance, which means they are using their own money rather than borrowing it. This cash-like transaction can help consumers manage their spending, as they can only use the funds they already have available.

A credit card, on the other hand, allows customers to borrow funds up to a certain limit and pay them back later, which is not a direct withdrawal from a bank account. Store credit refers to credit issued by a retailer for future purchases, rather than funds directly connected to a customer's bank account. Mobile payments can be linked to either credit or debit accounts, but they do not inherently connect solely to a bank account like a debit card does. This distinction makes the debit card the primary choice for a payment linked directly to a bank account.