[zxer]

How could a bank transfer be less safe? I don't know the US system but if I give out my bank account number the only thing someone can use it for is to send money to me.

On the other hand if someone malicious gets my credit card number they can use it to buy stuff and I have to go through a lot of trouble to get a new card.

[jauer]

It's somewhat the opposite in the US. With your bank routing and account number someone can make out bad checks or EFT pull from your account. Halting or reversing this can be quite difficult and in some cases it isn't possible to get your money back.

With credit cards the liability is on the merchant that accepts the card to verify that the person presenting the card is authorized to use it. Card issuers will reverse charges and leave the merchant out the money in the event of fraud.

[edwinyzh]

Didn't know this...I'm not in the US.

[chc]

In the US, an account + routing number pair is basically the keys to the kingdom. Yes, it is kind of scary.