Solo 401K account with checkbook control - what about debit card?

[Sam Leon]

When you set up your solo 401K plan's 401k trust bank account you have checkbook control.  However some banks allow a debit card but some don't.

How important is having a debit card associated with the checking account?

I am thinking for RE investment it may be useful to have a debit card so you can order a dryer at The Home Depot, pay for it with a debit card, have them deliver it and hook it up and haul away the old one.  Now if all you have is a check book you have to open a merchant account with them and pay through an invoice?

Since you can't do anything yourself property maintenance wise most tasks would have to be hired out so checks should suffice 95% of the time?  Is the appliance case I mentioned more like an exception or there may be many other scenerios where a debit card could come in handy?

[Phil G.]

When I banked with Bank of America, they wouldn't allow the trust checking account to even have an ATM card.  I switched banks to a small, regional bank and they had no issues with issuing a debit card, though it took them a week for their legal department to review and give the OK. To me the debit card is a huge convenience.  Able to buy and pay for materials and services online.