Credit card rewards programs have proven to be a favorite of consumers across the nation. But Bankrate.com's 2010 Debit Card Rewards Study shows that debit cards can provide a boost as well, so long as consumers choose wisely.

Among the findings:

- Sixty-five percent of the programs surveyed offer rewards only on debit purchases which require a signature;

- Thirty percent of the programs offer rewards on both signature and PIN number debit transactions;

- The range for rewards on signature purchases was between 0.2 and 3 percent;

- The range for rewards on PIN purchases was significantly lower, between 0.1 and 0.5 percent;

- Ten percent of the programs surveyed had higher payouts for particular categories of purchases such as groceries, gasoline, dining, and travel;

- Half of the cards surveyed had no annual fee. Of those that did cost money annually, the most common fee was $25.

"As many Americans face mounting credit card debt, consumers may want to look into their options with debit rewards programs," said Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com. "Though the debit rewards card programs don't often offer as much as their credit card competitors, they can offer a nice boost without the fear of getting in over your head with debt."

For this study, Bankrate looked at the programs offered by the largest banks and thrifts in large markets around the country as well as those offered by the largest credit unions. A total of 40 different offerings were evaluated.