The rough economy has instilled a new fear of consumer debt in some Americans and, for the first time in a long time, there are some signs that people are pulling back on credit card use.

Hoping to augment the natural shift toward debt cards, some banks are offering rewards to people who buy stuff with debit cards -- a perk that was once only available to credit card users. USA Today reports that "Integra, a Midwestern bank, introduced its first debit card reward program in July. Sovereign launched a debit rewards program late last year. And credit unions such as Addison Avenue Federal - whose customers are employees of high-tech companies - are offering new perks if consumers use debit cards a certain number of times a month."