Interesting. My 401k has been going in the opposite direction. You used to be able to apply for a loan online...then a few days later poof money. Now there is a mandatory 30 day waiting period on loans to be funded. I wonder if it's better to invest in a 401k and have a 401k debit card or not invest and just put the money in the bank. If it's being paid off regularly I'd think it would work out ok in the long run, but with the way people handle debt these days I think it would be a catastrophe.