1.) How will you use your Chip Card?

As U.S. merchants begin transitioning to chip card readers, consumers will notice the payment process works a little differently. Not all devices will look the same, but the steps are nearly identical.

Here's how it works:

STEP 1:

Rather than swiping your card, you will insert it into the front of the card reader with the chip facing up.

STEP 2:

Keep it in the card reader, and follow the prompts on the screen until your transaction is complete.

STEP 3:

Remove the card. If a signature is required, just sign the receipt and you are done.

● Remember, the chip card will still have the magnetic stripe for use at traditional machines too.

2.) How do I know if it is a chip card reader?

If you swipe your card on a EMV enabled reader it will prompt you to use the chip function and disregard the Mag strip.

3.) Will my chip card still work at a retailer that doesn't support EMV technology yet?

Yes. EMV cards will be equipped with both chip and magnetic-stripe functions so consumer spending is not disrupted.

4.) Will my new chip card still work at ATMs?

Yes. The screen instructs the user to insert and remove their card, but if it has an EMV chip, the next screen prompts them to reinsert and leave the card in.

5.) Will I still have to sign or enter a PIN for my card transaction?

Yes. The verification methods will stay the same as how your current card works.

6) Why did you give me an EMV chip debit card?

Payment data is more secure on a chip-enabled payment card than on a magnetic stripe (magstripe) card. The chip provides another layer of security to protect the cardholder (you) as well as merchants and banks in the payment system.

7) What is EMV?

EMV chip technology is becoming the global standard for credit card and debit card payments, named after its original developers (Europay, MasterCard® and Visa®). When used at an ATM or chip-enabled terminal, the chip provides added security by generating a unique transaction code that is only valid for a single transaction and cannot be used again. If a merchant does not have EMV technology, the transaction will be processed using the traditional magnetic stripe that is still on the back of your card.

8) What is chip technology?

A chip payment card looks just like a traditional card with an embedded chip in addition to the standard magnetic stripe on the back of the card. What you see on the card is not the actual microchip but a protective overlay. The microchip provides an additional level of authenticity for the transaction. Some terminals may require a PIN instead of a signature to complete the transaction process.

9) What makes EMV different than the traditional magnetic stripe card payment?

Simply put, EMV is the most recent advancement in a global initiative to combat fraud and protect sensitive data in the payment system. Data from a traditional magstripe card can be easily copied (skimmed) with a simple and inexpensive card reading device – enabling criminals to reproduce counterfeit cards for use in both retail and online stores.

10) Is this technology unique to the United States?

No. The chip technology standard for payment was first used in France in 1992. Today, there are more than 1 billion chip cards used around the world. The U.S. is one of the few industrialized nations that have not fully transitioned to this technology standard.

Note: You will automatically receive your new chip card in the mail before your current card's expiration date. There is no need to request a new card. There is no extra charge for the new chip card.

If you have questions, please visit our Help Center, or contact us for assistance.