Chip Card FAQs
Our debit cards, personal credit cards, company cards, and business line of credit cards are equipped with a security EMV chip that makes using your card for all of your purchases more secure. The EMV chip in your card helps to protect you from fraud, giving you added peace of mind.
Enhanced chip technology means you can continue to enjoy the same benefits as you do today. Your card will continue to provide the same fraud protection but now has additional security features and the ability to be used at EMV chip-enabled payment terminals-close to home and around the world.
EMV Chip cards contain an embedded microchip for a more secure transaction. You'll simply enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN) or sign for transactions at chip-enabled payment terminals.
EMV Chip technology is already in wide use around the world. This makes traveling internationally with your chip card hassle free.
Your card has an embedded microchip for a more secure transaction. Simply insert your card at checkout when possible. If a EMV chip-friendly reader is not available, you can still swipe your card. When you use your chip card, you will either enter your PIN or sign to verify who you are at checkout. The card terminal will tell you what you need to do.
The EMV chip contains your card number, name, and other account information. There is no other personal information stored on the chip. Due to security in the chip, every transaction you make is unique, which makes it extremely difficult for the card to be copied or counterfeited. Your EMV chip card will also have the usual magnetic stripe on the back so that you can continue using your card while merchants are transitioning to new chip card terminals.
Every transaction with a EMV chip card has unique data in it. Chip transactions are dynamic, not static like magnetic stripe cards. That is why if someone were able to intercept one of your chip transactions they would not be able to use that information again. This prevents counterfeit card fraud.
Although EMV chip cards are relatively new in the U.S., they have been used elsewhere for many years. In some countries, particularly in Europe, merchants may be more familiar with accepting EMV chip cards.
You can use your debit card or credit card anywhere Mastercard® is accepted. As US merchants are transitioning to EMV chip card readers, you will notice the transaction process works a little differently. At retailers with chip-enabled terminals, simply insert your card into the payment terminal--until the transaction is complete. Remember to follow the prompts on the screen. For merchants who have not made the transition yet, you can still swipe your card as you do today. You can also continue to use your card for online payments, phone payments, and at ATMs.