USA EMV cards: Availability, Q&A (Chip & PIN -or- Chip & Signature) [2012-2015]
 

May I suggest that we create a sticky in the 1st post with a running list of cards where users may request a chip and pin card? I have been skimming this thread and see the two cards noted above and also the Chase BA card. The sticky on the best credit card offers over in MilesBuzz has been extremely useful to FTers, and I can see a running list of chip/pin-capable cards becoming a handy reference, too.

Moderator edit: kebosabi has responded to this suggestion by creating an editable Google worksheet which summarizes the EMV cards available from USA-issuers today:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...k01SHZvTUMxdUE

Please reply to this thread ONLY if you have updated the Google Docs worksheet which lists the cards available today:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...k01SHZvTUMxdUE

Discussion of these cards is hosted in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...signature.html

Discussion of the merits of EMV versus swipe and other verification methods is hosted in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...iscussion.html

Collective report of Chip & Signature usage abroad (as of 2012/8/22)
 

From the collective reports so far, we have begun seeing a better picture how US issued EMV Chip-and-Signature cards work outside the US:

Live merchants
Tester(s): kebosabi report, Aaron01 report

Pro: No more hassle about wasting 5-10 minutes of your life trying to convey the "you have to take it" "but it's store policy" charade with a cashier who may or may not understand English with a backlog of irritated customers behind you. The less stress, the better.

Con(?): Some are surprised it prints out a receipt to sign because they're not used to seeing machines spitting out a receipt to sign. Usually not a problem though.


Automated kiosks - no authorization under X amount
Tester(s): geohiller report, dyung report

1. You selected an amount that's within X amount where transactions don't need verification
2. The kiosk will read the EMV chip
3. Transaction goes through
4. No more need of trodding in shame to search of a live human to help you

Automated kiosks - online authorization (using cash advance PIN and going through as purchase)
Tester(s): islandguy84 report, cvarming report, Majuki report, joshwex90 report

1. The kiosk will read the EMV chip and will ask you for your PIN
2. You enter your PIN normally used for cash advances at the ATM
3. The machine will connect with the server and verify that the PIN is correct
4. Transaction goes through and is posted as a purchase instead of a cash advance.
5. No more need of trodding in shame to search of a live human to help you

Automated kiosks - offline authorization
Tester(s): inferno10 report, dasubergeek report

1. The kiosk will read the EMV chip and will ask you for your PIN
2. You enter your PIN normally used for cash advances at the ATM
3. The machine will check the chip if the PIN is correct
4. Since there is no PIN encoded to the chip, the transaction fails
5. However, there are also instances where four zeroes might work in some places
6. If that also fails, trod over in shame and look for a live attendant (if there is one) to help you process it manually

Automated kiosks - offline authorization confirmed working with Andrews FCU (Chip-and-PIN) cards
Tester(s): BeeNYC report, RRossi report

1. The kiosk will read the EMV chip and will ask you for your PIN
2. You enter your PIN normally used for cash advances at the ATM
3. The machine will check the chip if the PIN is correct
4. Since the PIN is hard encoded to the chip, the transaction goes through and is posted as purchase instead of cash advance
5. No more need of trodding in shame to search of a live human to help you

Country-locked cards
Tester(s): unavaca and cvarming report posts #206-210
Nothing you can do about this unless you have a card issued specifically for use in that country.
Seems to be the case in Denmark.


Consumer Verdict
Having an EMV Chip & Signature card is way better than just having a mag-stripe only card and is worth getting one.

However, Chip & Signature can still fail in offline verification kiosks which is somewhat prevalent in kiosks that aren't hooked up to the acquirer. If you would like to prepare yourself in instances like this, it may also be worth looking into getting a Chip & PIN card via a credit union until the big banks start implementing those as well.

^ This is a great start to the list.

Very good, and thank you. Suggestions:

Column B will eventually need to accommodate a third Type; Charge. I would call the Travelex card "Prepaid debit"

Column F could be headed "Forex fee" and instead of listing Yes/No the sheet could show 0% 1% 3% etc.

Column G could show the name of the rewards program, such as "Ultimate Rewards" or "AAdvantage Miles"

Feel free to make adjustments as needed; the Google Docs spreadsheet was left editable by anyone if they want to add another field or so. :)

I've also went ahead and posted the link to post #1 of this thread for easier access.

Why do these all say "2011/1" in the comments field. Should it be 2012/1? Were these available early last year?

Fixed the "2011/1" to "2012/1."

Added BMO (Diners Club), PNC (corporate clients only), and Star One CU (in beta-testing) from what I could gather online.

I changed the annual fee from $300 to $95 on the BMO DC. Now, I don't know if $95 is complete (there are personal and corporate versions of the card, and there may still be a Carte Blance level, which is where the $300 may or may not have come from), but for "ordinary" US-based DC personal (which they call "professional") members I have not heard of a change from the $95 annual fee.

Considering that annual fee and forex fees tend to be the two biggest factors for international travelers, I created a worksheet in tab #2 titled "Annual Fee vs Forex Fee" to compare and contrast between two EMV cards that one might consider depending on your spending habits abroad.

Enter in the data needed where highlighted in light blue and it will automatically calculate the make up cost between card A and B and which one you'll be better off depending on your spending habits abroad.

Added Andrews Federal Credit Union, a credit union based in Suitland, MD.

This one could be the best credit union as of today with $0 annual fee with low 1% forex fee (only what VISA charges), full Chip-and-PIN with rewards, with very eased membership qualifications.

Note made that someone updated the Diners Club section as some US cardholders have begun receiving the new replacement cards.

New Diners Card also have PayPass contactless feature, second card company to issue a mag-stripe + EMV (Chip-and-PIN) + contactless three way hybrid card.

I think it's more accurate to say that if an existing USA cardholder calls and forces the issue BMO will grudgingly agree to issue a Chip & PIN card. The fact that cardholders cannot change their PIN suggests that the infrastructure is not complete.

I asked my final agent if I could walk into a BMO/Harris branch in Chicago to change the PIN. He said no. YMMV.

Someone seems to have added AMEX Starwood to the list, but no reference given on any thread or any Google result show anything about it.

Left the note in red text until reference can be given.

[edit]
Changed "EMV type" to "EMV contact chip"

Changed "contactless chip feature" to "RFID or NFC contactless chip"
Suggest to add "VISA payWave, MC PayPass, AMEX ExpressPay or Discover Zip" when Yes

Added reference column for easier direct access to website link or FT post.

More Citicards
 

Added Citi Diamond Preferred and Dividend MC World (not world elite). Spoke with Citi and found I was eligible for Chip-And-Signature on both cards. They're nothing special no-fee MasterCards (one has cash back and the other has "Extra Cash"). I'm not sure if they consider me "preferred" due to tenure or if that it's a feature they're offering to anyone but it might be worth checking if you hold any Citi cards.

SPG
 

Called Amex, you're right. SPG cards cannot be issued with en EMV chip.

Noted, AMEX SPG removed from list.

The Canadian version of that card has Chip and PIN so that's probably where the confusion came from.

Updated notes on chipped cards issued by Citi that twittering @AskCiti seems to provide better results in actually obtaining one than calling over the phone and speaking with an agent.

Also noted that Citi issued MC PayPass stickers still work fine even though CSRs say they are deactivated upon requesting EMV cards.

Just to confirm what was posed in 641, that was my experience also. Nice to see old fashion loan approvals. Very security conscious organization & good online help. Nice to see they have branches in Europe with local numbers.

Hmm, that's a very limited list. And presumably all of them impose forex fees.

So I found this press statement from Visa about their roadmap:

http://corporate.visa.com/media-cent.../press1142.jsp

First, this statement implies that EMV would support NFC? But I thought there were competing NFC systems (Google has their own, which competes against the ones that Verizon and other carriers are trying to promote).

Second, is EMV the only chip standard used in credit cards around the world or are there others?

Third, Visa's road map is extended only because the infrastructure of POS terminals aren't in place. But can cards have both the EMV and the magnetic stripe? That is, what is preventing Visa from putting in EMV now, along with magnetic stripe, to get the adoption going? Cost probably but they're missing out on a lot of transactions when Americans are in Europe and they have to use cash instead of using their cards.

I think this is relevant to EMV discussion thread. Mods, please move.

To answer your question.

#1 NFC is a contactless chip card. They are used to wave in front of a contactless reader. This is different from an EMV which is a contact chip. Newer versions of EMV however, can be equipped with NFC if need be.

#2 EMV contact chip is a defacto global standard.

#3 Yes, otherwise every British, German, Japanese, Canadian cardholders who visit the US will not be able to use their cards. They process cards via EMV in their home countries and via the mag-stripe when they visit the States. The majority of US cards however only have the mag-stripe which means once we step outside the US we may face problems abroad.

In the US, banks have more leverage than the card networks. While both VISA and MC have encouraged US banks to adopt EMV in the past, but the banks in the US didn't see any benefit to move to EMV for numerous of reasons, mainly being fraud costs in the US hasn't been so high as overseas.

But nowadays, that trend is changing; as other nations moved to EMV, fraud moved onto those that are haven't. The US is the last holdout, and that's where the crooks' activities are ending up these days. Not a day goes by now where we hear stories about skimming fraud or a major bust in organized crime rings that installed skimming devices everywhere from local gas stations to payment terminals at Michaels and Safeway. The US accounts for 27% of card use worldwide, but it also now accounts for over 50% of fraudulent card uses. That's what happens when you cling onto ancient technology that was considered high-tech back in the 1950s, but a form of technology that in the 21st century, any crook can buy a skimming device for less than $100 on eBay or completely make one on their own for less than $30 in materials.

Not that of course, EMV isn't 100% perfect, but nothing is. Even the bank vault isn't as secure as you can open it if you have enough C4 or blast a RPG into it. However, that doesn't mean crooks can easily go to a military surplus store and buy a case full of C4 or a RPG either. That's what EMV is; it's not 100%, but it's more difficult.

But if there is a stupid bank that doesn't put their money in the vault but rather, puts all of their money in a petty cash drawer, then obviously it'll be a piece of cake for criminals and that's where criminals are going to go for. Why deal with countries that moved away from petty cash drawers to a vault, when the US still uses a petty cash drawer and considers installing a vault as too much cost burden? A petty cash drawer is smaller, lighter, and easier to steal, and opening a petty cash drawer can be locked picked later at the crooks' home at their convenience. This is the 1950s mag-stripe technology.

Added Chase Hyatt cards with reference to The Hyatt Credit Card on Chase's own page which lists "Smart Chip Card" as one of the benefits.

• Chip-and-Signature
• $75 annual fee
• no forex fees
• earns Hyatt Gold Passport points

I walked into a Wells Fargo office today and asked an official about their chip and pin credit card.
The official made a call, and found out that Wells Fargo terminated the offering because of lack of interest.

So I followed the Victoria Hawkins instructions which worked fine. Except that I needed to fax them two forms of ID (they want driver's license, passport, or front and back of a credit card) which I didn't do, so I got a call from them about two hours later reminding me.

That certainly doesn't echo what Wells Fargo has been sending out to merchant clients this past week:

https://www.wellsfargo.com/downloads...ect_Q12012.pdf

I have received my Citi MC Platinum Select card finally - as it is the first replacement card, it is sans EMV. Requested EMV using the name GCC that Citi uses, the fella said it would arrive within 5-7 business days. Here's to hoping.

I didn't see any statement that Wells Fargo was going to issue chip and pin cards.
It only says that merchants should expect to install new card readers.

2nd page, left graphic of cardholder with an EMV chipped WF card above a payWave reader:

From this it sounds like WF's EMV card is actually a dual use EMV card that can do both contact and VISA payWave contactless, similar to US Bank's FlexPerks card.

Added Chase's new United Mileage Plus Club Card which is reported to come with Chip-and-Signature per milecards.com

$395 annual fee
0% forex
EMV Chip-and-Signature
earns 1.5-2 United MileagePlus miles / $
other travel benefits (full UC access, complimentary Hyatt Platinum, Avis President's Club, etc.)

YMMV.


Chase reporting that applications are available at Chase bank branches and that cards will officially launch April 3rd?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18272705-post108.html


Added note "Chase hasn't listed this on their webpage yet, but is reported to be available starting 2012/4/3" until Chase makes official announcement.

Hmm, the regular MP card is $95. The 0 forex is nice but not sure the chip and the zero forex are worth $300 more.

Did you read the description of the card at the first link (the non-FT link) in the post above?

The $300 more is not for the chip, and not much of it (if any) is for the 0 forex. It's for 1.5 to 2 UA miles per dollar, it's for full UA lounge access (not just 2 passes the firs tyear like with the $95 card), and a bunch of other UA-specific perks, plus Hyatt Platinum status (and some other on-the-ground perks). It's if those perks are worth it for you that it might be worth $300 more. If those perks are irrelevant to you, obviously it's very unlikely to be worth $300 more.

Well the regular MP only offers 2 UC passes, whereas the new MPC offers full UC access. Considering that UC annual passes can range from $375~$475/yr depending on your status level at UA, it's actually quite a nice deal especially if you fly UA often.

The Hyatt Platinum and Avis President's Club benefits are also nice as well IMO.

Seems premature to list a card as "available today" on the basis of a rumor rather than an announcement from Chase.

Noted; have hidden the Chase UMPC card until it's official by Chase.

I'm not sure what Avis's President's Club is, but if it's anything like Avis First or Avis Chairman, no thanks, AFAIK that has zero benefits for those whole like to collect miles/points. All of Avis' "elite" programs seem to give benefits only if you choose not to earn any miles or points on any of your rentals. Since I'm always chasing partner promos (in fact, hardly ever do a rental without a coupon for a partner promo!), Avis makes me First or whatever but I see zero benefits above Preferrred (which was free and required no minimum rental quota).

Hyatt Platinum would indeed be nice if you ever stay at Hyatt. However, given that they have the smallest footprint, I have not found a reason to stay at (more expensive in my area) Hyatt over half a dozen other hotel programs I belong to (BW, Choice, Club Carlson, Hilton HHonors, IHG/Priority Club, Marriott Rewards, SPG, and WyndhamRewards). Other than DFW airport (without leaving the premises), I'm not aware of any place I might ever need/want to stay where there's a Hyatt but not one of those others. (However, for each of those others, I know of places I have stayed or may need/want to stay where there's only one of those others there.)

I can confirm the Citibank Platinum Select MasterCard has EMV. Please see photo. I haven't had a chance to check the documentation that has come with it yet as it is with my family in NJ. Will get the card itself this weekend. This card has the 3% FTF.

Hmm, dilemma of dilemmas.

If I'm not mistaken the first card that Citibank offers that doesn't charge FTF has a minimum fee of $125 - the TY Premier card. My net spend overseas would have to be $4100 or so in order to get to that fee. Plus, as a university student I probably don't qualify for higher cards at this point, with my limited 2 year credit history.