A credit card can work in one of three different ways in the new fare payment system.

1) As a direct credit card payment at a train station turnstile or a bus fare box. In this case, the fare is charged directly to the credit card account like any other purchase you might make with your credit card. The disadvantage is that you may pay extra fares or higher fares in some cases and you can't take advantage of unlimited-ride passes.

2) As a sort of an ID for a Ventra Transit Account at a train station turnstile or a bus fare box. If you have funded a Ventra Transit Account beforehand and linked it with this credit card, when you use the credit card at a turnstile or farebox, the amount of your fare will be deducted from your Ventra account. You can also have an unlimited ride pass in your Ventra account and when you use the credit card linked to the Ventra account, you will receive the benefits of the pass. This Ventra account is maintained by the CTA's vendor and not your bank. When you use your credit card in this mode, your bank does not get involved and no money is charged to your credit card.

3) As a payment device at a Ventra vending machine. When you want to buy a Ventra card, Ventra ticket, unlimited ride pass, or add money to your Ventra account, you can use your credit card or cash at the Ventra vending machine.


When you use your credit card in mode 1) or mode 2), you must use the PayWave feature of the credit card. No PIN or ZIP Code will be asked for.

When you use your credit card in mode 3) (at a Ventra Vending machine) you must use the magnetic strip on the card, you cannot use the PayWave feature of the card. The machine will ask for your ZIP Code.

If you want to get technical, it's even a bit more complicated at a Ventra vending machine. If you want to use your credit card in mode 2) (as an ID card for a Ventra account), you must first use the PayWave feature of the card, then you must use the magnetic strip of a card (either the same card or another card) or cash to pay for the amount you want to add to the Ventra account.

I may be wrong, but I do not think that the PayWave technology used in the United States is the same as that used in the rest of the world.