Consider this: you're lucky that you came here today. At least
we have tons of EMV options today. Only a few years ago back when this whole EMV thread was just getting started, there were
zero, zilch, nada EMV options in the US. The banks really didn't care about EMV issues and tried to dodge the issue altogether with lame excuses like "oh but merchants have to accept it, blah-blah-blah."
Basically up until late
2010, it was a barren desert for us US travelers heading out to the world. And even when it started trickling out little by little, the only options available were either you had to be a member of the UN (UNFCU was only restricted to those who worked for the UN at the time), bad exchange rate ones like Travelex prepaid cards, or one which required one to be a multi-millionaire or that sort.
Afterwards, Citi quietly started introducing EMV cards to existing cardholders. At the initial phase, there were mass confusion where those who requested a replacement EMV card had to speak with CSRs over and over again, only to be dismayed they were issued a regular card. A lot has changed since then in which Citi now has an online option to request an EMV replacement card.
When AndrewsFCU came out with a no annual fee, no FTF fee (actually started off with 1% FTF, then went down to 0%), Chip-and-PIN "capable" card, that's when things really changed. Since then, you got BofA, Chase, Citibank, AMEX, come onboard with competition going on who could provide the best deal with EMV cards. Suddenly, they became aware they don't want to piss off US travelers, who tend to spend more than the average joe.
In 4 years, it went from virtually zero, to only to the privileged cardholders, and now to mass issuance.
And then you had the Target breach happen late last year which changed a lot of things about US EMV transition. Now Walmart has most of their EMV terminals active.
Considering that there was zero EMV in the US before 2010 to where we stand today, I'm happy on what change has been done in the last 4 years. Frankly, when I reflect upon back on my frustrations of world travel back before 2010, the change that's been done in 4 years is amazing!
Are there things that banks can do better? Yes. C&P, C&S, best preferred CVM order, debating whether signature is dead, the point of no CVM, ability to change PINs, NFC capability, training of cashiers, consumer acceptable, merchant delays, etc. etc. are all issues that can be debated which we have been doing so for the past 347 pages of this thread.
But the fact that we're actually debating on those issues today just amazes me when 4 years ago, the major issue was "why the f--- no one in the US issues a chip card!?"