Originally Posted by uds0

An online terminal may (should?) be able to use the offline pin on the card (which can also be used with offline terminals). The online terminal could request the card to validate the offline pin on it against the pin entered, or perhaps get the pin from the card to validate the transaction, or ignore the pin on the card since it's online and able to verify the pin with the card processor.

Typically a separate mail piece will have the initial pin code. You may even have a challenge getting or replacing the pin from CS without that mailed pin.

Some issuers (Andrews?!?) ONLY mail the pin reminder to the home address if the cardholder requests a reminder, and won't change the pin without the cardholder providing the current pin. And DUH, what if the cardholder is traveling with no access to the home address mail? Hopefully UN FCU isn't that difficult with lost pins while traveling. Best to have a trusted mail handler available by phone if needed.