Originally Posted by
der_saeufer
I have a cash advance PIN for my CSR. It simply does. not. work. in terminals set up for PIN-based purchases. The chip is not coded to support PIN, online or offline, for purchases.
I'm aware of that. I have heard of it working before, however, but as mentioned that's not really something you'd want to rely on.
Originally Posted by
der_saeufer
SDFCU is good, as is First Tech on the West Coast, whose credit and debit cards are always chip-and-PIN. I don't know how SDFCU codes their cards, but First Tech cards prefer PIN over no CVM, so you have to use your pin to buy a pack of gum, even when the terminal would normally waive the signature. Andrews cards (at least when I had one) prefer signature but still support both online and offline PIN. They work in gas pumps and ticket kiosks but clerks overseas have to go looking for a pen.
Another often-overlooked advantage of these credit union cards is that they generally (definitely in the case of First Tech and Andrews) have no cash advance fee, so they can serve as a reasonable backup if your ATM card gets lost, stolen, or eaten by an ATM. Interest accrues immediately, but you can also pay it online before the statement closes and pay only a couple cents in interest. Andrews saved me easily $50+ in fees when I stupidly went on a month-long trip with only one ATM card and it got eaten by a malfunctioning Balinese ATM on day two.
tl;dr: everyone who travels should have a credit card from SDFCU, First Tech, or Andrews.
I actually wouldn't recommend Andrews. Their service leaves something to be desired in my experience (and I'm not 100% sure they really understand the chip thing, either)--not to mention that the rewards program is poor even by credit union standards. Not that this class of cards are all that great rewards-wise, but it would have been nice to be able to redeem for cash back instead of having to buy stuff from their store.
Anyway, most people can probably get by just with something like the Arrival+; a major bank such as Barclays has fewer hoops to jump through compared to joining a credit union. In the worst case, a debit card will likely work for unattended terminals, even if you have to pay FTF. PIN preferring cards are more of a "would be nice to have" thing and not a "must have" since signature still works for manned terminals; they're also mostly only available from credit unions and thus might not be worth the hassle to join them for most.
BTW I have debit and credit cards from UNFCU as well that prefer PIN over signature and their service seems pretty good so far. I'm not sure how they compare to First Tech or SDFCU, however.