What is a chip-and-PIN card? This question is about Chip and PIN Credit Cards

A chip-and-PIN card is a credit card or debit card that requires you to input a personal identification number (PIN) into the point-of-sale (POS) system to confirm a purchase. Chip-and-PIN cards are more popular overseas, but you should be able to use them at any card terminal with a chip reader in the United States. The primary benefit of a chip-and-PIN card is improved security since thieves will have a difficult time using your card if they don’t also have the PIN. You may want a chip-and-PIN card for traveling abroad to ensure you can use unmanned kiosks and other terminals that require a PIN. Otherwise, your chip-and-signature credit card should work fine, even while you’re traveling. Most credit cards in the United States are chip-and-signature. 5 Chip-and-PIN Credit Cards for 2023 Custom Rewards: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit cardBank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit cardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's websiteRates & FeesFlat-Rate Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardWells Fargo Active Cash® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's websiteGreat for Service Members: USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® CardUSAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® CardLearn MoreLearn MoreCredit Union Card: PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardPenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's websiteAirline Rewards Card: JetBlue Plus CardJetBlue Plus CardLearn MoreLearn More Check out WalletHub’s guide on how chip-and-PIN cards work to learn more. Also, you can compare chip-and-PIN vs. chip-and-signature credit cards to see how they differ.

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What is a chip-and-PIN card?

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This question is about Chip and PIN Credit Cards

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Ryan P Page, Staff Writer

@ryan_page • 03/28/23 This answer was first published on 03/28/23. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

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A chip-and-PIN card is a credit card or debit card that requires you to input a personal identification number (PIN) into the point-of-sale (POS) system to confirm a purchase. Chip-and-PIN cards are more popular overseas, but you should be able to use them at any card terminal with a chip reader in the United States.

The primary benefit of a chip-and-PIN card is improved security since thieves will have a difficult time using your card if they don’t also have the PIN. You may want a chip-and-PIN card for traveling abroad to ensure you can use unmanned kiosks and other terminals that require a PIN. Otherwise, your chip-and-signature credit card should work fine, even while you’re traveling. Most credit cards in the United States are chip-and-signature.

5 Chip-and-PIN Credit Cards for 2023

Custom Rewards: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit cardBank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit cardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
Rates & FeesFlat-Rate Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardWells Fargo Active Cash® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
Great for Service Members: USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® CardUSAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® CardLearn MoreLearn More
Credit Union Card: PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardPenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
Airline Rewards Card: JetBlue Plus CardJetBlue Plus CardLearn MoreLearn More

Check out WalletHub’s guide on how chip-and-PIN cards work to learn more. Also, you can compare chip-and-PIN vs. chip-and-signature credit cards to see how they differ.

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How does chip and PIN work?

A chip-and-PIN credit card works a lot like a traditional debit card at an ATM. However, when making purchases, rather than swiping a magnetic stripe credit card, you insert (or “dip”) a chip-and-PIN card into a payment terminal and follow the prompt to input your PIN. The PIN is then compared to information stored on the embedded computer chip, and the transaction is either approved or denied.

Such transactions are the norm in many...

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Are debit cards chip-and-PIN?

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