Chip Card Security

The EMV chip embedded in your RCU debit and/or credit card provides an additional layer of protection against fraud during transactions at compatible terminals. During each transaction, the chip generates a temporary, unique code, which is sent to the merchant. This protects your account number and makes your card virtually impossible to counterfeit.

What is the difference between PIN and signature-based transactions?

A PIN transaction requires the cardholder to enter a unique PIN number for verification, while a signature-based transaction requires a signature.

Is one more secure than the other?

No. The security measure in your debit/credit card is the chip itself. Both PIN and signature-based transactions are secure.

Does the chip card protect my online purchases?

While still secure, transactions made online are not as secure as those made at a chip card terminal.

How can I protect myself from fraud when making online purchases?

When making purchases online, use a service such as Visa Checkout, which provides tokenization. Tokenization replaces sensitive information found on your credit/debit card with a digital account number or "token" that can be safely stored on your mobile device and used for online purchases. These digital account numbers are only valid with a specific device, merchant or type of purchase.