Home > Credit Cards > Credit Card Information > Chip and Pin

Chip and PIN Cards

Credit card issuers are now increasing security on their cards by using what is known as Chip and PIN technology.

You may have noticed in recent years that some credit cards contain a small square microchip. This carries the same information as the usual magnetic strip but is much more secure.

The chip also contains your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and shops and stores are now starting to use this feature to enhance security. Instead of signing a receipt to complete your purchase, you can discretely enter your PIN on a keypad. As you are the only person that knows your PIN, this is much more secure than signing for your purchases as signatures can be easy to forge.

You can easily change your PIN, to one that you can more easily remember, at any participating ATM. If you forget your PIN, you can easily request a new one.

Most retailers will have introduced Chip and PIN to their stores by the end of 2004.

All the cards we feature on this site now utilise Chip and PIN technology. Look through our Credit Card Companies section for more information on each card.

For more information about the Chip and PIN system, please visit www.mychipandpin.com.