US credit cards that have chip technology
 

I've been researching US credit cards that have the chip technology, and so far have come up with 2: JP Morgan and US Bank. The JP Morgan seems to be the best deal because they don't charge a foreign transaction fee, but it's a chip & signature system (so it can be used in the US as well as internationally). My question is: Has anyone used this card & does it work well in Europe & Eastern Europe? Are there any other considerations?

Thanks!

Chip and signature really doesn't resolve the big problem and it has been reported that chip and signature cards are useless in the unmanned (or unwomanned) places that cause problems with the archaic US magnetic strip cards.

Another point of information is that there is no reason, none whatsoever, that US issuers do not issue chip and pin cards which also contain the magnetic strip. All European mc/visas contain both the chip and pin and the magnetic strip for use in backward countries such as the United States which refuse to enter the 21st century in so many different ways (Farenheit temperatures, non metric systems of weight and measure etc.)

Visa up to a point had recommended chip and signature cards sort of as a compromise but many have reported difficulties in using them. Visa has now come out and agreed the USA should be moving to enter the 21st century on this; when it will happen is still anybody's guess.

I'm in France right now and using the US Bank chip card with mixed results. It has worked well in the automatic machines in the Paris Metro, but has not worked for some Autoroute tolls and a couple of parking garages. It has worked in a grocery store in Paris, and in an Intermarche for gas in Troyes. Also worked in the parking garages in Troyes and Reims yesterday. So, I'm not totally convinced that they have the technology in sync yet with all the places in France where chip cards are required.

The JP Morgan is signature only (end of paragraph 2): http://www.americanbanker.com/news/j...1036000-1.html. MaineGG's note supports that US Bank chip card is the one with any chance of making it work on chip and pin machine.

The need for CHIP and PIN card depends on the country. In Italy, I did not even notice anywhere needing CHIP and PIN card last year. This year, in Switzerland and France, I could have done either way when I was dealing with a PERSON. In the Netherlands, I was not even given on option to use signature at the train ticket counter with a person -- the answer, at least the agent I dealt with, was simply no. They don't take CCs without CHIP and PIN.

We couldn't buy gas at an unmanned gas station in Sicily a couple years ago. Wonder if the US Bank card would've have worked? (Going back in time....)

US Bank gratuitously sent me a Chip and Pin card to replace my old CC. I keep the new one wrapped in aluminum foil because it also has an RFID tag. I can't see any benefit to me, merchants, or US Bank with RFID. But criminals with the right technology can potentially compromise the card because it can be read while it is still in your wallet. US Passports are also using RFID technology. What is the rationale for RFID?

As we said earlier, the US Bank card from what I'v read is not chip and pin but rather chip and signature although it has been reported on several blogs that it works in many chip and pin situations where the archaic American cards do not. There is a difference.

RFID is for Paypass. All the vending machines at my work are of this type now. I suppose it gives more profit for the bank and more impulse(?) sales for the merchants.

As I mentioned above, I have been using the US Bank chip card for the past ten days in France. After it didn't work the first time I tried at the toll in Beaune, I then handed it to an attendant in an autoroute toll booth. I think she just waved it past something because she handed it back to me very quickly. Perhaps she was using the pay/wave RFID function. Later in the trip the card worked in the automatic toll collection machines in Troyes and Reims.

For security reasons, I keep this card in a special sleeve to block accidental reading.

Several other times, I have been asked for a signature after inserting the card into the chip reader in a store. In the parking garage in Annecy, it didn't work at all. In the parking garage in Troyes, it was accepted and a PIN was requested to complete the transacton.

We're in Paris now and will see how it works out here. I have been using my Capital One card wherever possible to avoid conversion fees, so probably won't have too much more experience with it during this trip.

Thanks for reporting live, MaineGG. Wishful thinking at this point, but I sure wish my credit union CC with no fees (besides the Visa 1%) would issue a chip and PIN card...

Anyone have luck with American Express card? The last time DH and I had problems was in France with the stand alone train ticket machines. We heard AE had a card that works but we never got to try it out.

Thanks for this thread, CarolynAnn.

JP MORGAN VISA SELECT IS A TRUE CHIP & PIN CARD in addition to magnetic swipe & signature.

it used to be chip, mag stripe & signature only. call them & they will make an exception & provide a PIN for use with the chip.

this card does not charge a foreign transaction fee & it provides primary rental car insurance for rentals up to 31 days in most countries outside your country of residence at no additional charge plus many other benefits for the low price of $95 per annum with the 1st year's fee waived.

i hope that clears up the confusion about chip & pin. it also has mag stripe & signature.

AmEx chip cards are worthless. they are not accepted at automated ticket dispensers & are not widely accepted in europe except in major tourist hotels & restaurants.

I just got back from 16 days in Italy and I was never asked for a chip and pin card.

Ackislander, did you use an unmanned bike, petrol or ticket machine? If so, what card did you use? Thanks.

Everyone else, start calling your card provider and let them know. This calls for squeaky wheel action!

http://articles.businessinsider.com/...in-card-credit

I think US banking may start coming around (finally).
Above link says Wells Fargo is piloting (select market) a chip/pin Visa smart card (since April). Best I can tell, you have to call to ask about it, it isn't offered in the online credit cards applications.

Akislander, you do not need a chip & pin card if you have a human being completing the transaction such as a hotel, restaurant or ticket counter. you will need a chip & pin card if you buy train tickets at an automated dispenser such as the paris metro, amsterdam train station, self service gas pump at an unattended petrol station or a public rental bike that requires a credit card such as the velo bikes in paris where there are no humans to physically process the transaction. the portable blue tooth machines that are used table side in restaurants by wait staff are equipped for both chip & mag stripe but not all wait staff know how to use the mag stripe reader section & need assistance. manned ticket selling counters are becoming less common in train stations, etc. in europe just as they are becoming less common in grocery stores in the usa. in those instances you are out of luck without chip & pin.

My credit cards are issued in the US but I'm moving home to the UK soon. I had problems with my visa in UK supermarkets last year and that's probably because of what you're talking about. I feel silly but what is "chip and pin?"

There is a chip embedded into the credit card and when it is swiped, you enter a pin instead of signing.

With only a couple of exceptions I mentioned in a previous post, our US Bank chip card has worked very well for us. While there have been no problems with using our Capital One swipe card in hotels, some restaurants and large stores, it has been refused several times in smaller places in the 11th where our apartment is located. At those times, it's nice to then offer the US Bank chip card which is processed with no problem. It has also worked well to buy Metro and Transilien tickets. Most of the time when using it in shops, a signature is required. Only twice has a PIN been requested. On balance, I think it has been very useful to have it.