Best Chip and PIN Credit Cards

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 countries and are becoming increasingly common in the United States, as the country transitions to EMV payments. But chip-based cards still come with magnetic stripes because there are many places where you won’t be able to use the chip-and-PIN feature. You will have to swipe your card, like with a normal credit card.  

You should have received a PIN with your card, but you can always set it up later or change it by getting in touch with your credit card issuer.

Feel free to check out some of the best chip-and-PIN credit cards and pick one according to your individual needs and credit standing. You can use the filters on the left sde of the page to sort the cards according to your preferences.

The chip in a credit card is a microprocessor, or tiny computer, that makes a credit card transaction more secure. These chips, also called EMV chips, generate a unique code each time you “dip” your card into a payment terminal or tap to pay. Once used, the code - also called a “token” - cannot be used for a future transaction. So if a fraudster attempted to intercept your chip transaction, they wouldn’t get anything...

To use a chip card, insert the chipped side of the credit card into the slot at the bottom of the card reader, chip facing up. Keep the card in the reader and follow the instructions on the screen. When the transaction is complete, the screen will tell you to remove your card from the slot.

If the retailer has not yet switched to a chip card reader, you can still swipe the card’s...

Yes, credit cards issued by American Express have chip and PIN capability. However, there are some banks and credit unions that offer cards on the American Express network without the chip-and PIN capability. For example, the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card is a chip-and-PIN credit card, while the Navy Federal More Rewards Card is a chip-and-signature card. Both types comply with EMV (Euro Mastercard Visa) standards for chip-based cards.

The Difference Between Chip and PIN and Chip-and-Signature Capability

• Chip cards are...

Yes, the Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard® is chip-and-PIN enabled. To set up a PIN, log in to your online account and select the "Services" drop down menu from your homepage. Then select "Manage your PIN" and follow the instructions to set it up.

Activating your PIN requires completing a transaction at a location with a cashier by inserting your chip in the payment terminal. Once the transaction has gone through, the activation process will finish within 24 hours...

There are no new credit card chip laws, because the government isn’t regulating the U.S. switch to EMV, chip-enabled cards. Nobody will get arrested or fined for using a credit or debit card without a chip in it, nor will merchants face legal consequences for not updating to EMV-compliant payment terminals.

Consequences for Merchants Who Aren’t EMV-Compliant

The EMV transition in the U.S. is a push by the credit card industry to stop...

No, there aren’t any Capital One chip and PIN credit cards. All new Capital One credit cards are chip and signature cards, just like the vast majority of credit cards issued in the U.S. Chip-and-PIN cards are more popular in Europe. Both types comply with EMV (Euro Mastercard Visa) standards for chip-based cards.

Here’s the difference between PIN and signature EMV chip cards:

• As the name suggests, chip and PIN cards require the cardholder to...