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Chip-and-PIN Credit Cards in the USA
10 min read
Traveling internationally? Much of the world (outside of the U.S.) uses PINs to verify credit card transactions, rather than the signatures we’re used to here in the states.
So you may want to pick up a card with chip-and-PIN capability, in addition to the basic chip-and-signature you’ll find with most cards. Although more card terminals around the world are accepting signatures as time goes by, it could be wise to have a PIN card while traveling to avoid running into situations where your card isn’t accepted at the point of sale (which could happen, particularly at unattended kiosks like train station ticket vendors).
| Credit Card Issuers That Offer Chip-and-PIN Cards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Offers PIN Cards? | Preferred Verification Method |
| American Express | No | – |
| Andrews Federal Credit Union | Yes | Signature |
| Bank of America | Yes | Signature |
| Barclays | Yes | Signature |
| Capital One | No | – |
| Chase | No | – |
| Citi/Citibank | Yes | Signature |
| Diners Club International | Yes | PIN |
| Discover | No* | – |
| First Tech Federal Credit Union | Yes | PIN |
| HSBC | Yes | Unknown |
| Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) | Yes | Signature |
| Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) | Yes | Signature |
| State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) | Yes | Cardholder decides |
| Store Credit Cards | Some | PIN |
| U.S. Bank | No | – |
| United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) | Yes | PIN |
| USAA | Yes | Signature |
| Wells Fargo | Yes | Signature |
*There are some reports that Discover has begun sending cards with chip-and-PIN technology to some cardholders.
Getting a Chip-and-PIN Card in the USA
If you’re traveling outside the U.S., particularly in Canada or Europe, it’s useful to have a credit card with chip-and-PIN EMV technology.
The EMV microchip is in addition to the magnetic stripe on the back. Every EMV chip credit card issued in the U.S. has the chip-and-signature verification method, but only cards from certain issuers also have chip-and-PIN.
EMV technology in general (signature or PIN) provides better security against credit card fraud than the traditional magnetic stripe card. PINs are harder to forge than signatures, making them more secure in some ways, but only for PIN transactions of course.
Although many merchants and checkout terminals outside the U.S. will take chip-and-signature cards, in some cases you might find a card reader that only accepts PIN cards. Or, you may want a card that defaults to the PIN verification mode to speed up checkout, because that’s what merchants outside the U.S. are generally familiar with.
Most cards that have both signature and PIN capability will default to signature for the verification method when making transactions — these are called signature-preferred or signature-priority cards. But there are a few issuers that provide cards which default to PIN to verify the transaction — they’re called PIN-preferred or PIN-priority cards.
Many credit card issuers now offer cards with chip-and-PIN technology, with three notable exceptions.
These issuers do not provide chip-and-PIN cards:
- American Express
- Discover
- Chase
This isn’t a very big deal for American Express and Discover, because those cards don’t have very wide acceptance outside the U.S. anyway. So they probably wouldn’t be your first choices for traveling abroad.
But it’s quite unfortunate that Chase doesn’t offer chip-and-PIN with its cards. It has some much-loved travel cards that would be even better with PINs, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, along with quite a few airline and hotel co-branded cards.
For trips outside the U.S., check out the cards below and our picks for the best travel credit cards. Many of the top issuers of travel cards now offer PIN capability.
Card issuers take PIN security pretty seriously. Some won’t let you see it through their online banking portals or their mobile apps, and will only mail it to you. They may require you to call customer support to set or change your credit card PIN. Others are a bit less secure, and will let you change it online.
Insider tip
Do people give you odd looks when you say “PIN number”? That may be because PIN stands for “Personal Identification Number,” and you’re repeating yourself — but we won’t tell if you do!
Travel Tips If You Don’t Have a PIN Card
What if you can’t get a PIN card before you leave? Don’t despair, all hope is not lost. You should be fine in most cases, as many terminals will accept signature cards, but keep these tips in the back of your mind to help your trip run smoothly:
- Carry a backup or two: Carry one or two additional cards in case a terminal has a problem with your card or doesn’t accept the credit card network. Consider carrying some cash and a debit card for emergency ATM withdrawals.
- Don’t pay extra: Try to use cards with 0% foreign transaction fees when traveling in foreign countries or making purchases in foreign currency.
- Communicate with your issuer: In most cases you should tell your credit card company when and where you’ll be traveling so it doesn’t report suspicious activity once you start making purchases abroad, and place a freeze on your credit card account.
- Prepare for automated points of sale and kiosks: Although you might not be able to avoid them altogether, try to buy things like transit passes ahead of time to avoid dealing with automated kiosks and terminals. If you run into an automated terminal try looking for an attendant you can pay, or use a debit card.
- Try pushing “enter” or “cancel”: If you’re using a signature card but the terminal asks for a PIN, try selecting one of these options without entering anything. Some travelers report that this works occasionally. If that doesn’t work, look for an attendant or try a debit card (or go with cash).
- Use mobile wallets: Add your cards to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other mobile wallets for contactless transactions, which are fairly common in some parts of the world. You’ll find many terminals accept these NFC transactions, giving you a robust payment method whether your cards have PINs or not.
Credit Card Issuers That Provide Chip-and-PIN Cards
The following issuers provide cards with chip-and-PIN functionality. Some of them are signature-preferred for the verification method, while others are PIN-preferred.
We’ve highlighted some of the best travel cards from each issuer (some issuers don’t offer good travel cards, so we show whatever they might have). These cards may offer rewards and valuable perks in addition to being PIN-capable. Many of them have no foreign transaction fees as well, which is what you’ll want for traveling outside the U.S.
Andrews Federal Credit Union
You’ll need to join Andrews FCU to apply for its credit cards. Certain people will be eligible to join, such as if you live or work in Washington, D.C.
Or, you can become a member of the American Consumer Council for free with promo code “Andrews”. This will let you join the Andrews FCU, which requires a minimum $5 deposit in a bank account.
Credit cards from Andrews FCU are available as PIN-priority if you request it specifically. We heard from a reader who requested a PIN-priority card, which Andrews supposedly provided, only to find that it was signature-priority after traveling to the U.K. But we’ve also heard from other readers who say you can get PIN-priority cards if you make it clear that this is what you want.
So we recommend testing your card to make sure it’s PIN-priority before traveling abroad. If you find that your card is signature-priority, you can request a new PIN-priority card from customer support.
To set or change your PIN, call 1-888-886-0083.
There are a few cards from Andrews FCU that would be good for traveling because they have no foreign transaction fees:
Andrews Federal Visa® Titanium Signature Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 3X points per dollar spent on gas and groceries, 1.5X points per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 7,500 points after spending $500 within the first 90 days after card is opened
- For the first 12 months, you can get a 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers, and then your rates will be 7.99% Variable.
- Visa perks include travel and security benefits
- Complimentary 24-hour concierge service
- Credit limits from $10,000 to $50,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
Andrews Federal Platinum Rewards Visa® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 5,000 bonus points after your first purchase
- Get 1X point per dollar on all purchases
- Credit limits up to $50,000
- No balance transfer fees
- No annual fees
- No foreign transaction fee
- Visa benefits include travel and security benefits
Andrews Federal Visa® Simplicity
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Credit limits from $1,000 to $50,000
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Low interest rates from 8.99%–18.00% Variable
Bank of America
Bank of America credit cards come with chip-and-PIN capability, but are signature-preferred for the verification method.
You can set or change your PIN online. Just log in, go to your account settings, and select “Create or Change PIN.” Or you can choose to have your PIN sent by mail.
There are several travel cards from BofA worth noting, which don’t have foreign transaction fees:
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees
- Comes with chip technology for enhanced security and protection at chip-enabled terminals
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro APR ends, 17.24% – 25.24% Variable APR will apply
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more points on every purchase
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- NEW – 40,000 Bonus Mile + Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ Offer.
- Get 40,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) with this offer. To qualify, make purchases of $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Save with a free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation.
- Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ every year! EACH YEAR on your account anniversary get a companion fare from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22). Valid on all Alaska flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Get exclusive access to discounted redemption levels when you redeem miles for hotel stays at over 400,000 properties using Alaska Airlines Hotels.
- Earn unlimited miles and travel with no blackout dates and no foreign transaction fees.
Insider tip
Wondering how to use your Alaska Airlines card for free travel? Learn how to get the most out of your Alaska Airlines credit card.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 30,000 bonus points when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time-no matter how much you spend. Points don’t expire.
- Earn 3 points per every dollar spent on travel purchases (car, hotel, airline) booked through the Bank of America® Travel Center.
- No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles.
- Redeem points for travel with no blackout dates, cash back or gift cards.
- Get 75% more points on the base earn of every purchase you make when you’re a Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier member. That means you will earn 2.62 points for every $1 you spend and 4.12 points per every $1 you spend at the Bank of America® Travel Center.
Barclays
Barclays credit cards all come with chip-and-PIN capability. They are signature-preferred for the verification method.
You’ll be prompted to create a PIN when you open an account online. Otherwise you can have one assigned to you.
To activate your PIN, use the card at a regular chip-and-Signature checkout terminal. Then you’ll be able to use the PIN function.
You can change your PIN by logging in, going to Account Settings, and then selecting “Manage Your PIN.” If you ever change your PIN, you’ll need to activate it again by using the card for a chip-and-Signature purchase.
There are several Barclays cards that have no foreign transaction fees, making them good for travel. Here are a few:
Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®
Details
- Introductory bonus: 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days
- Earn 2X miles on all purchases
- Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
- Miles don’t expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made while traveling abroad
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening
- Regular purchase and balance transfer APR of 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable
Insider tip
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is not currently available for new applicants.
Uber Credit Card
Details
- Earn $100 back in Uber Cash for spending $500 in the first 90 days
- 5% back in Uber Cash on Uber purchases, like rides, UberEats, and JUMP scooters and bikes
- 3% back in Uber Cash at restaurants, airlines, hotels, and travel agencies
- Uber Cash never expires
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made while traveling abroad
- Mobile phone insurance if you pay your phone bill with your card
- No annual fee
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- First checked bag free on eligible bags for the primary cardmember when you use your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines
- One-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines
- Earn 3X miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- Earn 2x miles on gas, dining and grocery store purchases
- Earn 1X miles on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees means you don’t pay additional transaction fees on international purchases
- Receive an annual $100 companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines after each account anniversary
- Share Miles allows you to send and receive miles from family and friends through HawaiianAirlines.com, without a fee
- No blackout dates
Insider tip
Wondering if Hawaiian Airlines is right for you? Learn more about its frequent flyer program and how this credit card can earn you free trips.
JetBlue Business Mastercard®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 6X points per dollar on JetBlue purchases
- 2X points per dollar at restaurants and office supplies
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 on purchases within first 90 days
- 10,000 bonus points after adding an employee card within 30 days of account opening and making a purchase with employee card within 90 days
- 10% point bonus every time you redeem (bonus is applied to next redemption)
- 5,000 bonus points every year on cardmember anniversary
- Earn and share points together with Points Pooling
- Unlimited points and they don’t expire
- TrueBlue Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases annually
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 3 guests traveling with you
- Employee cards at no extra cost
- No foreign transaction fees
- No blackout dates
- $99 annual fee
Citi/Citibank
Citi credit cards come with both chip-and-Signature and chip-and-PIN capability. They’re signature-preferred for the verification method.
Your PIN for purchases with Citi cards will be the same as your cash advance PIN.
There are three options for setting or adjusting your PIN:
- Change existing PIN: Call 1-866-696-5673 and listen for instructions to change your PIN (this number may or may not work for you; if it doesn’t work, call the number on the back of the card or see our listing of backdoor credit card company phone numbers)
- Send a new pre-assigned PIN: Have a new PIN sent to your mailing address.
- Cancel PIN and do not replace it: Remove the PIN from your card entirely.
Citi offers quite a few credit cards that would be useful for traveling because they have no foreign transaction fees. Here are a few:
Citi Premier® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- NEW! Earn 3 Points at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- NEW! Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 60,000 Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Citi Prestige® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 5X ThankYou points on Air travel and Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points on Hotels and Cruise Lines
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn
- Rewards never expire
- $250 travel credit
- Complimentary 4th night free on eligible hotel stays, capped at twice per year
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Application Fee Credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $495 annual fee
The information related to Citi Prestige® Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your cardmembership year and renew your card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% – 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
The information related to Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage®bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- Earn 10,000 AAdvantage® Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% – 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Diners Club International
Diners Club International is not currently accepting applications online, but you may receive an invitation in the mail to apply.
Diners Club credit cards have both signature and PIN capability, and are PIN-priority.
You’ll be issued a PIN when you get your Diners Club card. Call 1-800-234-6377 if you need to reset your PIN. You’ll then be directed to visit a chip-enabled ATM within a specified time period to choose a new one. Diners Club recommends you visit a BMO Harris ATM.
There are several Diners Club credit cards, but unfortunately the first two below have foreign transaction fees, so they’re not as good for spending outside the U.S.:
- 1X point per dollar on all purchases
- Personal assistant
- Airport lounge access
- MasterRental Insurance
- Purchase Assurance
- Extended Warranty
- No foreign transaction fee
- $95 annual fee, $35 additional card fee
- 3X points per dollar on groceries, gas, and drugstore purchases
- Diners Club Card Hotel & Resort Collection
- Personal assistant
- Airport lounge access
- MasterRental Assistance
- Purchase Assurance
- Travel Accident Insurance
- No foreign transaction fee
- $300 annual fee
Carte Blanche Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- $1 charged = 1 Club Rewards point
- 24/7 personal assistant service
- Private jet access through Bombardier Skyjet
- $300 annual fee
- $150 per additional card
- 3% foreign transaction fee
First Tech Federal Credit Union
The First Tech Federal Credit Union offers chip cards that come with chip-and-PIN capability, and they are PIN-priority.
Your PIN will be assigned when you’re approved for a card. It will be mailed to you separately from the card for security purposes.
To join First Tech you’ll need to meet the membership eligibility requirements. You’ll be eligible if you work for the state of Oregon, for example, or if you’re a member of the Financial Fitness Association ($8 per year).
To use a First Tech credit card you’ll need to open a bank account with them. All of their cards feature no foreign transaction fee, so they’re good choices to bring with you outside the country:
- Odyssey Rewards: $75 after the first year, no transfer fees, 3X points per dollar on travel, 2X points on dining
- Choice Rewards: No annual fee, no transfer fee, 2X points per dollar on certain purchases
- Platinum Rewards: No annual fee, no transfer fee, 1X point per dollar
- Platinum Secured: Secured card, no annual fee, relatively low APR, 1X point per dollar.
HSBC
HSBC credit cards come with chip-and-PIN capability. We were originally told by HSBC that their cards are set as signature-preferred for the verification method, but on subsequent calls to HSBC we were told (after lots of long hold times) that they’re PIN-preferred and other conflicting information. If you have any information about what HSBC actually offers please contact us.
One reader has reported that HSBC cards are signature-priority, and are sometimes declined if a store terminal (in Europe) only accepts PIN transactions. But the cards do default to PIN for automated kiosks.
Your PIN for purchases will be different than your cash advance PIN. If you want to change your PIN you’ll need to call customer support, you can’t do it online.
Every HSBC card has no foreign transaction fee, so they’re all relatively good for traveling. Here are some of their better cards, including a couple designed specifically for travelers:
HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Earn an Introductory 3% Cash Back on all purchases in the first 12 months from Account opening, up to the first $10,000 in purchases
- 10% Anniversary Bonus on all Cash Rewards earned once a year.
- No Annual Fee.
- 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 14.99% – 24.99% variable APR.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $0 liability for unauthorized purchases.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
HSBC Premier World Mastercard® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 2X Rewards Program points per dollar on travel
- 1X point per dollar on all other net purchases
- 35,000 Rewards Program bonus points worth $400 in airfare when booked online through HSBC Rewards, after spending $3,000 in the first three months of opening your account
- Earn unlimited points that don’t expire
- No blackout dates or restrictions on most major airlines
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 3X Rewards Program points per dollar on travel
- 2X points per dollar on dining
- 1X point per dollar on all other net purchases
- 50,000 Rewards Program bonus points worth $750 in airfare when booked online through HSBC Rewards, after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening your account
- Earn unlimited points that don’t expire
- No blackout dates or restrictions on most major airlines
- Made of metal
Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed)
The Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) issues cards with chip-and-PIN capability. They’re set as signature-preferred for the verification method.
You’ll receive a PIN when you’re approved for your card. To have a new PIN reissued, call 1-800-247-5626 (Visa cardholders) or 1-800-732-8268 (American Express cardholders).
To open a PenFed credit card you’ll need to become a member of PenFed. PenFed is federally insured by NCUA.
PenFed offers several cards without foreign transaction fees, which you might find useful for traveling abroad:
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
* $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening.
* Earn 5 points on gas purchases at the pump.
o Fuel purchases for airplanes and boats and made via inside store attendant receive 1 point per dollar spent.
* Earn 3 points on supermarket purchases (3 points/dollar spent)
* Earn 1 point on all other purchases (1 point/dollar spent)
* No annual fee
* No foreign transaction fees
* No cash advance fee
* Chip and Contactless ÔTap to PayÕ enabled for added security, ease and convenience at the point of sale
* Click and Pay eligible, via Secure Remote Commerce, so you can enjoy easy and secure online buying checkout
* Digital wallet capable
* Purchase variable rate as low as 13.49% APR
* 0% promotional rate for 12 months on balance transfers made between now and March 31, 2021. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. Subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
* Cash Advance APR 17.99%
PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
* $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening
* 2% cash back on all purchases through the PenFed Honors Advantage program
o 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases
o Flexible cash redemption options (Power Cash statement credit or cash-out to a checking or savings account)
o No caps, limits or category restrictions on cash rewards
* No annual fee
* No foreign transaction fees
* No cash advance fee
* Chip and Contactless ÔTap to PayÕ enabled for added security, ease and convenience at the point of sale
* Click and Pay eligible, via Secure Remote Commerce, so you can enjoy easy and secure online buying checkout
* Digital wallet capable
* Purchase variable rate as low as 14.99% APR
* 0% promotional rate for 12 months on balance transfers made between now and March 31, 2021. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. Subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
* Cash Advance APR 17.99%
Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU)
The Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) issues chip cards with chip-and-PIN capability. They are signature-priority for the verification method.
Your card won’t come with a PIN initially, but you can set one for it. To set a PIN, log in to your online account and select the correct option, or call 1-888-842-6328. After setting a PIN, test your card at a chip-enabled reader to ensure that the update was processed.
NFCU membership is basically limited to members of the military, Department of Defense employees, employees of some related organizations, and their families.
None of their credit cards have foreign transaction fees, so they’re all potentially good picks for spending outside the country. Here are some of their more rewarding cards:
NFCU GO REWARDS® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 3X points per dollar spent at restaurants
- Earn 2X points per dollar spent on gas
- Earn 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Option to choose Visa or Mastercard and potentially receive Visa Signature or World Mastercard benefits
- Cell phone protection
- Access one of your FICO scores
- No balance transfer fees
- No cash advance fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
NFCU Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 3X points per dollar spent on travel
- 2X points per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days of account opening
- Cell phone protection
- Access to one of your FICO scores
- No balance transfer fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- $49 annual fee, waived the first year
State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU)
The State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) offers cards that are chip-and-PIN capable.
By default, their cards will use signature as the preferred verification mode. But you can select PIN-priority when you’re approved for a card, by selecting the option that says you’ll be “frequently traveling or living overseas.”
To change an existing PIN on credit cards, call 1-703-706-5000 or 1-800-296-8882. The PIN for purchases is the same as the PIN for cash advances.
SDFCU membership is open to U.S. Department of State employees, employees of certain affiliated organizers, and members of their families. You can also join the American Consumer Council for an $8 fee if you want to become an SFCU member. (You can join the ACC for free using promo code “Andrews”, but that’s technically for members of a different credit union.)
SDFCU issues three credit cards, and none of them have foreign transaction fees:
- SDFCU Premium Cash Back+: No annual fee, no balance transfer fee, 2% cash back on all purchases, $200 bonus cash reward for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.
- SDFCU Visa Platinum Credit Card: No annual fee, no balance transfer fee, no rewards.
- SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card: Secured card, no annual fee, no balance transfer fee.
Store Credit Cards
There’s at least one store credit card that features chip-and-PIN capability. This card is actually PIN-priority as well.
Target REDcard™ Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- 5% off every day at Target & Target.com.*
- Free 2 day shipping on hundreds of thousands of items at Target.com.*
- Early Access to products and promotions*
- Exclusive Extras including special items and offers*
- Starbucks discount on in-store locations – get everyday 5% savings when you pay with your REDcard*
- Cartwheel – save 5-50% on hundreds of items in store & get everyday 5% savings when you pay with your REDcard*
- Target Subscriptions – save 5% on everyday essentials delivered on your schedule when you subscribe, plus get everyday 5% savings when you pay with your REDcard*
- Get everyday 5% savings on specialty gift cards when you pay with your REDcard*
- Target Wallet, easy and fast checkout. Use Wallet in the Target app to save with Cartwheel and pay with REDcard by scanning your phone at check out in store.
- *Some restrictions apply. See Target.com/redcard for benefits and program rules
- You’ll be prompted to set a PIN when you activate the card
United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU)
The United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) provides cards with chip-and-PIN capability. The verification method is PIN-preferred.
According to UNFCU, it was actually the first card issuer in the U.S. to offer chip-and-PIN credit cards, back in 2010.
Employees of the United Nations are eligible to join the UNFCU, along with members of their families and some other individuals. If you don’t meet the criteria, you can join the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) for $25. Then you’ll be eligible to join the UNFCU.
You’ll receive a PIN when you’re approved for your card.
UNFCU offers three different credit cards, but only one has no foreign transaction fee:
securely on the issuer's website
- 2X points per dollar spent on groceries, restaurants, online meal delivery services
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 0% intro APR for purchases for 6 months, then your rates will be 9.90% Variable
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with 5 free visits
- Concierge services
- Lock and unlock your card
- $50 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- UNFCU Visa® Azure Card: No annual fee, 1X point per dollar, foreign transaction fee of 1%.
- UNFCU Visa® UNA-USA Card: No annual fee, 1X point per dollar, foreign transaction fee of 1%, a portion of revenues from purchases will go to the UNA-USA.
USAA
USAA provides credit cards for military members and their families. Cardholders can request cards with chip-and-PIN capability, although many USAA members have reported problems using the PIN function outside the U.S.
Cards issued by USAA are signature-priority for the verification method. To reset your PIN, call 1-800-531-8722.
USAA credit cards don’t have foreign transaction fees. Here are a few of their best:
USAA Rewards™ American Express® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 3X points per dollar spent on dining
- Earn 2X points per dollar spent on gas and groceries
- Earn 1X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Get 2,500 bonus points with your first purchase
- Redeem points for cash, merchandise, gift cards and more.
- USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members
USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 2X points per dollar spent on gas and dining with no cap
- Earn 1X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Get 2,500 bonus points with your first purchase
- Redeem points for cash, merchandise, gift cards and more.
- USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined
- Earn 2% on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members
USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature®
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no limits or category restrictions
- Pay no annual fee, no penalty APR and no foreign transaction fees
- USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo provides credit cards with chip-and-PIN capability. The verification method is signature-priority.
Call customer support to check or reset your PIN.
Wells Fargo offers a fairly extensive selection of credit cards that cater to a variety of spending habits. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (Review) is the only personal Wells Fargo card with no foreign transaction fees, but there are several Wells Fargo business cards that don’t charge fees for purchases abroad.
Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Cash back option includes 1.5% cash back on every purchase and $500 cash back if you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Reward Points option includes 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, 1X point per dollar, 1,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in a month, and 10% point credit for redeeming points online
- 0% introductory APR for 9 months on both purchases and balance transfers. After that you’ll get APRs of Prime + 7.99% to Prime + 17.99% Variable
- Up to 99 employee cards at no additional cost
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Wells Fargo Business Elite Signature Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Choose from points or cash back: earn 1X point per dollar spent on all purchases OR earn 1.5% cash back spent on all purchases
- (Must enroll) 100,000 points for spending $25,000 in the first 3 months OR $1,000 for spending $25,000 in the first 3 months
- 10% point credit bonus when you redeem points online
- $100 incidental travel fee reimbursement credit per year
- Visa Signature Concierge
- Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
- Use the Card Design Studio to brand your card with your business
- $0 additional card fee
- Annual fee of $125, $0 first year
Though chip-and-PIN credit cards aren’t yet the standard in the USA, you can get them through various issuers, including Bank of America, Chase, Citi, and more. PIN verification is often preferred in other countries, making these cards a wise choice for travelers.
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The information related to Citi Prestige® Card and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
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