Credit Cards w/ European "chip"

No, Charles, they are not available in the US (except for the Andrews FCU credit card). Other credit card providers offer a chip and signature card, but almost no one offers a true chip and PIN card in the US.

That is not an option. They will laugh at you after they hang up. It is a whole different technology that US credit card companies have not adopted. The Andrews folks have a lot of overseas customers but there have been some reports that the card does not work that well.

Where are these reports of Andrews chip and pin cards causing problems? I would be interested in reading them.

Charles, I've heard a few rumours that U.S. credit card firms are starting to work towards implementing EMV (Chip & PIN) credit cards, but I can't recall if there's a definite timeline. So far the only U.S. card issuer seems to be the Andrews Federal Credit Union (based in Maryland?), which offers the GlobeTrek Visa® Rewards Card which has C&P capability (n addition to a magnetic stripe). If you're interested, contact them for further information. Chip & PIN technology has been in use for several years in Europe, Canada and most of the rest of the world. I'm not sure why U.S. card issuers have been unwilling to "get with the program". Good luck!

Given how often this question is asked, it might make sense for a comprehensive "FAQ" to chip and pin cards to be made as a sticky in this forum. There's another option for getting one if you really think you need one (and I don't think people do for simple traveling) - Service Credit Union. Open to people who live in New Hampshire or active and retired Military. It's a terrible bank to be honest, and you have to have a checking account with them to get the Chip and Pin card, and it's a $25 yearly fee per card, AND it only works in Germany - but it's an option for some, I guess. Really not worth the hassle in my opinion. I have one, but I live here, and use it just for groceries and IKEA/Media Markt purchases. The best way to get around train station machines not taking US credit cards is to buy tickets in advance online and print them out at home, or to buy them at service counters at train stations when traveling using cards or cash. Using the machines can be convenient, but it's not totally necessary. And the Deutsche Bahn machines in Germany do take US cards anyway.

Not to put to fine a point on it, but all my cards here in Canada have chips...so not just European cards...hopefully ya'all will catch up with us :)

I've posted this before ... The U.S. is in the process of converting to the EMV chip (the "chip" in "chip and pin"). Both Visa and Mastercard have announced their plans for that. You will see from their releases that it is a multi-year implementation. Below is info from their websites. www.mastercard.us/mchip-emv.html corporate.visa.com/newsroom/press-releases/press1142.jsp As you will see from the press releases, the first milestone is next year, but it won't be required at point-of-sale terminals until 2015. So in the future, all cards will have the chip but it remains to be seen which adopt "chip and pin" versus "chip and signature".

And if you absolutley need one, which few casual tourists do, the Travelex Cash Passport is a chip and pin card and can reportedly be used in automated machines. It's a pre-paid card that comes with a hefty 10% "fee." While Travelex, which is a for-profit business, claims no fee, adding local currancey to it will cost you 10% above the interbank exchange rate. So only use it for what you absolutely need.

Thanks to all. This sounds like a mess that won't be sorted out before my next trip. I will stick to using Euros in the ticket machines which works fine.

Charles, On US credit cards not being accepted at train stations: That depends on where you are. If you're going to be traveling in Germany and buying tickets from train station ticket machines, your US credit card will have no problems making that purchase, whether at a "self machine" or at the ticket counter. The Deutsche Bahn machines accept US magnetic stripe credit cards, unlike in France.

"On US credit cards not being accepted at train stations: That depends on where you are." That statement is very true! At Amsterdam Central, ONLY "Chip & PIN" cards are accepted at both the staffed ticket windows and the Kiosks. Of course, cash is also accepted.

I used an Andrews FCU chip and PIN in France back in the Spring, and it worked everywhere I tried it: toll booths, unattended gas stations, Paris Metro. I also just got a Bank of America chip card, but it's chip and signature rather than chip and PIN. But my understanding is that will work just as well in most places, but it's only a backup anyway.

All of the machines I used in England this past summer accepted my non-chip & pin card. So as others have said it really does depend on where you go.

In addition to Andrews, the State Department Federal Credit Union also offers a Visa chip and pin card and can be joined by members of the American Consumers Council. One thing to note, the cards do not come automatically with membership. Once you've become a member you have to apply for the card by filling out a loan application.

Gary beat me to it. Andrews is NOT the only credit union offering true chip and pin cards. my cousin showed up at Thanksgiving with a SDFCU one. Looking around the web, I found two more. So don't rely on what you read here about Andrews being the only one.

Here's a master list of all the Chip cards currently available in the US: http://tinyurl.com/9gmv5zw

What are the physical differences between a pin/chip and pin/signature credit cards?

Thanks,Michael. That is a good list. I counted 8 chip and PIN cards.

Physical differences? To the naked eye, none. They both have a chip, a stripe, and place to sign on the back. It is unlikely by looking you could see any writing which would say anything about which they are. The difference is how the chip is programmed.

Bruce---I don't know if you can tell the difference just by looking at them. The "chip area" of my cousin's chip/PIN credit card looked just like my Chase chip/signature card.

Do you have to have an accout at Andrews to get the chip & pin card?

Many of the chip and PIN cards on the posted list are credit union cards, which might have residence or employment qualifications for getting an account there. Two more are prepaid debit cards, and one is a by-invitation Visa card. It does appear that there are more options than previously, though. The Andrews card does require opening an account with them, and then applying for the card.

Here's a post from back in March about the procedure for applying for an Andrews card. It pretty much mirrored my experience. It did take several weeks to do the whole process and get the card.
http://victoria-hawkins.com/archives/744

My cousin is not a State Department or federal employee and he had no trouble getting the SDFCU chip and pin card, so there is no employment qualification. There are instructions on the web for applying.

OK I'm in Germany now, my credit card would not work in a DB machine at the Frankfurt Regional Bahn station at the airport. I don't know if I was doing something wrong but it seemed to want a pin, I had cash so it was not a big problem. Next up was checking out of my hotel in Frankfurt, the receptionist looked at me and my card like we were from Mars. She finally started punching the numbers in her machine (that is not equipped to swipe) presenting me a receipt in dollars. I requested she canx that transaction and reprocess it, charging me in Euro, she did with a little attitude. Next I'm in Nurnberg and the VAG machine will not take my credit card, again I'm not sure I'm not doing something wrong. On this site we have people who live in Germany and they report no problems with an American CC. I do have an Andrews FCU chip and Pin card so I input that card and yes with the pin that card worked great. Being just in Germany this vacation I didn't expect this level of frustration.

Wayne, it is often reported here that automated ticket machines (and unmanned gas stations) are the most likely place that an American-style mag stripe card will not work. More and more, they are only taking chip and PIN cards. You don't say which credit card you were trying to use in the DB machine, but if it was a mag stripe card, the result is not surprising. As you discovered, at other locations, like hotels and stores, they still have the ability to process mag stripe cards even if they aren't very happy about it.

Both our MC and VISA are w/ USAA. When I called 12/3/12 to see about getting a chip card for our upcoming April trip, the person told me they weren't available until January or February. USAA is usually on top of just about everything they handle so I'll call again in early 2013.