Do chip and pin cards work in US?

They also have a magnetic strip on the back and will work just fine in the USA.

Nigel is probably correct, but I saw a post the other day saying that some newer European cards are chip-and-pin only and do not have a magnetic strip. You may want to suggest that your friends inquire at the bank that issued the card to be sure it will work in the U.S. It would be hard for them if they got here and couldn't use it and it was the only method of payment they had brought with them.

I have two cards issued by European banks and both have mag strips as well as chips. I suspect their cards are the same, but they can easily check. One place they might have an issue is some automated gas pumps. Some ask you to enter a zip code and of course they won't have one. If this happens, they will need to pay inside.

Thanks everyone! I will check with them on the magnetic strip. Would have never thought about the gas pump! Just love this site, so helpful!
Denise

I too saw the post the other day. I deal with credit cards every day and have never yet seen one without a magnetic strip on the back. Some are invisible but there nevertheless. I don't say that none have no strip but I've never seen one. It may well be one that is not permitted to cross any borders. Wasn't it French? If so they have always had an interesting take on plastic cards (and telephones).

Nigel is probably correct, but I saw a post the other day saying that some newer European cards are chip-and-pin only and do not have a magnetic strip. You may want to suggest that your friends inquire at the bank that issued the card to be sure it will work in the U.S. It would be hard for them if they got here and couldn't use it and it was the only method of payment they had brought with them. I expect that was me! Yes my new card of about two weeks ago, requires chip & pin authentication. The documentation does state that if I need a strip card for use in the USA I can order one, so it is still possible.

I don't say that none have no strip but I've never seen one. It may well be one that is not permitted to cross any borders. Wasn't it French? If so they have always had an interesting take on plastic cards (and telephones). No it's a MasterCard issued by a Swiss bank, but you are right, I can go online and use geo-blocking to restrict it's use outside Switzerland to either Eurozone, EU, or world wide. At the moment I have it set to Switzerland only.