Visa Card

According to the Chase website, they have two Chip and PIN cards. Both come with no "international" fees at ATMs in Europe. The J.P. Morgan Select Card comes with an annual fee of $95. The J.P. Morgan Palladium Credit Card ad does not specify a fee (If you have to ask... ), but I see on other websites that it's about $600/yr. (I think they charge so much for the Palladium card so you'll think the $95 is a bargain.) I have never encountered an ATM in Europe that won't take a strip card. In Germany, the new Bahn touchscreen ticket automats accept cash and, apparently, strip cards (the "tour" of the automat on the Bahn website explicitly tells you how to insert a strip card).

The general answer is that you don't. Supposedly a couple of credit card issuers are experimenting with the chip. Lee mentioned two and I think there is an Am Express with a chip but nothing very common or easy or cheap.

Where did you have issues? It would help us all to know. Travelex supposedly has the chip and pin for their pre-paid cards. The exchange rate is not good, but if you know you'll need the chip and pin for, say gas stations and tolls, then it might be worth it on a limited basis.

We travelled in Spring 2011, driving through Germany, Belgium, and France. Only had one store that refused my Capital One Visa (no chip), but that was because the store owner seemed to not want ANY credit card purchases, only Debit Card; and used my Bank of America Cash card for ATMs (no ATM fees if you use B of A card at Deutsche Bank or Paribis machines-they partner with BofA). Could not "swipe" my card at self serve gas pumps, but could simply take the card to the clerk to finish the transaction, and I had no trouble swiping my Capitol One at toll booths. Unless much has changed in 8 months, shouldn't have too much trouble.

JP Morgan Chase Select is a "Chip and Signature", not a "Chip and PIN". I have the card. I called customer support to verify. But the person also stated that the card should work at automated stations in Europe, and the machine should NOT ask for a PIN whatsoever. We'll see..

Lee, The JP Morgan Visa is free the first year, then $95.00 a year after that :) And Mike, in looking at an older Money Magazine website article, they say; As of June 17, 2011, Chase began offering the JP Morgan Visa credit card, which also offers a Chip & Signature, but not Chip & PIN capability, to US cardholders. No prior relationship with JP Morgan is required to sign up for the new card, but the absence of a PIN associated with the Chip may make these cards less useful as most unattended kiosks will not accept them. Chase is telling customers that when used in unattended kiosks or fuel stations, the chip in the card is recognized, then the terminal will report "checking PIN", and the transaction will be approved without having entered a PIN. This transaction process is similar to Chase's existing "Blink" approval process. You may have to press the enter button without putting in a pin number, to get past the enter pin step, and to the approval step. Chase is stating that they will work at most unattended kiosks and petrol stations. Hmmmm. We'll find out in March.

Sounds scary to me. The whole purpose of signing is somebody checks a signature. Chip and Pin - a PIN has to be known and entered. If its as described do you want to carry a card that when stolen or lost just has to be put in a machine and it works with no security? I wouldn't.

Over at the flyertalk.com message boards users of the new Chase and JP Morgan chip cards are reporting that it does indeed work as a chip & pin card in Europe; with a few exceptions here and there. When the Chase reps say "chip & signature", I think what they are referring to is that retailers in the US only have the hardware to read magnetic strips, so when used at home one will still have to sign for everything.

Wow! And the lightbulb lights! So smart Nigel. What would keep someone with your stolen card, in Europe, from accessing the automated train ticket kiosks, auto bike rentals, petrol pumps and auto toll booths with your card? Am I missing something? Even here in the U.S. gas pumps will ask for your billing zip code, (postal code,) at the pump on a credit card.
I think I will stay with my Citi Debit Card with the one half of one percent currency exchange rate. At least it has a pin number.

I picked up a J.P. Morgan Visa Signature card last fall before heading to Portugal. Unfortunately, every attempt to use the card at automated machines in the country including: 1. Buying a ticket for Porto's Metro system, 2. Buying a ticket for Portugal's rail system, 3. Even trying to use the card at McDonald's, all ended in failure. Per a few people I spoke with their, they said only cards from Portuguese banks would work. So problem with this card (Chip + Signature instead of the European standard Chip + PIN), or with the Portuguese financial system?