Chip Card FAQs

It's easy. If the retailer has a chip-enabled terminal, simply insert your chip card face up in the terminal. The chip card will remain in the terminal while the transaction is processed. To authorize your transaction, just follow the prompts as you do today.

If the retailer is not equipped to read the chip card, just swipe as you do today.

ATM Cards are primarily for use at ATMs, but also work at merchant terminals that accept AFFN and support online PIN (Personal Identification Number). Debit Cards work at both ATMs and merchant terminals. Your Debit Card will work, using either the chip or magnetic stripe, at merchant terminals that accept Visa^® and support online transactions. (However, you may encounter denials at a limited number of offline, unattended self-service EMV terminals or kiosks.)

Your ATM/Debit Card will be accepted at EMV– and non–EMV compliant ATM's that read either the magnetic stripe or the chip and authenticate the transaction with an online PIN. If the ATM has an EMV chip reader, it will read the chip. Your transactions at Community Bank ATMs will continue to use PIN authentication and function in the same manner as they currently do.

If the merchant is using an EMV–compliant terminal, your Debit Card will be inserted into the Smart Chip Reader. After the transaction is approved, you will be asked to sign the charge slip to complete the purchase.

Yes. If the merchant accepts Visa^® Debit Cards, you can use your Debit Card.

There are no transaction fees for using your Community Bank Debit Card to make purchases in U.S. Dollars. However, when making foreign currency purchases, an International Transaction Fee will be assessed. Fees may also apply when you use your card at a non–Community Bank ATM. Some merchants may charge a fee, as well.

When you use your Debit Card at ATMs and to make purchases, we may apply two daily limits to the amount you are authorized to withdraw from your deposit accounts during each day — a cash limit and a purchase limit. The purchase limit on your debit card is $1500, and the cash limit is $509.

For security purposes, we may place other restrictions on the purchase limit from time to time. In addition, we may temporarily establish higher or lower limits upon your request. Debit Card limits are reset daily based on a calendar day. For more information see the Card Disclosure.

Yes. You may use your Debit Card to pay bills with any merchant or service provider that accepts Visa^®. Since you have direct relationships with your service providers and merchants, you must contact them directly to pay a bill with your Visa^® Debit Card.

Typically, merchants or service providers require the following information:

• Visa^® Debit Card Number
• Expiration Date
• Date you want to be charged
• Amount you authorize to be charged
• Your signature

Note: If for any reason you receive a new card number or the expiration date changes, you must notify the merchant to ensure your automatic payments are not affected. The merchant will need the new card number and expiration date. They may also request the three–digit code on the back of your card.

When you use your debit card to make a purchase, the merchant will request an authorization, in other words, an approval for the transactions. An authorization confirms that your account is open and active and that there are enough funds available to cover the purchase amount at the time of the request. The purchase amount sent by the merchant for authorizations varies by merchant type. Many merchants request an authorization for the exact purchase amount, but some merchants may send an authorization request for a nominal amount such as $1 or an estimate that is more or less than the actual purchase amount. The authorization hold amount reduces your available balance and will remain on the account for up to 3 business days when your debit card is swiped or inserted in person, or up to 5 business days when used for an internet, phone or mail order transaction. When the transaction is presented to the bank, the actual purchase amount is deducted from your account.

When you do not have enough available funds in your account to cover everyday non–recurring debit card purchases or ATM withdrawals, we will decline the transaction and you will not be subject to overdraft fees for those declined transactions. If you have enough available funds in your account to cover part of an everyday non–recurring debit card purchase, but not the full amount, some merchants will accept those available funds as partial payment and then allow you to pay the balance of your purchase from another source, or will allow you to reduce your purchase to fall within your available balance, such as by reducing the number of items in your cart.

A pending transaction or an authorization amount may vary from the final or actual purchase amount in situations where there is an estimated authorization amount or a tip is involved.

Here are a few examples that show how a pending transaction or authorization amount might be different from the final amount:

• At a restaurant, an authorization is requested prior to a tip being added. The final purchase amount will include a tip you add. Some restaurants may add an estimated tip to the transaction total when requesting an authorization. Because of this practice, your final purchase amount may vary from the authorized amount.
• At the gas pump, the station requests an initial authorization prior to dispensing fuel and determining the final amount of the purchase. Many pat-at-the-pump gas purchases are initially authorized for $1 no matter what the final purchase amount is.
• At a hotel, they are allowed to request an authorization for an amount based on the length of your stay and applicable taxes. An estimated amount for incidentals may also be made. Cruise lines and car rental companies may also follow this practice.

It may take several business days for the final purchase amount to replace the pending transaction amount on your account. The pending transaction reduces your available balance. When the transaction is presented to the bank, the final or actual purchase amount is deducted from your account, usually within 3 to 5 business days.

We recommend that you set a travel notice on any card you plan to use while traveling, so your card access is not interrupted. To set a travel notice, contact your local Banking Center. For your protection, we will continue to monitor card activity even when a travel notice is set.