A chip card is a standard-size plastic debit card that contains an embedded microchip as well as the traditional magnetic stripe. The chip encrypts information to increase data security when making transactions at a chip-enabled terminal.
You may hear chip cards referred to as "smart cards" or EMV cards — they're all different ways of referring to the same type of card. Similarly, an EMV terminal is the same as a chip-enabled terminal.
Chip technology is used in 130 countries and the U.S. is in the process of implementing chip cards. Therefore, you will not have issues using your card in most countries. In addition, your chip card will still work at terminals where only magnetic stripe transactions are accepted.
Yes. Chip technology has been around for over two decades and is the security standard in many countries around the world. When purchases are made using the chip feature, the transaction is more secure because of a unique process that is used to determine if the card is authentic. This makes the card more difficult to counterfeit or copy.
While magnetic cards are still considered secure, chip technology is the next step to providing enhanced security to our customers. Whether you use the magnetic stripe or the chip to make your purchase, you can have confidence in the protection and security features we provide all our debit card accounts.
No. As the industry continues to develop new ways to protect consumers, perpetrators continue to look for new ways to commit fraud. Chip cards provide an additional layer of security at chip-enabled terminals, on top of the fraud prevention monitoring we currently provide.
Chip card technology provides an additional layer of security to help reduce certain types of fraud resulting from data breaches; however, it will not prevent a data breach.
Transactions made in foreign currencies will be charged to your checking account in U.S. dollars and will appear on your monthly statement. The conversion rate on the processing date may differ from the rate on the date of your transaction. The currency conversion exchange rate is (1) a rate selected by Visa® from the range of rates available in wholesale currency markets for the applicable central processing date, this rate may vary from the rate Visa® itself receives, or (2) the government-mandated rate in effect for the applicable central processing date; plus, in each instance, an International Transaction Fee determined by us and reported on your statement as a single charge for each converted transaction. For any Community Bank ATMs, the conversion rate is set by us, and there is no adjustment factor.
ATM/Debit cards will have an expiration date that is approximately three years from the time of issue. The expiration date will be embossed on the card. The embedded chip has the same validity period as the date that is embossed on the card.
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:
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:
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.
You can request a Debit Card by contacting your local Community Bank or by calling 00-800-2265-3279 (Europe), 1-800-239-9427 (U.S. and all other locations), DSN: (314) 546-1892, Monday through Friday, 0100 to 1800 U.S. Central Time, except U.S. bank holidays.
To add additional accounts, please contact your local Community Bank or call us at 00-800-2265-3279 (Europe), 1-800-239-9427 (U.S. and all other locations), DSN: (314) 546-1892, Monday through Friday, 0100 to 1800 U.S. Central Time, except U.S. bank holidays.
You must have a primary dollar checking account attached to your Debit Card. You can also have additional checking accounts, savings accounts, and sterling accounts attached. Debit Cards do not support Savings-only or Sterling-only accounts. Your Debit Card can support up to 18 accounts.
There are 3 ways to activate your new debit card:
The microprocessor chip embedded in the card stores the information required to authenticate, authorize, and process transactions. This is the same type of information already stored on the magnetic stripe. No personal information about your account is stored on the chip card.
If your Community Bank Debit or ATM card is lost or stolen, if you notice unauthorized transactions, or are having difficulty completing a transaction, immediately contact your local banking center or call Customer Service at 00-800-2265-3279 (Europe), 1-800-239-9427 (U.S. and all other locations), DSN: (314) 546-1892, Monday through Friday, 0100 to 1800 U.S. Central Time:
You may change your PIN, as often as you choose, at any Community Bank ATM. The PIN change will be effective immediately.
Community Bank cardholders are automatically enrolled in eGuard, a 3D Secure Solution designed to provide an extra layer of security for online debit card transactions. Following the detection of suspicious activity during an online transaction, the cardholder is prompted to validate the purchase during check out by answering a series of challenge questions. There is no cost for this service and eGuard supports Visa® Secure.
No. Merchants only see whether or not the transaction is approved, never any specific account information.
Community Bank may decide not to issue or renew a card and we may cancel or suspend your card privileges with our without cause or notice, other than as may be required by applicable law.
Community Bank may reissue new card numbers upon notification of possible compromised accounts. Customers will be notified as soon when this is required. Remember, these actions are taken to reduce card fraud and are done for your protection.
If your Community Bank Debit or ATM card is lost or stolen, if you notice unauthorized transactions, or are having difficulty completing a transaction, immediately contact your local banking center or call Customer Service at 00-800-2265-3279 (Europe), 1-800-239-9427 (U.S. and all other locations), DSN: (314) 546-1892, Monday through Friday, 0100 to 1800 U.S. Central Time:
If your Community Bank Debit or ATM card is lost or stolen, if you notice unauthorized transactions, or are having difficulty completing a transaction, immediately contact your local banking center or call Customer Service at 00-800-2265-3279 (Europe), 1-800-239-9427 (U.S. and all other locations), DSN: (314) 546-1892, Monday through Friday, 0100 to 1800 U.S. Central Time: