EMV "Chip" Credit Cards - An Overview
Now that EMV "chip" credit cards have arrived, learn how they work and differ from a traditional magnetic stripe card.
Posted in Money & Credit on Friday, January 29, 2016
Over the last year, you've probably been hearing about the switch to EMV credit cards and how healthcare practices need to be ready to accept them. Last October was the deadline ... the liability for fraudulent transactions transferred from the card issuer to the merchant. In case you need a refresher, here's an explanation of what happens during an EMV chip credit card transaction and how it differs from a magnetic stripe transaction.
During a Transaction
Rather than swiping cards with a magnetic stripe, your patients will insert EMV cards into your terminal. Another option is to tap the card on the terminal, if your terminal is equipped with Near Field Communication technology. The chip in the EMV card encrypts cardholder information and creates a new encryption for every transaction. Even if the encryption is accessed, it is never valid again, which reduces the risk of fraud. When the card is inserted, the encryption is sent to and read by the card issuer, who approves the transaction. This process helps protect both your patient and you, the business owner, from a fraudulent transaction.
EMV transactions rely on a secondary level of security: PINs or signatures. After your patient's credit card is inserted, they will provide this information to further authenticate the card and his or her identity. Most U.S. cardholders and credit card processors now use signatures during transactions, so the majority of EMV transactions also will use signatures. As users become more familiar with EMV technology, however, the process will likely switch to PINs, as they are more secure.
Completing a Transaction
After an EMV card has been inserted into the terminal and authenticated, it takes about the same amount of time to process the payment on the back end as with magnetic stripe transactions.
Despite a brief learning curve for both cardholders and NDs, the transition to EMV cards will result in increased security for you and your patients.
Did You Know?
NCMIC Finance Corporation is a principal member of Visa, MasterCard and Discover and offers full-service credit card processing solutions, including EMV-compatible equipment. We are pleased to help NDs with the EMV transition by providing training and technical support.
If you have questions regarding EMV card acceptance, please call us at 1-800-396-7157, ext. 5754.