Chip Technology

How to Use Your CIBC Visa™ Card With Chip Technology

You will require your CIBC Visa card PIN to make purchases at chip terminals with your chip-enabled Visa Card.

When you are issued your new CIBC Visa Card with chip technology, you will also be sent a PIN to use when making transactions. It will become extremely important to remember your PIN, as more merchants replace their magnetic stripe point-of-sale terminals with new terminals that are enabled to process chip credit cards. Your PIN will be the key to using your chip-enabled card.

We encourage you to select or change your PIN to something known only to you and that's easy for you to remember. For added security, change your PIN from time to time.

How do I change my PIN for my CIBC Visa Card?

Purchases made at chip terminals using your chip-enabled CIBC Visa Card and PIN will no longer require your signature as authorization. Your PIN identifies you as the rightful holder of your card and is your secure authorization of the transactions. You will be asked to enter your PIN to make purchases at chip terminals in and outside of Canada and when taking cash advances wherever Visa cards are accepted.

At terminals not equipped with chip technology (non-chip terminals), in and outside of Canada, merchants will continue to swipe your card and request your signature as authorization for the transaction, as they do today.

When making purchases at a merchant or store where chip technology is available, instead of swiping your new chip-enabled CIBC Visa Card, your card will be inserted into the point-of-sale terminal. You'll then be asked to enter your PIN instead of signing a receipt- similar to how you use your debit card today.

You'll notice a number of minor differences compared to transactions with your current magnetic-stripe credit card. Transactions will now follow these simple steps:

1. Your card will be inserted into the chip terminal

2. Your card will remain inserted throughout the entire transaction. (Removing the card will terminate the transaction)

3. Instead of authorizing the transaction with your signature, you will be asked to enter your unique four-digit PIN

4. Upon successful completion of your transaction, you will be prompted to remove your card from the chip terminal and you will you'll receive a confirmation receipt

Merchants will be transitioning to chip technology over the next few years. The magnetic stripe on your chip-enabled CIBC Visa Card will remain for any transactions at stores without a chip terminal. In these situations, you will be asked to provide your signature as you do today
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