Your benefits include:

• Added peace of mind.
• Increased security against unauthorized use your card.
• Increased security against counterfeiting and skimming.
• Increased protection against credit card fraud.
• Greater convenience and ease of use.
• Canadian consumers are ready for Chip & PIN cards.
• Canadian merchants are ready for Chip & PIN cards.

Added peace of mind.

Chip cards and Chip terminals help make a secure transaction system even more secure by validating the cardholder's Chip & PIN . This enhances the security of your card whenever you use it in a face-to-face transaction. When using your card online, other Visa layers of security, including Verified by Visa, are available to help prevent fraudulent use of your Visa card number.

Increased security against unauthorized use your card.

Because your Personal Identification Number (PIN) replaces your signature, the transaction is more secure. You insert your Visa card in a chip terminal and enter your PIN when prompted. Once your PIN is confirmed and the purchase is approved, you’ll be prompted to remove your card from the terminal. You do not hand your Visa card to anyone, or lose sight of it at any time. This helps to prevent fraudulent use of your card .

Increased security against counterfeiting and skimming.

A lost or stolen Chip card cannot be used to complete a transaction without its corresponding PIN. This technology virtually eliminates the ability to copy the contents of the chip to another card.

Increased protection against credit card fraud.

Chip & PIN cards have a microchip that is virtually impossible to duplicate.

Greater convenience and ease of use.

PIN entry replaces the need to sign a receipt.

Canadian consumers are ready for Chip & PIN cards.

In January 2007, Ipsos Reid published a report based on syndicated consumer research regarding Chip cards in Canada, that concluded, among other things, 73% of Canadians feel chip cards would help reduce fraud, and, most Canadians prefer PIN verification versus signature.^*

Canadian merchants are ready for Chip & PIN cards.

Chip transactions can be completed at any retailer or merchant that has a Chip terminal. It is estimated that by 2011, most^** Canadian Visa merchants will be able to process Chip & PIN Visa card transactions. Note that Chip terminals will be able to recognize both Chip and magnetic stripe cards.

^*Ipsos Reid: Chip Cards in Canada – A Syndicated Consumer Research Study, January 2007

^**Chip terminals may not be available at all locations.