M&T Visa Commercial Card with Chip Technology F A Qs

We're here to answer your questions.

What is a chip card?

​​​A chip card is built with a microchip that provides increased security and convenience when using your card at a chip-enabled terminal. Benefits include:​

  • The chip stores information required to authenticate, authorize and process your transactions
  • The chip is encrypted, which means that it is difficult to copy or counterfeit​

You may also hear cards with chip technology referred to as EMV® cards or Smartcards. EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard® and Visa®, the original organizations that created the specifications.

​​​Chip technology cards contain embedded microprocessors that provide strong transaction security features and other encryption capabilities not possible with traditional magnetic stripe cards.​​​​​

​​​​​Your M&T Visa® Credit Card now features chip technology, which is an encrypted microchip that helps to protect your card from fraud and counterfeit transactions. Although there is no guarantee that chip technology will prevent fraud from happening, the encryption technology and dynamic data authentication help provide increased protection from counterfeit card creation. Your card also features a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you can customize, which helps add to the security of your credit card. These cards will continue to feature the traditional magnetic stripe, so you can use them anywhere.​​​

At a Non-Chip Terminal

You do not need to use your PIN and must only swipe your card and sign a receipt if necessary. You may also use your M&T Commercial Card at shops without chip terminals since our cards have a magnetic stripe on the back.

At a Chip-Enabled Terminal

  1.   Instead of swiping your card, insert the chip portion of the card into the terminal with the chip facing up. It's important to leave the card in the terminal until the transaction is complete – if you remove the card too soon, the transaction will end and your purchase will not be processed
  2.   Follow the prompts on the terminal's screen. Depending on the terminal, you may or may not be asked to enter your PIN while your card is inside the machine
  3.   The terminal will display the purchase amount
  4.   Once the purchase is approved and the transaction is complete, you will be prompted to remove your card and take your receipt. If you are not asked for your PIN, you may be asked to sign the receipt for the transaction

Online and Phone Transactions

These transactions will be conducted the same way they are conducted for cards without chip technology. Your PIN is not required for online or phone transactions.

​​​​You can use your M&T Bank Visa® Credit Card with chip technology at all locations that accept Visa. The chip allows you to pay at international merchant locations where chip cards are the standard. Over the next several years, more chip terminals are expected to appear at merchant locations and ATMs throughout the United States. Chip card technology has already been implemented in over 92 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.​

​​​​Magnetic stripes will continue to be used on cards so they can be used at terminals that have not yet converted to chip technology​.

Yes, magnetic stripes will continue to be on all M&T Bank Visa® Credit Cards so they can be used at non-chip terminals. In the United States, for example, most merchants have not yet converted to chip-enabled terminals, so you will still need to swipe your card using your magnetic stripe instead of the chip. In these instances where a chip terminal is not in use, simply swipe your M&T Bank Visa Credit Card as you always have and sign the receipt if required.​​

You may be asked to enter your PIN when using your new M&T Bank Visa® Credit Card at a chip-enabled merchant location. In other instances, you may simply be asked to sign a receipt as you do today. During a transaction at a chip-enabled merchant, you may or may not be prompted for your PIN. Just follow the prompts on the merchant terminal. The merchant terminal will guide you through the transaction.​​

​​​Your PIN adds an extra layer of security to the transaction. Only you, as the cardholder, will know your PIN.​​

You will set your PIN during the initial activation process for your card. If you already have a PIN associated with your M&T Visa® Commercial Card, you can keep it or set a new one while activating your new M&T Visa Commercial Card with chip technology.​

You can change your PIN using the automated phone system by calling 1-800-443-8671.​

No additional fees apply.​​​​​

​​​​​You can visit www.mtb.com/chipcard​ for more information or call 1-800-724-2440 (Mon–Fri 6am–9pm and Sat–Sun 9am–5pm ET).​​​​

Visa® is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association.
EMV® is a registered trademark or trademark of EMVCo LLC in the United States and other countries.
MasterCard® is a registered trademark or service mark of MasterCard Worldwide or its subsidiaries in the United States.