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Learn more about the transition to contactless cards in 2025.As technology continues to evolve, so does your Southern Credit Union. We are excited to announce that our Visa Debit and Credit Cards will begin transitioning to contactless in early 2025. Contactless cards are a convenient payment option that allows you to make quick and easy transactions without physical contact with the card reader. Instead, you hover or tap the card at the merchant’s terminal. “This transition is a significant step forward in the evolution of digital payments,” said Jim Phillips, EVP at The Southern Credit Union. “We consistently evaluate technology and security to offer our members the best experience and member service.” WHEN CAN I USE MY NEW CONTACTLESS CARD?Beginning in April, all Visa debit and credit cardholders will receive a new contactless debit and/or credit card by mail when their current cards expire. Contactless cards are not yet available in branches for replacement. HOW DO I USE A CONTACTLESS CARD?
WHAT IF A RETAILER DOESN’T ACCEPT CONTACTLESS PAYMENT?That is no problem! Your new contactless debit card simply provides you with an additional payment option that is more secure; however, you can continue to use your new debit card as you have been accustomed to by inserting it in the terminal. ARE CONTACTLESS CARDS SECURE?Absolutely! Security is a top priority for us and is a significant reason The Southern Credit Union is transitioning to contactless cards. Similar to using a digital wallet, contactless cards create a one-time code for each transaction. In the event your card is in a data breach, fraudsters can only access the one-time code and not your actual card number. Contactless cards are also less susceptible to card skimmers since you don’t have to insert your card into the chip reader where a skimmer could be hiding. HOW DOES A CONTACTLESS CARD WORK?Contactless cards use radio frequency identification technology and near-field communication (NFC) to process transactions. In other words, a contactless card is embedded with a computer chip and a radio frequency antenna. When you hold your contactless card near a payment terminal, the terminal emits a radio frequency signal. The signal powers up the computer chip in your card, which then sends a unique code back to the terminal. The terminal uses this one-time code to access your bank account information and process the payment. This entire process takes only a few seconds and is typically faster than traditional payment methods.
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