Chip Card Technology

Community West Bank now offers chip card technology for Personal and Business Visa Debit and Credit Cards. Chip Cards offer customers more protection from identity thieves and encrypts your transaction data, which makes it more difficult for unauthorized users to copy or access your information. See below for additional information.

About Chip-Enabled Cards

What is a chip-enabled debit or credit card?

A chip-enabled debit or credit card, also known as a “chip card” or “EMV card”, adds an extra layer of security to your Visa Debit or Credit Card transactions.

What does a chip look like?

A chip card has a small metal square on the front of the card above the card number.

Why do we need credit and debit chip cards?
Cards with magnetic stripes are easily duplicated and fraud is on the rise. Chip cards contain microprocessors that enhance the security of cards during transactions at the point of sale.

Enhanced Debit and Credit Card Security

How does chip technology protect my information?
Chip cards add an additional layer of security to the safeguards
that already protect your card. Each time you use your chip-enabled Visa Debit or Credit Card, it generates a code that is unique to each transaction. This makes it harder to counterfeit your card or to use it fraudulently for in-store purchases.

Will chip cards prevent all fraud from happening?
No, chip cards simply provide an additional layer of security at chip-enabled terminals. Community West Bank still advises that you take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.

Will I still be protected against unauthorized charges?
Yes, you are protected; please see Community West Bank’s Terms and Conditions for complete details. For Business customers, please refer to your Business Debit Card agreement. Please notify Community West Bank immediately of any unauthorized use.

How And Where To Use A Chip Card

How do I use a chip-enabled debit or credit card?

When making a purchase at a store, if the retailer has a chip-enabled terminal, insert the chip end of your Community West Bank Business or Personal Visa Debit or Credit Card into the terminal with the chip facing up. Keep your card in the terminal throughout the transaction and follow the prompts on the screen. Remove your card when prompted and take your receipt.

For more information on how to use a chip-enabled Business or Personal Visa Debit or Credit Card, view our Demonstration Video..
If the retailer is not equipped with a chip-enabled terminal, simply swipe your Business or Personal Visa Debit or Credit Card as you do today. For purchases made online or over the phone, please continue as you do today, there are no changes to this process.

• Where can I use a chip-enabled debit or credit card?
  You can use a Business or Personal Visa Debit or Credit Card at millions of places that accept Visa, at home and around the world.
• Will I still be able to use a chip-enabled debit or credit card at an ATM?
  Yes, you can continue to use your Community West Bank Business and Personal Debit and Credit Cards at an ATM as you do today, because the card contains both the chip technology and the magnetic stripe. Eventually, Community West Bank ATMs will also support the chip technology.
• Can I still swipe my card to pay?
  Yes, if a merchant is not yet chip-enabled, simply swipe your card as you do today.

Who should I call with questions?

Should you have questions regarding your new chip-enabled Business or Personal Visa Debit or Credit Card, please contact our Customer Service Department at (800) 298-1775 or customerservice@cvcb.com