Dual-Interface Card Personalization
Publication Date: October 2018
With the introduction of EMV chip cards in the United States, cardholders are tapping into the power of chip payment technology and the security, value, and convenience it offers to both consumers and businesses. The adoption of dual-interface (EMV contact and contactless chip) technology in the U.S. is important to all stakeholders in the payments industry. Its adoption not only supports the increasing demand for enhanced global acceptance and security through the use of dynamic authentication, it also supports the faster, more convenient “tap and go” experience. Dual-interface card adoption also helps prepare the U.S. payments environment for the arrival of Near Field Communication (NFC)-based mobile payments.
The U.S. has implemented EMV primarily for a zero-floor-limit environment. What this means is that the vast majority of chip transactions are authorized online in real time or use deferred authorization techniques during network outages. As a result, many cards have been issued without support for offline data authentication (ODA), with card authentication instead being solely undertaken as part of the online authorization when a transaction is sent online.
More recently the industry has seen an increased focus on dual-interface cards. These cards support both contact and contactless transactions. One vertical market, the transit industry, is particularly interested in utilizing contactless transactions to manage fares at transit gates. With the speed and throughput requirements of the transit environment, ODA is being considered as a mechanism for quickly determining whether a card is authentic before allowing the cardholder through the transit gate.
The U.S. Payments Forum developed this white paper for the issuing community to provide an educational resource on ODA and to provide recommendations for issuing and personalizing dual-interface cards for the U.S. market. The white paper provides an overview of the differences between EMV contact and dual-Interface card personalization, the process for personalizing cards to support ODA, and the ODA transaction process. Issuers should consult their payment networks for additional details on personalizing dual-Interface cards and supporting ODA use cases.
Please note: The information and materials available on this web page (“Information”) is provided solely for convenience and does not constitute legal or technical advice. All representations or warranties, express or implied, are expressly disclaimed, including without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose and all warranties regarding accuracy, completeness, adequacy, results, title and non-infringement. All Information is limited to the scenarios, stakeholders and other matters specified, and should be considered in light of applicable laws, regulations, industry rules and requirements, facts, circumstances and other relevant factors. None of the Information should be interpreted or construed to require or promote the establishment of any solution, practice, configuration, rule, requirement or specification inconsistent with applicable legal requirements, any of which requirements may change over time. The U.S. Payments Forum assumes no responsibility to support, maintain or update the Information, regardless of any such change. Use of or reliance on the Information is at the user’s sole risk, and users are strongly encouraged to consult with their respective payment networks, acquirers, processors, vendors and appropriately qualified technical and legal experts prior to all implementation decisions.