Contactless Card Option for Visa® Check and Credit Cards
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card?
An Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card is a debit or credit card enhanced with a new payment feature from Visa® that allows you to pay for purchases by simply waving your card in front of a secure reader that accepts contactless card payments. No swiping is necessary!
Are Contactless cards the same as cards with Visa® payWave?
Yes. Visa® payWave is the name of the contactless feature on Visa cards. While Visa® has offered contactless technology since 2002, the Visa® payWave name was introduced in spring 2007. The feature has not changed—just the name. Visa® payWave still offers cardholders speedier checkout, as well as freedom from swiping or signing for most transactions under $25.
How does an Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card work?
Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards complete your transaction by using the latest radio frequency (“RFI”) technology to send encrypted account information to readers that are configured to accept contactless payments. For most transactions under $25, there is no need to sign a receipt, enter your PIN, or hand your card to the cashier. Nothing else about the transaction process changes; the purchase is authorized, processed, and billed the same way it is with traditional purchase methods.
To determine if your card has a contactless feature, just look for this symbol on your card:
How do I use my Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® Card?
When you are ready to make a purchase, hold your card 1-2 inches directly in front of the contactless card terminal at the checkout.
If the terminal prompts you to select either credit or debit, select “credit”. By choosing that option, your payment will be immediately processed through the same safe, secure, and reliable payment network as magnetic stripe transactions.
Once your transaction has been approved, you’re finished! No swiping or signing. It’s that easy!
Where can I use my Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card?
Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards can be used at merchants displaying this symbol on terminal readers:
Because Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards have a magnetic stripe, they can also be used for traditional swiped transactions at millions of locations worldwide.
Thousands of retailers accept Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card payments, and the list is rapidly growing. For a list of merchants near you that accept Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards visit http://usa.visa.com/paywave-merchants/
Are both Amegy Bank Check cards and Amegy Bank Credit cards available with the contactless feature?
Yes! Amegy Bank Check cards and select Credit cards can be customized with the contactless feature to offer cardholders speedier checkout, as well as freedom from swiping or signing for most transactions under $25.
Are Amegy Bank ATM cards available with the contactless feature?
No, the contactless feature is not available on Amegy Bank ATM cards.
Will I be required to swipe my card for purchases greater than $25?
Some merchants will allow you to use your Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card to pay for purchases that are greater than $25. However, to lower risks of fraud, most merchants have chosen to restrict contactless card purchases to less than $25.
What are the benefits of having an Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card?
Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards provide increased convenience and speed during the checkout process. Forget about fumbling for cash, managing change, and even entering you’re PIN. In addition, at participating merchants, contactless card transactions under $25 may not require a signature, further speeding up the time it takes to complete a transaction.
What should I do if I can’t complete a contactless card transaction at a participating merchant?
Look for the following symbol at the point of purchase.
You should also check to ensure that the merchant accepts contactless card transactions. In the event that a contactless card transaction cannot be completed, you can still rely on making a swiped transaction with your Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card since they also have magnetic stripe functionality.
I have an Amegy Bank card with the myPHOTOcard customization. Is this feature also available with Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards?
No. Personalized photo images (“myPHOTOcard”) will not be available on Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards because of possible damage to the radio frequency (“RFI”) antenna during the photo lamination process.
What should I do when I am asked to enter a PIN number?
If you are asked to enter your PIN number after waving your card in front of the secure reader, choose “cancel” and then choose “credit”. Nothing else about the transaction process changes; similarly, the purchase is authorized, processed, and billed the same safe way as a magnetic stripe transaction.
Is my information safe when paying with my Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card?
Contactless card transactions are just as secure as magnetic stripe transactions and are processed through the Visa’s® reliable payment network. And, because you remain in control of your payment device during contactless cards transactions, the risk of fraud is reduced. Your Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card also generates a unique digital watermark for every transaction to prevent unauthorized transactions.
Active cardholder participation is required to perform a transaction, as the card must be within 1-2 inches of the secure reader that accepts contactless cards payments and must be correctly oriented to be processed. Additionally, a checkout terminal can process only one device at a time, so transaction errors are minimized.
How am I protected if my Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards are lost or stolen?
An Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® card provides cardholders the same protections as standard Amegy Bank Visa® cards. You'll enjoy the peace of mind that comes from multiple layers of Visa® security, including Zero Liability , which protects you from fraudulent use of your card or account information. With Zero Liability, you pay absolutely nothing for unauthorized transactions.
Where can I get more information about Amegy Bank Contactless Visa® cards?
