A contactless credit card lets you pay for purchases quickly and easily by tapping your card at a payment terminal. You may hear this payment method called “tap-to-pay” or “tap and go.”
Let’s go through everything you need to know about tap-to-pay credit cards, including how to tell if your card is contactless, the benefits they offer and how secure they are to use.
How do contactless credit cards work?
Contactless credit cards use radio frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC) technology to communicate with a payment terminal without physical contact.
Once you tap your card at that terminal, your transaction is processed according to the following steps:
- The terminal sends information about the transaction to the card processing network
- The card processing network sends that information to your card issuer
- Your issuer verifies your identity and available credit, then approves (or rejects) the transaction
- Your transaction goes through, or is declined, accordingly
Contactless cards require the terminal to actively request payment, and your card must be close by for the transaction to go through.
How to know if your card is contactless
If you're not sure if your card is contactless, look for a little symbol like sound waves or a Wi-Fi sign. The symbol may be on the back or the front of the card.
Does Citi have tap-to-pay credit cards?
Yes. Citi offers contactless, chip-enabled cards for select credit card accounts.
Benefits of contactless credit cards
Contactless credit cards offer several advantages:
- Faster transactions: Paying with a simple tap is typically quicker than swiping or inserting a card or paying with cash — it can take just seconds for payments to go through
- Ease of use: Contactless cards are convenient for everyday purchases like coffee, groceries or transit fares
- Enhanced security: Contactless cards offer more robust security features that make them a more secureoption compared to swiping your card
- Widely available: Contactless payments are available at millions of retailers and are commonly used for in-person transactions
How to use a contactless credit card
Using a contactless credit card is quick and straightforward:
Locate the contactless symbol: Find the symbol on the payment terminal that indicates it’s compatible with contactless payments. The symbol looks like a wave or Wi-Fi symbol. (You can ask the retailer if you aren’t sure if it’s compatible.)
Tap or hold the card: Place your card close to the contactless symbol on the terminal
Wait for confirmation: Look for a signal, such as a beep, green light or on-screen message, to confirm the transaction
Are tap-to-pay credit cards secure?
Contactless credit cards are built with security features to help protect your transactions. For example, when you tap to pay, it generates a one-time code or password that protects your information. They also use encryption, which scrambles your payment information into a secure code.
Accidental payments are also unlikely as the technology used in contactless cards has a very short range (around 1 to 2 inches).
Many issuers, including Citi, have $0 liability for unauthorized charges. Legally, you’re only responsible for up to $50 in unauthorized charges.
Other ways to pay with your card
If you don’t have a contactless card, or if you simply don’t want to use contactless payment, there are other ways to pay:
- Mobile payments: Digital wallets store your payment information and can let you make tap-to-pay purchases using your smartphone or smartwatch. You can also use them for digital payments.
- Your credit card’s chip: If your card has an EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) chip, you can insert it into a terminal to pay. Although it typically takes longer than swiping or tapping to pay, the chip does offer enhanced security via single-use transaction codes.
- Your card’s magnetic strip: You can typically still swipe your card at many payment terminals.
Contactless credit cards can add both security and convenience to your in-person purchases. However, you still have options that you can use if and when you need them.
Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional.
