BDO shifts to EMV-chip cards

BDO Unibank is reiterating its call to clients to immediately obtain their debit card with embedded EMV chip from their branch of account.

The bank said the shift to EMV-chip cards would help ensure wider protection for clients against fraudulent activities usually carried out in electronic banking channels.

“The bank’s objective over time is to effect a holistic approach to protecting the clients’ accounts from fraud. But to achieve this, clients must obtain their EMV chip debit card which is now available at their branch of account free of charge,” said BDO executive vice president and transaction banking head Edwin G. Reyes.

Accompanying this initial step are the upgrade of automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-sale (PoS) terminals into EMV, and the eventual deactivation of the magnetic stripe-only debit card.

Last month, BDO’s nearly 4,000 ATMs nationwide became EMV-certified, making it the first bank to fully retrofit its ATM network to allow EMV chip debit card transactions. Other enhancements are targeted for completion within the first half of 2018.