Contactless Cards Make Checking Out Easier

To apply for a contactless card:

Click here to apply for a PNC checking account.

Click here to apply for a PNC credit card.

Look for the Contactless Indicator on your card to know if your card has the technology to make contactless payments.

If you would like to replace an existing PNC card, you can do so in Online Banking, the PNC Mobile Banking app, or by calling the phone number on the back of your card.

Contactless payments use short range NFC (near field communication) technology to securely complete payments between a contactless card and a contactless-enabled checkout terminal. Once you tap the card at a contactless-enabled terminal your payment is sent for authorization.

Your card must be within 1-2 inches of the Contactless Symbol on the terminal.

Typically, the terminal reads the antenna best when your PNC Visa contactless card is flat over the Contactless Symbol.However, some contactless readers will function best if you tap the chip to the actual payment reader.

• Speed – Pay in seconds without swiping or inserting your card.
• Convenience – Just tap to pay where you see the Contactless Symbol . 
• Security – Get the same level of security when you tap as you do when you insert your chip.  Your card number and personal information are never transmitted with the transaction, and you have Zero Liability Fraud Protection* when using your PNC card.  

All PNC cards with the Contactless Indicator are contactless payment enabled. If contactless payment is not working, that means the merchant does not have the service turned on, or there is an issue with the terminal.

You can tap to pay where you see the Contactless Symbol  at checkout. Many merchants around the world accept contactless payments. If you are making a purchase at a merchant that cannot accept contactless payments, you can still swipe or insert your contactless card, just like any other Visa card.

If you do not see the Contactless Indicatoron the terminal, you can ask the cashier if the option is available. Otherwise, simply hold the card towards the top of the terminal, if you hear a beep, and/or the terminal indicates the transaction is processing, then the transaction went through. If a terminal isn’t contactless-enabled, the card can still be swiped or inserted.

The security of your personal and financial information is a priority for PNC.  These measures help protect you when you make contactless payments:

• Your actual card number and personal information are never passed with the transaction, instead using a one-time security pass code to protect your payment information.
• You must be within 2 inches for the card to transact from a terminal.
• You have Zero Liability Fraud Protection^[1] when using your PNC card.

To protect your card number, the card securely transmits a unique one-time code that changes for every in-person transaction and encrypts your payment information. The unique code is different than your card number.

Contactless payments require the merchant to initiate the payment process. Once initiated, you must place your card or device within one to two inches of the payment terminal. The radio antenna then picks up your card’s signal for the transaction to complete, significantly reducing the possibility of an unintentional payment.  

Yes. If you don’t see the Contactless Symbol  on the checkout terminal, you can still swipe or insert your contactless card, just like any other Visa card.

To protect your card number, for every contactless transaction, a unique transaction-specific code is created that secures the cardholder’s payment information. Due to the nature of the code and addtional fraud protection processes, your data could not be utilized to perform a transaction more than one time.