An RFID credit card is a contactless credit card that interacts with a card reader over a short range using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. RFID-enabled credit cards - also called contactless credit cards or “tap to pay” cards - have tiny RFID chips inside of the card that allow the transmission of information. The RFID chip itself is not powered, but instead relies on the energy transferred by an RF-capable payment terminal.
If a credit card is contactless - meaning it’s capable of “tap to pay” or paying by running the card over a card reader - then it’s RFID-enabled. You’ll usually be able to tell if a credit card is RFID-enabled by the contactless symbol on the front or back of the card - it looks like a sideways WiFi symbol. It’s important to note that just because a credit card has a visible chip - called an EMV chip - doesn’t mean it has RFID capability. Though many new credit cards are RFID-enabled, not all of them are. On the other hand, all newly-issued credit cards come with an EMV chip. You won’t be able to see the RFID chip in a credit card because it’s inside the card.
Credit cards with RFID technology are easy to use. All you have to do is wave or tap the credit card on the payment terminal when it’s time to pay. As long as the card is within an inch or two above the payment terminal, the transaction should go through.
RFID credit cards have become popular over the past several years, both with card issuers and cardholders. These cards allow for faster transaction times and are as secure as EMV chip credit cards (both are more secure than swipe cards).
This answer was last updated on 02/04/22 and it was first published on 04/06/20. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
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