UnionBank has already announced that all ATM and debit cards that are not EMV-enabled will be deactivated by March 31, 2018, with the exception of GSIS UMID, GSIS eCard, SSS UMID and SSS Quickcard. Be sure to get your old card replaced with the new UnionBank EMV card to avoid any inconveniences and interruptions.
What is EMV?
EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa. It is the global standard for credit, debit and prepaid card payments using chip card technology. EMV chip-based payment card is a more secure alternative to traditional magnetic stripe payment cards.
What Makes EMV Cards Different from Magnetic Stripe Cards?
The magnetic stripe on traditional cards contains static data that can be easily copied by fraudsters using a simple and inexpensive skimming device.
Unlike a magnetic stripe card, every time an EMV card is used for payment, the chip generates a unique transaction code that cannot be used again. This dynamic authentication feature makes it difficult, if not virtually impossible, for fraudsters to counterfeit EMV cards.
The EMV chip technology has been proven effective in minimizing counterfeit fraud, skimming and other criminal activities related to magnetic stripe payment cards. Fraudsters have shifted their nefarious activities to countries that are still heavily reliant on magnetic stripe technology (such as the Philippines). This prompted the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to mandate that cards from all banks should have an EMV chip to protect cardholder transactions and reduce instances of fraud and skimming.
All UnionBank cardholders are required to replace their old magnetic stripe cards with the new EMV cards.
How to Get a Replacement EMV Card
You can get a new UnionBank EMV card by following any of these steps, depending on the type of card you have. Don’t forget to bring at least one valid ID.
For Ewallet, please visit any UnionBank branch to apply for a new card.
For Platinum Debit, please contact your Relationship Manager.
For Epaycard or ePayroll, please coordinate with your company HR. Your company HR will be the one to process the replacement of your card.
For EON, please check the invitation that was sent to you via SMS, email or mail. If you didn’t receive an invitation, visit the EON website at https://www.eonbankph.com/levelup and enter your account number on the provided field. Afterwards, you will have to upload a selfie and a photograph of a valid ID.
For GSIS pensioners and members, please wait for further announcements from your respective GSIS branches or agency offices on the scheduled released of cards.
You can claim your new UnionBank EMV card in 3 to 5 banking days after updating your account online. However, some have reported waiting times of up to one month.
If you have any questions about the UnionBank EMV card, contact the UnionBank customer service hotline at (+632) 841-8600.
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