How Chip Cards Help NFC Payments Grow in the U.S.

A few years ago in the U.S., most people paid by swiping their credit or debit cards. But then banks started giving out new cards with a small chip on them. These are called EMV cards, and they’re safer to use. This change, called EMV migration, is not just making payments more secure—it’s also helping people use tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay and Google Wallet.

Why Did EMV Migration Happen?

In 2012, big credit card companies said that by October 2015, stores had to start accepting EMV chip cards. If they didn’t, they would have to pay for any fraud that happened. This pushed many stores to upgrade their payment machines.

The good news? Most of these new machines also work with NFC (Near Field Communication), which means customers can tap their phones to pay. That’s one reason why mobile payments are growing fast in the U.S.

Some People Had Concerns

Not everyone was happy with the EMV deadline. Some store owners asked for more time. Others, like Walmart’s Mike Cook, didn’t like that the U.S. chose chip + signature instead of chip + PIN, which is more secure and used in places like Canada and the U.K.

Still, experts say the switch is helping the mobile payment world grow. When stores upgrade to better machines, they’re more ready to accept phone payments too.

Phones and Machines Are Catching Up

In the past, not many phones or card readers supported NFC. Now, almost all new Android phones come with NFC, and Apple Pay helped get people interested in using their phones to pay. By the end of 2014, the U.S. already had 3.7 million contactless card readers installed.

Paying at the Table? It’s Coming

Restaurants and bars are starting to change too. Instead of paying at the front counter, some places want to let people pay right at the table with a card or phone. In Europe, this is already common, and it might become popular in the U.S. soon. It’s quicker and more private.

The Future Is Tap and Go

Some stores are still unsure. But others, like Whole Foods and Panera, are already using tap-to-pay. As more people get used to paying with their phones, stores that don’t upgrade might fall behind.

In the End

More secure chip cards are changing the way we pay—and opening the door for faster, easier phone payments. Whether you’re buying groceries or having dinner, tapping to pay could soon be the new normal.