Contactless credit cards technology is a quick and safe payment option for consumers. Contactless-enabled cards are ubiquitous, meaning there are many opportunities to use this new form of payment. It provides checkout convenience and speed.
However, you may be wondering how they work and how secure the technology is. Well, they operate through an embedded antenna loop that releases radio waves to transmit encrypted information.
Sure, you know "contactless" as "tap to pay." But what does a contactless card mean? It's the new way to pay that's faster than ever. Businesses are using contactless payment terminals that accept your credit card using radio waves or magnetic waves. All you need to do is place your card close to the terminal, and you're set. Contactless payment cards are rapidly growing and accepted worldwide at some of the most popular places. They are accepted at retail stores, fast food restaurants, pharmacies, transit points of entry, and grocery and convenience stores.
It has a small chip that releases short-range radio waves near a contactless payment terminal, then transfers your payment information.
To initiate a purchase, you usually need to place your card within a few inches of the payment terminal. To ensure the transaction is done, don’t yank your card out. At the end of a transaction, the terminal may emit a beep, display a green checkmark, or flash a green light.
Fraud protection is always on your side with contactless usage of credit cards. They protect your money by storing it locally and only moving the funds when you authorise it. This means that financial institutions can always track transactions, so if someone steals your card, they can recover any stolen funds.
With contactless cards, your name, billing address, and card verification code are not transmitted. Each transaction has its own one-time code that accompanies your payment information. These payments are as safe as they come. No one can fraudulently obtain your payment information to use it. To do so, the hacker would need to break the complex algorithm that banks use to generate a one-time code.
In the tap-and-go era, it seems like dipping a credit card into a terminal takes forever. Between inserting the card and hearing the beep, it can feel like an eternity is passing before you can remove your card. This payment process is much faster than the old-fashioned method of dipping a card or paying with cash.
It's no secret that we're all a lot more aware of the public surfaces we touch since the COVID-19 pandemic. Using contactless credit cards helps to avoid more contact points throughout the day — and we're thankful for that.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the contactless credit card limit to ₹5,000. This means customers can now tap and pay as much as ₹5,000 without having to enter their pin number.
The SBI credit card, SBI Signature Contactless Credit Card, is a unique and premium option for Indian consumers. You get exclusive discounts and vouchers for every purchase.
Joining fee: 4,999
Annual fee: 4,999
ICICI credit card is the best option for first-time customers. The rewards of ICICI Contactless Credit Card endless. Cardholders receive rewards for every purchase which can be redeemed towards merchandise, vouchers, exclusive discounts, etc.
Joining fee: 500
Renewal fee: 500
HDFC Regalia credit card is one of the top contactless cards in India. As a cardholder, you get unlimited credit card benefits and vouchers. What’s more, you even get an exclusive discount on certain travel websites.
Joining fee: 1000
Renewal fee: 1000
Transaction time is a huge concern for today's consumers. Contactless credit cards will help you spend less time at the cash counter and let you get back to life's more pressing matters. All you have to do is tap on a contactless payment terminal, and you're done. Thus, the importance of contactless cards will only grow with time.