United Nations Federal Credit Union Extends EMV Issuance

United Nations Federal Credit Union, the first U.S. financial institution to offer EMV-chip cards to U.S. residents in the country's recent migration efforts, will tap Gemalto's global issuance service to add more locations were the credit union's members can obtain chip cards.

The credit union will use Gemalto's Allynis network, which has regional distribution centers in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America.  Previously, UNFCU offered cards from just one location.

The credit union began its EMV card program in 2010 to serve its base of U.S.-based diplomats and their families who frequently travel to countries that use the EMV standard, sometimes called chip-and-PIN.

"We wanted to better assist our international community with a highly responsive service for lost card replacement and for first-time card use to a member leaving for an overseas mission," says Merrill Halpern, assistant vice president of card services at UNFCU, in a Feb. 5 press release. "With Gemalto's extensive global EMV deployment experience and multi-site facilities, we now have the ability to provide cards to members in the field in a timely manner."