SECU Leads in the US With the Addition of EMV Card Chip Technology

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- State Employees' Credit Union (SECU) is pleased to announce the addition of EMV (chip) technology to its debit card portfolio, making it one of the first financial institutions in the country to add the microchips for increased transaction security over traditional magnetic stripe cards.  Oberthur Technologies will provide the non-profit cooperative with the technology needed for its EMV migration. While there is widespread adoption of the new technology worldwide, virtually none of the more than one billion chip cards in circulation are in the United States.  SECU's 1.6 million debit cardholders will now lead the US migration!

Chip cards securely store and process data efficiently.  The cards are also more difficult to copy, providing enhanced security against lost, stolen and counterfeit card fraud.  As the next evolution of electronic payments, the EMV technology cards are helping to make the payment system even more secure.  SECU will begin its migration in March, with a completion target date for late 2011.

Leanne Phelps, Senior Vice President of SECU's Card Services department states, "SECU's goal is to provide products and services which offer enhanced value and protection.  The EMV technology enables us to offer members increased fraud protection along with stress-free use of their card worldwide."

"State Employees' Credit Union is among the first in the country to bring EMV technology to its members -- an important step in closing the gap in security payment standards between the US and the rest of the world," said Martin Ferenczi, Managing Director of the Americas Region for the Card Systems Division at Oberthur Technologies.  "The credit union's members will join the hundreds of millions of cardholders worldwide currently using the EMV standard to help prevent identity theft and fraudulent financial transactions."

About SECU

SECU is a non-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. SECU has been providing the employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 70 years. Currently serving more than 1.6 million members, SECU provides services through 236 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Contact Centers and a website, www.ncsecu.org.

About Oberthur Technologies

With sales of 904.6 million Euros in 2009 and 6,160 employees worldwide, Oberthur Technologies is a world leader in the field of secure technologies.  Innovation and excellence ensure Oberthur Technologies' strong positioning in its main target markets: security and identification solutions and services based on smart cards; manufacture of traditional and electronic secure identity documents; security printer specialized in the production of banknotes, checks and numerous security documents; design and manufacture of intelligent cash protection solutions for Cash In Transit and ATMs.  For more information: www.oberthur.com.

SOURCE State Employees' Credit Union