New-style microchipped cards to provide better security has been introduced across the Butterfield Bank’s credit card range.

The cards feature an embedded and encrypted microchip for data storage that is said to be “virtually impossible” to reproduce, improving fraud and counterfeit protection for both bank customers and businesses.

Butterfield credit card holders will also be given a personal identification number — Pin — to use to authorise transactions where the technology is available.

Card holders who have already selected a Pin for their credit cards at ATMs will be able to continue to use the same four digit numbers for in-store transactions.

Peter Jackson, Butterfield’s group head of card services, said: “Chip and Pin technology is already in use in more than 130 countries, offering cardholders greater fraud protection and peace of mind.

“Butterfield has been a leader in bringing the technology to the Island and was the first to market with chip and Pin credit cards two years ago.

“We are pleased that we are now able to offer this enhanced level of fraud protection and convenience to all of our credit cardholders and we will work closely with our merchants to assist them with converting to chip and Pin point-of-sale technology as quickly as possible.”

Butterfield cards will continue to be issued with the traditional magnetic stripe on the back so they can still be used in places that have not upgraded to chip and Pin equipment.

Mr Jackson said: “Replacing all our customers’ outstanding magnetic stripe only credit cards with chip-embedded cards will provide the peace of mind to our cardholders when travelling anywhere in the world that, regardless of the point of sale option, their cards will be readily acceptable.”