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Person sitting at desk reading chip deactivation letter

Chip Deactivation

    Have you been notified that you will be receiving a new debit card?

    If you recently received a letter in the mail informing you that the chip in your debit card will be deactivated and you have questions – we’ve put together some additional details.

    Our card distributor will be deactivating a batch of cards with an out-of-date chip in the fall. We will be cancelling these cards prior to the deactivation date for security purposes and to ensure you have your new card ready to go for a seamless transition.

    Browse answers to frequently asked questions about your new debit card

    The chip technology in your current debit card is outdated and will be deactivated by our card distributor. While the actual card does not expire until a later date, for security reasons, we’ve manually scheduled it to be cancelled before the chip deactivation.

    All new issues of FirstOntario debit cards are Debit Mastercard, which offers the ultimate convenience and advanced security measures. Find out more about the benefits on our Debit Cards page.

    You should receive your new Debit Mastercard a week after you receive the letter about the chip deactivation.

    Please use the new 16-digit number on the back of your Debit Mastercard to log in. Depending on the letter you received, you may still be able to use your current personal access code (PAC). If this is not applicable to you, please connect with our Member Service Centre for a new, temporary PAC.

    You can reach our Member Service Centre at 1-800-616-8878 to receive a new PAC. Please note this is a temporary code and must be updated within 48 hours of it being issued.

    Log in the way you normally do and follow these steps:

    1. Select Settings > App reset > Reset now > Confirm
    2. Log in with your new card number and PAC
    3. Choose Remember Me if you want to save your profile
    4. 2-Step Verification will prompt you to enter a one-time passcode
    5. Return to Settings
    6. Select Biometric setup > Enable > Confirm
    7. Enter your PAC
    8. Scan your fingerprint or enable face ID

    If you had inter-member accounts associated with the cancelled card, you will have to set these up again through a branch or our Member Service Centre.

    Both the Remember Me and Quickview features would need to be reactivated if you used them previously.

    Once you receive your new card, some members will receive a follow up letter in the mail with a new temporary PIN. You can change this PIN at any FirstOntario or THE EXCHANGE Network ATM.

    Please refer to the letter you received regarding the chip deactivation. Some cards will require a new PIN, which will arrive in a separate letter several days after you receive your new card.

    If you fall under this category, you must wait for your new PIN to arrive. If you continue to use your current PIN, your new card will be locked for 24 hours after three unsuccessful tries.

    Yes. Once you log in to online banking for the first time, you will need to register for 2SV again.

    Some members have more than one card and can access their accounts this way. Other cards have not been used for more than 12 months and will not be replaced.

    Yes. If your current card is the Ticats version, you will receive a Hamilton Tiger-Cats Debit Mastercard.

    Letter recipients were identified based on when their card was created. Only a select group of members are affected by the chip deactivation.

    Do you have questions?

    Contact our Member Service Centre for assistance activating your new debit card.

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