FHB introduces ‘Tap & Go’ technology

First Hawaiian Bank has made using your FHB debit and credit cards easier, faster, and safer. FHB is the first financial institution in Hawaii to unveil its “Tap & Go” contactless debit and credit technology, which means you can settle your bill, check, or account without the card leaving your hand or touching the terminal, which is a huge plus during the pandemic.

According to FHB senior vice president and Card Services Division manager Gregg Hirano, this Tap & Go technology happened at a right time when people are starting to get comfortable with resuming their daily lives after confinement, quarantine, or lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when economic flow is on the move again. “With consumers returning to their daily activities of shopping and dining, our new contactless payment cards offer our customers the ability to make their purchases quickly with their card never leaving their hand,” he said. “Using the latest advances in digital, chip-enhanced technology, we’re able to quickly respond to changing consumer preferences with cards that enhance convenience, speed, security and safety.”

The new cards use near-field communication wireless connectivity and customers simply “tap” by hovering any FHB debit or credit card over the contactless symbol on merchant terminals to make a payment. Customers may need to enter a PIN number for transactions over $50. Hirano describes the process as another tool for customers’ need for frictionless banking and shopping.

“These new contactless cards provide both customers and businesses a convenient, fast, and secure way to make everyday purchases at many point-of-sale terminals statewide. As Hawaii’s local economy continues its reopening and small businesses look for ways to ensure success, contactless cards allow for a speedier checkout experience and increased customer loyalty,” Hirano said. “For businesses like coffee shops, fast casual restaurants, and grocery stores, the elimination of hand-to-hand transactions enables faster transactions and a safer environment for employees. …Contactless cards can process transactions nearly 10 times faster than a regular chip-enabled card. Businesses can complete transactions more quickly, reducing the amount of time customers must wait in line to make a purchase.”

Where security is concerned, FHB debit and credit card holders are assured of safe and secure transactions every time as FHB cars are embedded with multiple layers of security to protect FHB cardholders against fraud. “Transactions are secure since the card never leaves the hand of the customer and the built-in chip technology generates a unique code for each transaction, as it does with regular chip-enabled cards. For added security, Mastercard’s Zero Liability still protects users from unauthorized transactions,” Hirano said.

“Contactless ‘Tap & Go’ technology is a convenient alternative to cash and is already available for use anywhere that Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay is accepted,” Hirano added.

Contactless debit and credit cards distribution started on June 29, 2020. Other FHB digital alternatives such as Digital Home Loan portal for mortgages allows customers to go online, have easy access to details and manage their mortgage; and FHB Mobile Banking, which allows account holders to manage their account, deposit checks using their mobile device, pay bills and more.

For more information, visit fhb.com/contactless.