Publication Date:  January 2014

• Download the standardization of terminology document.

The EMV Migration Forum Communications & Education Working Committee developed this document to define a set of standard terminology to enable clear recognition and understanding of information for industry stakeholders and consumers. The document includes recommendations for common EMV and EMV migration terms that would be used in stakeholder communications. While all U.S. market stakeholder groups were considered in the development of this list of terms, technical terms have been limited to those that would be used in educational and marketing communications.

The document includes four columns: Recommended Standardized Term (and acronym if indicated), Also Known As (AKA) terms, Industry Stakeholder Definition and Cardholder/Customer Definition.

This document will be updated periodically based on EMV Migration Forum member and industry feedback and experience. The most up-to-date version will be located on the EMV Connection website at http://www.emv-connection.com. Recommendations for edits or additions to this document should be submitted to [email protected].

The EMV Migration Forum encourages broad use of the terms in this document by all payments industry stakeholders.  Organizations may to use these definitions in their own efforts.  The EMV Migration Forum grants permission for organizations to re-publish content from this document, in whole or in part and without editing text, in their own publications, providing that the EMV Migration Forum is cited as the source.

About the EMV Migration Forum

The EMV Migration Forum is a cross-industry body focused on supporting the EMV implementation steps required for global and regional payment networks, issuers, processors, merchants, and consumers to help ensure a successful introduction of more secure EMV chip technology in the United States. The focus of the Forum is to address topics that require some level of industry cooperation and/or coordination to migrate successfully to EMV technology in the United States. For more information on the EMV Migration Forum, please visit http://www.emv-connection.com/us-payments-forum/.

Please note: The information and materials available on this web page (“Information”) is provided solely for convenience and does not constitute legal or technical advice. All representations or warranties, express or implied, are expressly disclaimed, including without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose and all warranties regarding accuracy, completeness, adequacy, results, title and non-infringement. All Information is limited to the scenarios, stakeholders and other matters specified, and should be considered in light of applicable laws, regulations, industry rules and requirements, facts, circumstances and other relevant factors. None of the Information should be interpreted or construed to require or promote the establishment of any solution, practice, configuration, rule, requirement or specification inconsistent with applicable legal requirements, any of which requirements may change over time. The U.S. Payments Forum assumes no responsibility to support, maintain or update the Information, regardless of any such change. Use of or reliance on the Information is at the user’s sole risk, and users are strongly encouraged to consult with their respective payment networks, acquirers, processors, vendors and appropriately qualified technical and legal experts prior to all implementation decisions.