All HomeTown Debit Mastercards are instantly activated when received in one of our four, convenient branch locations. If you instead receive our Debit Mastercard in the mail, you can manually activate it by calling (800) 290-7893. After activation, follow the steps below to begin using your card:

1. Cut Up and discard your old Visa® debit card
2. Notify Merchants that automatically bill your debit card of your new card number

Choose Your PIN

PIN numbers can be setup by calling (800) 290-7893. Please note that you should NEVER share your PIN with anyone, and staff at HomeTown Credit Union will NEVER ask for your PIN. If you receive an unsolicited call, text or email asking for your PIN or other personal account information, do not respond.

Here's a brief video about activating your HomeTown Debit Mastercard

Introducing Contactless Payment!

Now it’s easy to pay without swiping or inserting your card in the terminal.

• LOOK for the Contactless Symbol at checkout
• TAP your contactless card on the checkout terminal
• GO! Your payment is processed in seconds!

Learn more about Contactless Payments

Apple Pay and Google Pay Now  Available

When you pay using your digital wallet app, your card information is not shared with the merchant, keeping your accounts safer!

What's new

• Contactless Payment puts you in control and protects your data. Your card or device never leaves your hand, reducing the risk of loss or counterfeit, and each purchase is uniquely encrypted.
• Apple Pay and Google Pay allow you to pay securely with your Debit Mastercard in stores, online and in apps, without having to access your physical card.
• Mastercard Global Service^™ provides 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week assistance with lost and stolen card reporting, emergency card replacement, emergency cash advance, as well as assistance with locating ATMs.¹
• Mastercard Airport Concierge^™ provides a Meet and Greet agent to assist with flight connections plus, at select airports, expedited security/immigration processing.^1,3
• Priceless Cities Offers & Experiences offer Mastercard cardholders the opportunity to engage in exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the people they love in the cities where they live and travel.⁴
• Extended Warranty doubles most manufacturer or U.S. store brand warranties for up to one additional year.¹
• Satisfaction Guarantee can provide a refund of up to $250 if you are dissatisfied with a purchase and the merchant will not accept a return within 60 days of the purchase date.¹
• Mastercard ID Theft Protection^™ assists you with credit bureau notification and debit card replacement and provides you with an ID Theft Affidavit should you become the victim of Identity Theft.¹

What stays the same

• Worldwide acceptance at millions of places
• Purchases are deducted from your checking account
• Cash access at ATMs worldwide
• Chip Technology improves the global usability and security of your card as more merchants at home and abroad switch to advanced chip card terminals.
• Zero Liability means that in the event your card is used to make unauthorized purchases—whether made in a store, by phone, or online—you won’t be held liable.²

Guide to Benefits

Here is an overview of the benefits of a HomeTown Debit Mastercard

Our Debit Mastercard® allows you to securely make payments using both Apple Pay and Google Pay mobile wallets directly from your phone as if you were using your card. Some advantages include:

• It's safe — The digital wallet systems mask your card number, and instead transmit a random one-time payment code to process your transactions. Without a physical card, there is also no chance that prying eyes can capture your card number in-store.
• It's easy — Because payments are made directly from your phone, there's no need to search for your debit card in the check out line. Transactions are also processed by simply holding your device near the card reader, no touch necessary.
• It's fast — On top of saving time on day-to-day purchases in-store, digital wallets also provide fast transactions with online retailers. There is no need to type in card number data and nothing is stored on the site when you leave.

How do I set up a Digital Wallet?

Smartphones are setup to have digital wallet apps included on them already for easy access. Otherwise, they can be accessed from the links below.

To add your card:

1. Open the digital wallet app on your smartphone.
2. Select to add a new card.
3. Fill out required card information & save.

Watch this brief video about Digital Wallet

Get Started Today  Apple Pay   Google Pay

How do I use the new contactless payment feature?

• LOOK for the Contactless Symbol at checkout.
• TAP your contactless card on the checkout terminal.
• GO!  Your payment is processed in seconds.

Note: Your new card works at all types of terminals, not just contactless ones.

What is a Contactless Card? 
Your contactless card uses short-range wireless technology to make secure payments between a contactless card and a contactless-enabled checkout terminal. When you tap near the Contactless Symbol, your payment is sent for authorization.

Is tapping to pay secure?
Yes, absolutely. Your contactless card has the same secure encryption technology as your current contact-only EMV chip card.

Where can you use it?
Retailers who accept contactless payments will display the contactless
symbol. Look for it wherever you shop.

How long do I need to tap my card on the checkout terminal?
One to two seconds should do it. And don’t worry, even if you tap twice, you won’t be charged twice.

Can a purchase be made without my knowledge—for example, will the card reader activate if I walk past it?
No. Your card must be extremely close to the reader – typically between two and four centimeters and the retailer must have first entered the amount for you to approve.

Can I use my card for everyday transactions or at non-chip terminals?
Yes! Your contactless card will continue to have contact functionality so they can still be inserted into an EMV reader and will also maintain the magnetic stripe on the back of the card for those merchants who have not upgraded to EMV.

Here's an overview on Contactless Payments

Why are you replacing my existing card?
HomeTown Credit Union has partnered with Mastercard to improve your benefits including contactless payment technology, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Is there any cost to me?
No, your new card will have no annual fee, just like the card it replaces.

Will my PIN remain the same?
When you call to activate your new card, you will be prompted to select a PIN. You may use the same number as before or select a new one. As a reminder, HomeTown Credit Union will never contact you to confirm your PIN.

When will my new card arrive?
You can expect to receive your new card by the end of September. When it arrives, simply:

• Call to activate
• Destroy your old card

Also contact any merchants who automatically bill your existing card to provide your new card number.

If I have multiple accounts, will each account receive a new card?
Yes. Each personal checking account with a Visa debit card linked to it will be reissued a new HomeTown Credit Union Debit Mastercard.

If I receive more than one card, how will I be able to tell which checking account it is linked to?
Simply call us at (888) 451-3798 Monday–Friday 8:30–5:00 CST and a representative will be happy to assist you.

Who can tell me more?
If you have other questions, inquire at any branch or give us a call at (888) 451-3798.