Canada has an oligopoly of banks, so there are things Canada can do that seem to be difficult for the US, and vice versa.
In this case, when all five banks decided to go to pin-enabled credit cards, they just did it. Retailers were given a certain amount of time to switch over, “or else.” There are few alternatives, so the entire country moved forward.
Whereas, south of the 49th parallel, there is all kinds of competition for credit cards and for merchant services, so if a few banks don’t feel like sending out cards with chips an PINs, they don’t. And if a few retailers don’t want to go to the expense of upgrading their systems, they don’t have to.
On the flip side... There is nearly zero Apple Pay up here.
In this case, when all five banks decided to go to pin-enabled credit cards, they just did it. Retailers were given a certain amount of time to switch over, “or else.” There are few alternatives, so the entire country moved forward.
Whereas, south of the 49th parallel, there is all kinds of competition for credit cards and for merchant services, so if a few banks don’t feel like sending out cards with chips an PINs, they don’t. And if a few retailers don’t want to go to the expense of upgrading their systems, they don’t have to.
On the flip side... There is nearly zero Apple Pay up here.