Virginia Credit Union is issuing the new MasterCard credit cards that are embedded with microchips.

The Europay MasterCard and Visa (EMV) cards are encrypted, making them difficult to counterfeit. This technology provides extra security for the Union’s 60,000 cardholders.

The move by the Union came after the recent data breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus.

Virginia Credit Union product and delivery strategy senior vice president, Deb Wreden, said their plans had been underway since last summer to reissue cards.

"We recognised the addition of chip technology as an opportunity to add additional security features for members and improve convenience for those who travel outside the US," Wreden added.

Though, some US financial institutions have issued the microchip-enabled cards to limited customers, Virginia Credit Union is issuing them to all its credit cardholders.

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