CVM (Cardholder Verification Method) refers to the security procedure used to verify that the person presenting a payment card is the legitimate owner. Common CVMs include entering a PIN (Personal Identification Number), providing a signature, or using biometric authentication (FaceID/TouchID) on a mobile device (CDCVM – Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method).

FAQs:

  • Why do some contactless payments not require CVM?
    Low-value transactions often fall below the “CVM limit,” allowing for faster processing without a PIN or signature.
  • What is CDCVM?
    It stands for Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method. It allows high-value transactions on Apple Pay or Google Pay because the user authenticated on their phone.
  • Is signature still a valid CVM?
    It is becoming less common globally in favor of PIN and biometrics, but is still used in some regions (like the US) or for fallback scenarios.

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