New cards with new functions
We are changing our card processor. Below you will find more information on why we are changing, why you get a new card, how to activate it and what you get out of it. One thing is sure: we want to make the change as easy as possible for you and, of course, it will be free for you. This information page will be updated regularly.
Why is there only a 4-digit PIN?
What type of card is the new card?
Some issues you may face temporarily with your new card
What is a card processor exactly?
Why are the cards sent by German post/ from Germany? How environmentally friendly is that?
What should I do with my old card?
Why am I getting a new card?
We don't change the card for the sake of doing it - that's neither neon's style nor would it be sustainable. The reason is simple: you will receive a new card, because we have to change card processor early 2022.
True to the motto «When life gives you lemons, make lemonade», we saw this change as an opportunity to take the next step in the development of our cards. Together with our partner bank Hypothekarbank Lenzburg, we decided to use Mastercard as our new processor. This change will bring you, our user, some interesting new features - more on that later.
Can I keep my current card?
No, unfortunately this is not possible because our previous card processor NID will deactivate the cards and not process the data any further from February 15th, 2022. Don't worry, we will ensure that you receive your new card by then - we will of course keep you up to date.
How to activate my new card?
Log into your neon app, click on «Profile» and «Activate card», or check your balance at a Swiss ATM, or withdraw some money.
You can now see your new card PIN in the neon app, in «Profile», «Card Management» and «Show card PIN». You can change your PIN at any Swiss ATM. Your PIN is 4 digits - it can be no more and no less than 4 digits.
Please note: To make contactless payments, you must use your card at least once with your 4-digit PIN.
Why is there only a 4-digit PIN?
Mastercard, the new card processor for the neon card, works internationally for numerous banks and millions of users. Internationally, almost all countries use no more than 4 digits for the PIN. Switzerland is an exception. Our new card processor is a subsidiary of Mastercard and works internationally for many major banks.
Therefore, the configuration of our card processor is also set to 4 digits. Since 4 digits are the international standard, we unfortunately cannot offer more than 4 digits.
Is the 4-digit PIN secure?
We thus fulfil 100% of Mastercard's security requirements. Security is also guaranteed with a simpler 4-digit PIN and ultimately any potential damage is covered by Mastercard. In practice, the advantages of the internationally standardised PIN outweigh the theoretically higher security of a PIN with a higher number of digits.
Further information on security:
- Experience shows that 6-digit PINs hardly offer higher security, as simpler combinations are usually chosen.
- The proportion of credit cards that are physically stolen and used with a PIN is extremely low. Fraud on online sites or by stealing account and card data is proportionally much more frequent.
- For increased security, you can temporarily block the card yourself at any time in the app (under «Profile» and «Card management») and unblock it again for a payment.
What type of card is the new card?
It is a prepaid credit card, as before. This is how Mastercard defines our card product. The important thing for you is: you use the card like any other and ll transactions will be charged to your neon account.
What are the new features?
You will get new benefits that will make your life even easier:
From January 2022:
- You will receive push notifications for card payments instead of the previous SMS messages.
- You will see the PIN code of your new card in the app.
- Your neon card will not only have a new design - it will also be made of recycled plastic.
- Your neon green card will get a stylish new look - it'll be made of cherry wood! It will be the first wooden card in Switzerland. (No worries: only 1 tree is needed to sustainably produce 100'000 cards. We will ensure to add it to the 500'000 trees we already planted.)
- All other features of your card remain unchanged, such as blocking and unblocking your card in the app.
Following this, these features will also become available:
- See your card details in the app - so you won't have to search for your card when paying online.
- Change your PIN code in the app. You will no longer receive a letter if you forget your PIN code. So it'll be even faster and there will be even less paperwork.
Some issues you may face temporarily with your new card
Due to the current finalisation of implementing the new card processor, we still face a few flaws and are working on fixing them shortly. We just didn’t want this to stop you getting your new card’s functionalities.
- Payments made at some fuel stations may be reported to you with a push notification showing the amount of 150 CHF or 100 CHF, although the amount for which you have filled up may be less. This is because these fuel stations «check» the card with these amounts, then cancel it immediately afterwards. As this «check» looks like a payment from our side, you will receive a notification. But you can simply ignore it and rest assured that the actual amount paid will be visible in the app after 2-3 working days, when the final booking is made.
- The 3DS SMS are still very generic and will be enriched in the coming weeks. On the 3DS website, you may still find some typos. No worries, we spotted them already and they’ll be fixed shortly.
- All bookings of payments made with the old card until and including 15 February 2022 (including refunds) were automatically booked to your account until mid-March 2022. Refunds made by merchants after 16 March 2022 will no longer be automatically credited to your account, but will be credited within 2-3 weeks. Therefore, we recommend that you inform your merchants of your new credit card number if you are expecting a refund, so that refunds can be made to this number and appear on your account more quickly. As of the end of April, refunds can no longer be made to the old card, but must be made to the new card number (or in alternative ways, e.g. to your IBAN).
What is a card processor exactly?
A card processor is the company that processes card transactions. This includes a number of tasks, such as receiving transactions and authorising payments, operating the technology for data exchange or monitoring compliance with credit limits. In short, a card processor manages all credit card transactions and enables card trading.
Why this card processor?
Mastercard is a major card provider and processor, for example for the neo bank N26 in Germany. Mastercard gives us direct access to the latest features at competitive costs in the future. As soon as you receive your new card, you will gradually be able to benefit from its features.
Why are the cards sent by the German post/ from Germany? How environmentally friendly is that?
Your card has been sent by the German post because our new card manufacturer, Exceet, produces the card in Germany (Munich) and sends it from there. By changing the card supplier, we can use new, more sustainable materials for the cards. Overall, the distances have not become much longer as a result and we fully offset the card transport via our partner myclimate.
What are the next steps?
- As soon as it is ready, we send you your new neon card by post. Just activate it with one tap in the application and start using it. As soon as you activated your new card, your old one will be deactivated.
- All current cards will stop working on February 15th, 2022. That's why it is important that you activate and start using this new card as soon as it is possible for you.
What should I do with my old card?
Once your new card is activated, you can cut your old card and dispose of it at the same place where you dispose of old electrical appliances. This is usually your local recycling centre. Returning it to us for us to dispose of it would only cause more emissions and has no added value for recycling. Please do not send your old card back to us. Please see here some specifications regarding the way you could cut up your old card: link in German (but images speak for themselves).