Pin-and-chip versus signature in the UK

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It appears that yes, where chip-and-signature is available, it will be preferred over chip-and-PIN, even for true EMV cards such as the AFCU GlobeTrek Rewards Visa.

AFCU's GlobeTrek page does indicate that

may be asked to enter your PIN to complete the transaction. Or you may be asked to sign for your transaction.

According to CardHub.com, a US-based website specializing in allowing consumers to compare credit cards,

VISA and MasterCard require that all attended point-of-sale machines be equipped to accept chip-and-signature transactions

Anecdotal reports suggest that such terminals are furthermore programmed to prefer chip-and-signature authentication by default. So while the AFCU card has true chip-and-PIN capabilities— unlike most new chip cards in the U.S.— you will still end up signing payment slips in shops, restaurants, and other places where a human is handling the transaction. If chip-and-sig is not available, as at a fuel kiosk or train ticket vending machine, then the chip-and-PIN system is used.

As you know, the U.S. is the last industrialized country still to use magnetic stripe cards, but there are various barriers discouraging a shift to chip-and-PIN. For example, ATMs would need to be upgraded to handle chip card PINs, and of course, being the U.S., there are questions of liability. Thus, the industry response to the Christmas 2013 fiasco at Target Stores is to move to the simpler chip-and-signature technology first, a preference that will surely reflect in equipment settings and software.

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