WASHINGTON - Visa appears to be taking a more open attitude toward the use of chips and personal identification numbers for card security and authentication.

While the newer security technology is used in different markets outside the U.S., the card brand had previously been resistant to adopting it inside the United States.

But Ellen Richey, chief enterprise risk officer for Visa USA, signaled the more different attitude in her remarks to card industry executives attending the Visa Global Security Summit in Washington.

"I am often asked why the U.S. doesn't adopt chip. The answer is that it's not a matter of adopting or not-but a matter of when and how," Richey said. "In the U.S., we're beginning to see adoption of chip technologies first through contactless payments. Let me be clear: from Visa's perspective, chip technologies-both contact and contactless-can add an important security layer. They also offer additional benefits for cardholders and retailers, like convenience and speed. So we can and do fully support chip technology."