Staring from July, BCR Chisinau customers are able to use chip-equipped Visa cards in the bank's ATM network, the bank said in a press release. “The implementation of the new technology that accepts smart cards confirms BCR Chisinau's commitment to advanced bank security standards. It is yet another strong argument to convince the residents of Moldova to opt confidently for bank card transactions instead of cash payments”, said Iulian Marinescu, department head at BCR Chisinau. Chip cards provide stronger security than standard magnetic stripe cards as the information contained in the chip are very difficult to replicate. BCR Chisinau intends to issue its own smart Visa card soon, the press release announced. BCR Chisinau started operations in Moldova as a commercial bank in October 1998, with an equity of 24 million lei which has grown over the years to 342 million lei. The bank's network consists of 10 outlets and 40 ATMs, servicing over 5,000 individual and corporate customers.