Capital One offers "View your PIN instantly" service

SnowTiger

I've just received an email from Capital One:

Here at Capital One we're always looking for new ways to make managing your account easier. That's why we've launched our new View PIN Online Service, which means waiting ages to get a reminder in the post is a thing of the past. Sign in to your online account, and you can view your PIN quickly and securely anywhere in the world at any time of the day or night.

And, yes, the email is genuine. I'm not sure how wise this new feature is, but for someone to access the PIN they'd need to know your Capital One online username and password, and the card's CCV number. And, I suppose they'd also need to physically have the card to withdraw cash from a cash machine or make purchases.

nzseries1

I think MBNA have always offered this... I've always thought it was a bit insecure myself, because if it's stored in plain text on their computer system (i.e. not encrypted), then how many other people could get access to it?

CG19a

I used to be able to do this when I had my Egg card back in 2005.

withabix

Amex do it as well.

Alex_LS

It's not stored in plain text. It will be decrypted on the fly as it is displayed to you, in the same way as it is decrypted on the fly when a physical PIN reminder is sent.

Nuclear_Themes

It's just as secure as the paper alternative

Dizzy_Ditzy

i had this email as well, glad its genuine

Venusflytrap

Nationwide do too.

guesswho2000

I got this today, advertising a "new" service, which is what concerned me, as this has been available on the CapitalOne online services website for as long as I can remember, I used it about 6 months ago...

fozmcfc

Virgin (MBNA backed) offer this service, very handy for someone like me who only ever uses the card every 6 months or more, when I get a 0% purchases deal.

Saves me having to remember the pin, although I must say after the 3 or 4th time of me looking at it over the past 2 years, I can now remember it.