Getting a chip in your card Q Can an American get a credit card from a European bank, which would contain the special chip that allows them to be used in ticket machines and other outlets in Europe?

A Probably, but you don't need to if you're simply interested in getting a card with a chip rather than a card issued by a European bank. American banks will soon begin offering cards with chips, and you can get a chip-embedded pre-paid currency card, too.

A bit of context for people unfamiliar with the technology: American credit cards use a magnetic strip to exchange information during financial transactions. In European and other countries, card issuers have turned to EMV chip technology (named for Europay, MasterCard and Visa). Where people are handling the charge, American credit cards often work. Not so at unmanned kiosks, such as those at train stations and gas pumps.

According to Greg McBride of bankrate.com, getting a card from a European bank isn't impossible, though "banks are understandably reluctant to lend money on an unsecured basis to borrowers in a foreign jurisdiction." It's likely you could get one after opening a deposit account.

Fortunately, you probably don't need to go through that hassle. "Chase has recently rolled out chip-and-pin technology," McBride said. Its program launches in June with its JPMorgan Palladium credit card and will broadened to other Chase credit cards within the year. According to McBride, other banks "will most certainly follow suit."

Wells Fargo is one of them. Eric Schindewolf, vice president of product development at Wells Fargo, said the bank is undertaking a pilot program this summer with 15,000 customers who are frequent international travelers. The program "is about understanding what it means to do a smart card program, how will customers use the product, what questions will they have," he said.

Like the Chase cards, the Wells Fargo card will have both a magnetic strip and a chip for use here and overseas.

It is unclear if or when Wells Fargo will offer such a card more widely. The bank has already identified the customers who will be part of the pilot program.

If you can't wait for a Chase or Wells Fargo card, there is another option. Travelex, which used to issue traveler's checks, now offers prepaid currency cards with chip technology that you can use just like a debit card.

KERRI WESTENBERG

THIS JUST IN

New Mexico travel warning More violence over a wider area in Mexico has caused the U.S. State Department to expand a warning against travel to the country. The new warning includes the Gulf of California resort area known as Rocky Point, and the area in Mexico around the border crossing near Nogales, just south of Tucson, Ariz. It also warns of continued problems with violence and crime in popular tourist cities such as Monterrey and Acapulco. A travel warning is the highest caution that the State Department can issue. While most of the new warning centered on ever higher levels of violence in the areas of Ciudad Juarez, near El Paso, Texas, and Matamoros, near Brownsville, Texas, the long list of violent regions included Northern Baja California: The warning points out that hundreds of thousands of Americans visit popular tourist destinations in Mexico each year without any problems.

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

AIRLINE UPDATE

Elmo's World includes MSP Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will get two furry visitors Monday. Elmo and Cookie Monster will be on hand at Delta gates to help with the boarding process and to greet fans. The event is designed to promote a new Warner Home Video and Sesame Street DVD called "Elmo's Travel Songs and Games."

KERRI WESTENBERG

WEB WATCH

Stay in touch, for not much WhatsApp Messenger is a money-saving app that allows you to send text messages, audio, video and photos to any friends who also have WhatsApp on their phone. WhatsApp, which costs 99 cents, is available for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Nokia phones. Why not just send your friends a text from your phone? Because if you are in different countries, it could cost an arm and a leg. Be careful about using the "call" button. The FAQs on the app say, "Mobile carrier charges apply for voice calls made from WhatsApp."

LOS ANGELES TIMES

SIDEROADS

Flock to Festival of Birds Bird-watchers and nature lovers can enjoy a weekend of spring activities during the 14th annual Festival of Birds May 19-22 in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Visitors can check out field trips, workshops, a birders' bazaar and more at Minnesota State Community and Technical College and other sites. The festival includes dinner programs with writer Al Batt discussing "Bird Stories From the Batt Cave," at 5:30 p.m. May 19 ($25, dinner included); and Drew Wheelan, a biologist with the American Birding Association, talking about "The Perils of the BP Oil Disaster in the Gulf," at 6:30 p.m. May 21 ($27, dinner included). 1-800-542-3992; www.visit detroitlakes.com.

COLLEEN A. COLES