BOSTON – Last weekend, the Boston Herald ran an opinion piece by local merchant and chocolatier Erin Calvo-Bacci, focusing on the importance of fostering relationships with consumers in order to build and maintain a trusted relationship.

However, as Calvo-Bacci pointed out in her article, “Earning the trust of patrons isn’t so easy in the digital era, in which most transactions pose a risk for consumers’ personal and financial information. … Unfortunately, small business owners can’t be sure their relationships with customers won’t be harmed by data breaches, because big banks and credit card companies are doing little to protect retailers and shoppers.”

Like many news reports in recent weeks, the opinion piece points out that despite technological advances over the past decade, the majority of credit cards issued by banks and credit companies continue to use the less-than-secure magnetic stripe “swipe and sign” system. And while chip cards are becoming more common, even those offer scant protection without PIN verification.

The author cites a 2013 Data Privacy Report issued by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation showing that more than 1.16 million residents were affected by data breaches in 2013 — 59% more than were reported in 2012.

The question, asks Calvo-Bacci, is: “Why haven’t [banks] moved aggressively to a proven chip- and-PIN system that prevents fraud and protects consumers’ personal and financial information?” It certainly isn’t for a lack of profit generated from massive transaction fees on retailers, who have long advocated for more secure payment technology.