NEW YORK -- One of the nation's biggest credit card issuers is looking to speed you on your way more quickly when making a purchase using plastic.

Chase Bank said it would be rolling out this year what it calls "blink" technology that allows credit cards to be scanned at the checkout, rather than swiped.

The unit of J.P. Morgan Chase said the technology would be put into place at movie theaters, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants and drug stores.

It will be used on Chase MasterCard and Visa cards.

Credit cards with blink take a traditional credit card and add a new feature -- embedded technology that allows consumers to pay by simply holding the card near a secure scanner, instead of swiping the card or handing it to a cashier.

After the card is scanned, a signal or tone is heard to indicate that the payment has been confirmed.

Chase Bank said thousands of merchant locations will be using the "blink" technology by the end of this year.