Bank cards

[Austin Prefect]

I've received a couple of new bank cards recently from different banks and they are both a new design. The numbers are printed on the back (IE the side with the signature strip) rather than embossed on the front, which I prefer because I find the shiny embossed numbers can be tricky to read. Also they have a small semi circular cutout at the end opposite the chip.

Presumably this is partly a recognition that there is no need for embossed numbers anymore. Is there any other reason/advantage to the design?

[Inbox]

Cheaper to make, no embossing which is unique to every card instead they can print it.

Imagine how many cards get replaced every year.

[mac96]

I had assumed the cut out was to help blind or visually impaired people present the right end to the chip reader. My cards have had this for some time.

[Lincolnshire]

I remember in the “olden” days working in a shop the embossed numbers were used to take carbon copies of cards in the cheque guarantee card swipe thingy. I even remember sometimes at the till we would phone the bank to authorise a payment. How times have changed - takes about half an hour to speak to the bank on the phone now.

I imagine the printed numbers are better as they don’t wear off, and perhaps cheaper to make.

[alock]

Austin Prefect said:

Also they have a small semi circular cutout at the end opposite the chip.

Presumably this is partly a recognition that there is no need for embossed numbers anymore. Is there any other reason/advantage to the design?

Round cutout - debit card
Square cutout - credit card
Triangular cutout - something else I can't remember.

For blind people finding the correct card in their wallet.

Embossing is harder to manufacture and serves no real benefit anymore. Embossed numbers (and maybe even printed numbers) along with magstripe maybe going in the next few years.

Edited by alock on Saturday 25th October 22:19

[Fore Left]

alock said:

Round cutout - debit card
Square cutout - credit card
Triangular cutout - something else I can't remember.

For blind people finding the correct card in their wallet.

Embossing is harder to manufacture and serves no real benefit anymore. Embossed numbers (and maybe even printed numbers) along with magstripe maybe going in the next few years.

Edited by alock on Saturday 25th October 22:19

Both my credit cards have a round cut out as does my debit card (and they're in the same place on the card)

[alock]

Fore Left said:

alock said:

Round cutout - debit card
Square cutout - credit card
Triangular cutout - something else I can't remember.

For blind people finding the correct card in their wallet.

Embossing is harder to manufacture and serves no real benefit anymore. Embossed numbers (and maybe even printed numbers) along with magstripe maybe going in the next few years.

Edited by alock on Saturday 25th October 22:19

Both my credit cards have a round cut out as does my debit card (and they're in the same place on the card)

It was an unofficial industry idea. Not every bank follows it. I work in the industry and could never see a pattern until someone at a card bureau said the above. Some banks might use dots instead.

Edited by alock on Saturday 25th October 22:41

[mac96]

Fore Left said:

alock said:

Round cutout - debit card
Square cutout - credit card
Triangular cutout - something else I can't remember.

For blind people finding the correct card in their wallet.

Embossing is harder to manufacture and serves no real benefit anymore. Embossed numbers (and maybe even printed numbers) along with magstripe maybe going in the next few years.

Edited by alock on Saturday 25th October 22:19

Both my credit cards have a round cut out as does my debit card (and they're in the same place on the card)

Same with mine.

[Simpo Two]

alock said:

[Embossed numbers (*and maybe even printed numbers*) along with magstripe maybe going in the next few years.

So when someone asks me to read out the 16 digit number it will be a bit tricky...

[LunarOne]

How are we going to use one of those chonk-a-shonk card machines when there's a power failure now?

Edit: apparently they already have a few stupid names so I needn't have invented one - ZipZap machine, click-clack machine or Knuckle Buster.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_card_imprinte...

[Inbox]

mac96 said:

Fore Left said:

alock said:

Round cutout - debit card
Square cutout - credit card
Triangular cutout - something else I can't remember.

For blind people finding the correct card in their wallet.

Embossing is harder to manufacture and serves no real benefit anymore. Embossed numbers (and maybe even printed numbers) along with magstripe maybe going in the next few years.

Edited by alock on Saturday 25th October 22:19

Both my credit cards have a round cut out as does my debit card (and they're in the same place on the card)

Same with mine.

An idea to help blind people? sounds more like the playstation generation.