Are traditional embossed bank cards beginning to fade away?

EMBOSSED bank cards have left a familiar feeling in our wallets since they arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.

But banks are ditching the raised font in favour of slimline cards, which are said to be more durable and easier to read. Bank cards have always been embossed as a physical impression of the card needed to be taken for payment to be processed.

However, this is now done digitally – so raised numbers are no longer necessary. Trim debit cards are being sent to current account customers at NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland after the group trialled the design with premier account holders.

A brochure sent to customers reads: ‘Your unembossed card may look and feel different, but it works just like your old card and is just as secure.

‘With flat print, you will find that your account information is easier to read and the card will last longer.’

The group says it is issuing the cards in a ‘phased approach’, so not everyone will receive one at the same time. But it says blind and partially sighted customers will always have embossed cards.

A spokesman added: ‘These cards are more durable so people will not need to request replacement cards due to numbers rubbing off or tipping wearing off.’

The cards are made by French-Dutch digital security firm Gemalto, which last year won the contract to make the UK’s post-Brexit blue passports. Gemalto said: ‘Embossed cards typically will last for three to four years, which in most cases is the lifetime of the card.’

Lloyds, Barclays, Nationwide, HSBC and Santander all say they currently have no plans to introduce such cards.