How a Metal Credit Card Can Make a Statement at the Checkout Line
Many credit card issuers offer metal cards as part of their portfolio. These cards can come with premium perks and benefits that aren’t available with plastic cards.
Most metal cards require good to excellent credit and charge an annual fee. Some cards, like the X1 Card, take your income into consideration to help you qualify.
Aesthetics
A sleek metal credit card can make quite a statement at the checkout line. While they aren’t as common as plastic cards, there are a number of options available from major card issuers. These cards can be made of brass, brushed stainless steel, copper or titanium and can even be a mix of metals. Some of the more exclusive cards feature a design trimmed in real gold or palladium.
Many of these metal cards offer a premium feel and weigh a bit more than traditional plastic credit cards. They also tend to have a different texture and are more difficult to damage. However, it’s important to remember that aesthetics aren’t the only thing that matters when choosing a credit card. You should always pick a card that offers the best value based on your spending habits and rewards programs.
For Imperium Law Group, a bold American flag pattern and custom cut through areas bring their brand to life on this Black Metal Card. Silver laser etching provides movement and contrast for their bold logo, while leaving enough room for a full content area on the back.
RCBC’s Visa Infinite Credit Card is the first and only metal core credit card in the Philippines. The pristine metal surface features mechanical engraving and a matte finish, giving it an indulgent look that sets it apart from traditional plastic credit cards.
Security
Credit cards made of metal can be a premium offering for high-spending consumers. Many metal cards offer an elegant, luxurious design and exceptional durability, along with exclusive perks that can add value to the cardholder’s wallet. These cards also tend to carry a higher annual fee than plastic cards.
While it’s true that metal cards are more durable than plastic ones, they don’t inherently offer better Metal Card security. Whether you’re carrying around a metal or plastic credit card, it still goes through the same encryption when being swiped or inserted into a payment terminal. The issuer’s software determines whether a transaction is legitimate or not.
The first metal credit card to spark interest was the invite-only American Express Centurion Card, launched in 1999. It used anodized titanium to create a sleek, sophisticated design that oozed luxury and prestige.
Since then, numerous other card issuers have released metal credit cards. Some use stainless steel, copper, brass, gold, palladium or a mix of these metals. Other cards are hybrid and combine a metal exterior with a plastic core. A common trait of metal credit cards is that they are much heavier than their plastic counterparts. The extra weight contributes to a sense of prestige and luxury, while it also makes the cards more difficult to bend, cut or put through a shredder.
Reliability
Metal credit cards are generally durable, meaning they can withstand wear and tear better than their plastic counterparts. They can also be swiped or inserted into card readers several times without being damaged. Additionally, metal cards are unlikely to be damaged in a wallet or purse, which is often a concern for people who carry around valuable items.
In addition to their durability, many of the best metal cards come with premium perks and benefits. These can range from airport lounge access to elevated status nxp mifare desfire with car rental and hotel brands. In most cases, these perks are worth the annual fee that most metal credit cards charge.
The exact materials used to make metal credit cards vary between issuers, but they usually include a combination of aluminum and stainless steel. Some of the pricier cards are made from flashy metal alloys or even gold and platinum. Some cards also use a hybrid design with a metal exterior and a plastic core.
When it comes to disposing of a metal credit card, the safest option is to return it to your card issuer. Most of them will provide a prepaid envelope for this purpose, and some will offer in-person dropoff at their brick-and-mortar locations. Alternatively, some users have tried using household tools such as pliers and blowtorches to destroy their cards, but this isn’t the most practical or reliable option.
Disposal
While many credit card issuers continue to reserve metal cards for luxury card options, some companies have begun offering them for more general use. These heavier, studier cards may come with a few drawbacks, though. For example, they can be more difficult to destroy when a card expires or is closed.
The easiest way to dispose of a metal credit card is to return it to the card issuer in a prepaid envelope. Most card issuers will send a prepaid envelope along with the new card when it’s mailed out or replaced, but you can also call the number on the back of your credit card to request one. Alternatively, you could drop your card off at your card issuer’s brick-and-mortar bank branches. Depending on the location, a banker might be able to safely destroy the card for you on the spot.
If you’re not comfortable mailing your unused metal credit card back to the card issuer, or if you’ve accumulated a lot of rewards that you wouldn’t want to lose by closing the account, then you could try cutting up the card with a pair of tin snips. Just be careful, because you’ll need a sturdy tool that can handle the thickness of a metal credit card. Using scissors or trying to shred it with a paper shredder can result in injury or damage to your equipment.