Add Some Bling to Your Wallet With a Metal Card
Add some bling to your wallet with these metal credit cards. Previously only available on invite-only cards, metal cards are now offered by many major issuers.
They’re usually travel rewards cards with high annual fees, but they also come with big welcome bonuses and premium perks. We recommend weighing these card benefits before making the decision to apply.
Appearance & Design
Metal business cards are an excellent choice for luxury brands and high-end businesses. Their polished look is sure to impress your clients and stand out in a crowd. 4OVER4 offers a variety of customization options to ensure that you create a metal card that is unique to your brand.
You can choose from a variety of metals including brass, silver, and stainless steel. You can also customize the thickness and finish of your card. Choose from a matte, mirror, or brushed texture. Alternatively, you can add an etching for more intricate detail. If you are looking for something truly eye-catching, consider a custom shape or a one-of-a-kind cutout.
Adding a photo to your Metal Card is an excellent way to make a lasting impression on your potential client. A professional portrait of you can help your customers Metal Card connect with you and feel comfortable doing business with you. The addition of a photo will set you apart from your competition.
Since AmEx swapped plastic for titanium in their invite-only Centurion Card, metal credit cards have oozed luxury and prestige. Today, you can find metal cards with a variety of materials including brushed and polished stainless steel, gold, metal alloys, and palladium. There are even hybrid metal cards that feature a metal body with a PVC layer that can be printed on both sides.
Functionality & Convenience
Metal cards are designed to stand out in a wallet and give the cardholder an experience of luxury, often associated with elite status. They also come with premium perks and benefits that appeal to high spenders. They can be made of any combination of brass, steel, copper, titanium, gold, and palladium and may include an EMV chip or magnetic stripe for security purposes.
Despite the premium feel, how they work doesn’t differ much from plastic credit cards. They can still be added to a digital wallet and used to make online purchases. However, the card’s nxp mifare desfire metal construction may interfere with contactless payment functionality, especially when swiping at merchants. Its weight may also be a factor for cardholders with specific portability needs or those who prefer lighter wallets.
Most metal cards are exclusive and require a good-to-excellent credit score. They also tend to have hefty annual fees and minimum income requirements, along with premium perks like priority boarding, airport security lane access, and lounge access. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of these perks against the card’s other features to see if it is right for you. For example, if you value a welcome bonus and earn rate more than a perks suite, it may be better to get a regular plastic credit card with the same benefits.
Durability & Longevity
Metal credit cards are much more durable than their plastic counterparts. They can bend, snap or even withstand a run through the washing machine without losing their shine. This durability also makes them less susceptible to being stolen or damaged when compared with plastic cards.
However, the durability of metal cards may also be a disadvantage in certain situations. It can be difficult to destroy a card that is no longer in use, particularly if you aren’t able to return it to the issuer. This is because the card can’t be put through a shredder and it would require industrial-grade tools to break it up. If you don’t have access to a secure way to dispose of your metal credit card, you could risk it falling into the wrong hands and being used for fraudulent purposes.
Ultimately, the most important factor in choosing a metal credit card is whether or not it fits your spending needs and lifestyle. A premium metal card typically comes with a hefty annual fee and a slew of benefits, including lounge access, elite status in loyalty programs and travel statement credits. If those perks aren’t relevant to your lifestyle, you may be better off with a standard plastic cash-back credit card. In addition, a metal credit card can often have high upfront costs and higher minimum income requirements, making it more expensive to own than a plastic credit card.
Rewards & Benefits
The first metal credit card made waves when American Express launched the Centurion Card (commonly known as the Black Card) in 1999. It continues to stand out from standard credit cards with its exclusive, invite-only access, opulent perks and sleek titanium design.
While the premium feel and look of metal cards can boost a person’s sense of status, it’s the benefits and rewards that attract many people to them. These high-value cards typically offer a suite of travel, dining and lifestyle perks that go beyond base rewards. From airport lounge access to complimentary events and memberships, these cards are a must-have for discerning consumers who enjoy getting the most out of their money.
While anyone can apply for a credit card, to qualify for a metal one you’ll generally need to have excellent credit and meet certain criteria like minimum spending requirements. Many of the metal cards on this list are available for individuals with a FICO score of 670 and above, while some, like the X1 card, also take income into account to make them more accessible. Most of these cards have an annual fee, but some do come with lucrative signup or welcome bonuses to offset this cost. Metal cards also tend to have a heavier, more substantial in-hand feel that some prefer. These traits make them particularly popular among affluent and mass-affluent segments.