New Style Debit Cards

pecunianonolet

EarthBoy said:

pecunianonolet said:

The most annoying is that the sort code and account number are no longer printed on some cards cards e.g. Kroo, Natwest, RBS, Ulster, Halifax. For the rest, I don't care how they look.

The account number has never been printed on NatWest and RBS cards, as far as I know, only the sort code.  My RBS Highline card (Switch debit card) in the late 80s or early 90s only had the sort code on it.  

The new Halifax debit cards still have the Sort Code and account no. on the back.

True on Halifax, got it mixed up. 

[Deleted User]

It is apparently for security reasons.

pridehappy

Santander and Virgin Money both have them, and my Virgin Atlantic Credit Card. Like them both, although personally wasn’t a fan of the first direct ones, a little boring being just black. I’ve also got a Post Office Travel Money Card with details on the back. Nationwide are still using old style cards.

EarthBoy

WillPS said:

EarthBoy said:

pecunianonolet said:

The most annoying is that the sort code and account number are no longer printed on some cards cards e.g. Kroo, Natwest, RBS, Ulster, Halifax. For the rest, I don't care how they look.

The account number has never been printed on NatWest and RBS cards, as far as I know, only the sort code.  My RBS Highline card (Switch debit card) in the late 80s or early 90s only had the sort code on it.  

The new Halifax debit cards still have the Sort Code and account no. on the back.

Turns out Natwest did:

(The number formed part of the Switch PAN at this point too)

First Direct did the same when they had Switch cards.

EarthBoy

[Deleted User] said:

It is apparently for security reasons.

Security reasons that most other banks don't think are necessary. 

Eco_Miser

Rob5342 said:

Eco_Miser said:

Rob5342 said:

I wonder why they still have chips on them. Maybe there is a technical reason but contactless and pin seems better to me as it should be more reliable..

The chip is necessary for contactless - it holds the identification data and encryption etc. Perhaps you are confusing the contacts with the chip?

Why do you think contactless and pin (if that's even possible) would be more reliable than contact and pin? Serious question.

Yes I was a bit lazy with the terminology, obviously there will always need to be a chip tol hold the data.

I think it would be more reliable as there are no contacts to get dirty or get damaged. I've had contact cards that didn't work and needed wiping, and usb cables that broke, bit I've never had contactless payments not work or WiFi or wireless charging not work. Even if you have them both it would seem sensible to make the contactless Side work for pin transactions too.

I've never had to clean the contacts on a card, but I have had the embedded Near Field aerial loop break. So both is best. Anyway payment cards will need contacts until all the non-contactless card readers all over the world have been replaced. Considering how long it took the US to get chip & pin into widespread use, that could be a very long time.

GTR_King

I prefer cards with details on the back the silver rubbing off was annoying

flaneurs_lobster

Just received a replacement Amex Platinum and it's METAL (not platinum). Number has moved to the back.

WillPS

flaneurs_lobster said:

Just received a replacement Amex Platinum and it's METAL (not platinum). Number has moved to the back.

You must've held the account a long while - it changed in 2019.

In other countries the Gold is also issued as a metal card (not gold tho!), over here it's just a flat plastic card tho sadly.

flaneurs_lobster

WillPS said:

You must've held the account a long while - it changed in 2019.

, Could say that, "Member since 82" still appears on new card.