How bank cards are made

Who knows your PIN code and is it possible to issue a credit card with an erotic image? We invite you to the processing center, shooting in which is usually prohibited, to see together how bank cards are issued.

1. The processing center of the financial group "Life" was opened in 2010. Here they issue cards of Probusinessbank, which is part of the group, and fulfill orders from other banks. There are only a few people working in the center.

2. After the bank's client has filled out an application for a card, his data is sent to the processing center, and then to a special program of his own development, with the help of which the card is printed in the embosser.

3. There are four rooms in the center: for printing cards, pin envelopes, storing blanks and destroying cards. You can enter each of them with an electronic pass and fingerprints. It is curious that employees can only enter the room together — this is done for security purposes.

4. Envelopes with PIN codes are printed on the printer already sealed. First, the system generates a PIN code, and then it is applied inside the envelope using copy paper.

5. None of the bank's employees knows the PIN codes of customers - they are stored in the system in encrypted form. Only the card number and the name of the owner are printed on the outside so that the envelope can be identified and the desired card attached to it.

6. The storage contains factory blank cards with and without chips. Some of them have already been painted. The customer bank can choose from the proposed design options or develop its own design.

7. The cost of the card is from 200 rubles, depending on the type of chip, the complexity of the holograms applied, the presence of a pattern, lamination, glossy or matte coating. This amount is included in the card maintenance price.

8. Customers have the opportunity to get a card with their own design — for these purposes, the processing center has white blanks without a pattern.

9. All images that users want to put on the map are pre-moderated. In particular, it is forbidden to apply inscriptions, logos, erotic photos and copyrighted images. Most often, people want to see photos of animals, relatives and lovers on the map. Funny things happen with photos of couples: for example, from time to time a chip turns out to be in place of the face of one of the lovers. In this case, the bank's employees contact the client and convince him to replace the photo. The photo is applied using a printer and immediately laminated with a protective film.

10. After that, the card enters the embosser (press). First, data is recorded on a chip and magnetic tape, and then the card number and the name of the owner are mechanically knocked out. The CVV2 code is printed on the reverse side. Then the convex numbers and letters are covered with silver foil — it is heated for this and applied to the card.

11. After the application of personal data, the cards are delivered to the bank's office. Usually — during the day, but for a fee, you can arrange delivery in a few hours. The card can take three to five days to reach the regional offices.

12. Cards with expired validity, errors or simply unclaimed by customers are also destroyed in the processing center.

13. They are entered into the database and sent through a shredder every month in the presence of a commission.

14. Unused PIN envelopes are also destroyed here.