A method for conducting a financial transaction is provided the method allows conducting a financial transaction through a remote point of sale by a payment card being associated with an identification information and having an electronic circuit integrated therein configured to hold the identification information. The method includes coupling the electronic circuit of the payment card to a corresponding reader configured to read the identification information; and transmitting the identification information to the remote point of sale along with a request for the transaction.

An IC card issuance apparatus includes an issuance processing unit and a data supply unit. The issuance processing unit performs processing for issuing an IC card based on issuance data. The data supply unit monitors whether or not an issuance data file containing the issuance data is stored in a storage apparatus designated in advance, and supplies the issuance data contained in the issuance data file stored in the storage apparatus to the issuance processing unit such that the issuance processing unit executes issuance of the IC card based on the issuance data if the issuance data file is stored in the storage apparatus.

A new credit card system which enables improved reading and other operations. Reading can be done in the short edge of the credit card thereby shortening the aspect ratio and size of the card reader. The reader can be electrical, reading information via contacts, or can be optical readers.

A colored smart card module having a light-transmissible substrate with first and second sides; a card-reader contact element formed on the first side of the substrate; and a colored ink layer printed on the second side of the substrate. The printed colored ink layer is then at least in part visible from the first side of the substrate around the card-reader contact element. A smart card including such a colored smart card module is also provided.

An IC card issuance apparatus includes an issuance processing unit and a data supply unit. The issuance processing unit performs processing for issuing an IC card based on issuance data. The data supply unit monitors whether or not an issuance data file containing the issuance data is stored in a storage apparatus designated in advance, and supplies the issuance data contained in the issuance data file stored in the storage apparatus to the issuance processing unit such that the issuance processing unit executes issuance of the IC card based on the issuance data if the issuance data file is stored in the storage apparatus.

Contact smart card has a smart card contact pad and an IC chip. The smart card contact pad has a circuit substrate with a plurality of via holes there through, a card-reader contact element on a first side of the circuit substrate, and a plurality of chip connection elements on a second side of the circuit substrate. Each chip connection element is associated with a via hole through the circuit substrate. The card-reader contact element has an electrically conductive surface. The plurality of chip connection elements define a chip engagement region on the second side of the circuit substrate. The IC chip is mounted on the chip engagement region and electrically connected to the card-reader contact element through the via holes.

A transaction card assembly is disclosed, comprising a card body, an EMV chip, visible cardholder information, and a receiving portion disposed on the card body; a weighted card component comprising an attachment portion, the weighted card component being heavier than the card body and wherein, in a first configuration, the weighted card component is coupled to the card body via engagement between the receiving portion and the attachment portion, and in a second configuration, the weighted card component is uncoupled from the card body by disengagement between the attachment portion and the receiving portion, and wherein, in the first configuration, the weighted card component obfuscates the EMV chip and the visible cardholder information.

A transaction card assembly is disclosed, comprising a card body, an EMV chip, visible cardholder information, and a receiving portion disposed on the card body; a weighted card component comprising an attachment portion, the weighted card component being heavier than the card body and wherein, in a first configuration, the weighted card component is coupled to the card body via engagement between the receiving portion and the attachment portion, and in a second configuration, the weighted card component is uncoupled from the card body by disengagement between the attachment portion and the receiving portion, and wherein, in the first configuration, the weighted card component obfuscates the EMV chip and the visible cardholder information.

Provided are approaches for removing a chip of a transaction card using a chip removal element. In some approaches, the transaction card may include a body including a first main side opposite a second main side, a chip coupled to the first main side of the body, and a chip removal element disposed between the chip and the body. A first end of the chip removal element may be positioned within a tab recess along the first main side of the body, wherein the chip removal element is operable to decouple the chip from the body when the chip removal element is moved away from the body.