Instant issuing smart card personalization solution

Nowadays banks, government institutions and retailers are faced with growing need of issuing their smart cards instantly within their branches due to heavy competition in the market and growing customer requirements. Instant issuance provides an ideal and cost-effective way to expedite card usage and increase cardholder loyalty. 

Usually, the card issuance process goes as follows: the client comes to the bank or card issuing office and fills out an application. The bank prints a card, and along with card instructions, sends it to the client through the mail or invites the client to pick up a card directly in bank or card issuing office. The process of card issuance takes about two weeks.

The instant issuance technology helps this process to be easily performed in a bank branch or card issuance office. Clients go to the bank branch or card issuance office and provide bank staff with application information or other meaningful elements.  Ready-to-use, fully activated cards are printed instantly and handed directly to the consumer. Clients are immediately able to use their cards to make purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs. 

The card instant issuance solution is not just a standardised software and card printer combination; it is complete solution that provides a productive and profitable instant issuance program. 

Actions performed by the system`s applications and components include:

• data acquisition (including from an external source)
• data preparation for personalisation process
• card personalization: chip/magnetic stripe encoding and visualisation
• cryptographic processing

Benefits of offered solution are following:

• Supports various card types, both EMV & non-EMV applications
• Supports contact or contactless chips and magnetic stripe
• Captures  biometric data, for example, face images and fingerprints
• Supports various types of personalization machines from different vendors
• Advanced quality / card production control system before & after personalization
• Advanced monitoring & reporting system
• High level of security, centralized management of cryptographic keys
• Meet the highest payment card industry data security standard requirements

Benefits for card issuing organizations

• Advanced Customer Service: 

The customer receives the card immediately and does not have to wait days or weeks to receive the card. The card cannot be lost or stolen while it is sent through mail. The customer can choose the card with customized features, such as personal photos and co-branding logos. This service increases customer loyalty and minimizes card delivery costs. It provides immediate replacement for lost, stolen, or damaged cards.

• Improved customer loyalty:

When the card is issued instantly, the customer can activate and use it immediately. If card is sent by mail, the probability that client will use the card is low. This service attracts customers to use cards instantly and improves their loyalty.

• Enhanced Security: 

PIN numbers are not sent through mail, so they cannot be lost or stolen. The customer has the opportunity to choose a PIN securely at time of card issuance.

This solution complies with PCI DSS standards related to card instant issuance, as well as meets Visa® and MasterCard® instant issuance security requirements.

• Increased turnover: 

The instant issuance of cards increases the sales of cards, and simultaneously the card usage and the turnover are increasing as well. Also, banks, card issuance offices, and retailers are able to charge an annual fee for cards, and a commission fee for every use of card or purchase.

• Easy maintained/configured, flexible solution:

Due to system flexibility, the solution is easy to use, simple to operate, and integrates into standard branch procedures or existing infrastructure. The solution is easily maintained to meet clients’ needs.

• Reduced Costs: 

The card and PIN are not sent by mail, thus costs for mailing and paper are eliminated. 

There is no need for expensive encryption devices or high-volume personalisation machines. You can use low-cost desktop personalisation devices and centralized chip encryption.

• Control and reports:

The system allows control over the card issuance process and provides an insight view at all steps throughout the complete personalisation process. Reports can be generated at any time, showing current status, the number of cards already personalised and available, user activities, and other relevant information.