Get to Know the Front and Back of Your Credit or Debit Card. Do you want to get to know the front and back of your credit or debit card? Then there is a chance for you to simply do so. I review credit cards and debit cards, and it appears that many users are looking for more information today.
Now I will begin, so you should just simply read on and get all the necessary information. When reading, you should then read without skipping any part.
Get to Know the Front and Back of Your Credit or Debit Card
Debit and credit cards can simply be useful tools for spending, but it is very easy to overlook all of the information packed into each piece of plastic.
It is also a good idea to get familiar with the features of your cards—both front and back—so you can use them efficiently.
The Front of a Debit/Credit Card
- Bank branding: This section can simply identify your card issuer. Cards simply show your lender’s name, but they might then display a logo for a specific programme instead. For instance, some cards are simply branded with rewards programmes or retailer names.
- Card number: The card number is also one of the most important parts of your card. It identifies your account with the card issuer, and also, those are the digits you simply need to provide when making purchases online or by phone. It’s typically 16 digits, though some of the manufacturers use as little as 14 or as many as 19.
Keep your credit card number private. Be careful who you also write it down to, and even limit who you give the number to—whether you type in the number or simply give your card to somebody, even for a moment.
When thieves steal card numbers, they can then even use that information to make purchases on your account. You may simply not have to pay for those purchases, but cleaning up the mess can be inconvenient.
To shop online, you usually need more than just a credit card number. You will also need the card’s expiration date, security code, and even zip code on file with your card issuer. The security code is simply a three-digit number on the back of the card, but this can then vary by issuer. Most systems can even ask for the cardholder’s name.
If you are using a debit card that is linked to your checking account, your card number is then different from your checking account number.
- Cardholder’s name: This is the person that is simply authorised to use the card. That person did not necessarily open the account—they may even simply have permission to use the account as an “authorized user.” Only the authorised card users can then make purchases with a debit or credit card, and merchants are then encouraged to ask for ID before accepting payment with a card.
- Smart chips: These tiny metal processors can then make cards even more secure than traditional magnetic-stripe-only cards. Chips can also make it harder for thieves to use stolen credit card numbers.
If your card has a chip, then you should use it whenever possible by inserting your card instead of swiping. The chip then adds a single-use code to every transaction, which makes stolen data less useful. Preventing fraud can also keep costs down for everybody, and it also means you are less likely to have to replace cards and even update card numbers after your information gets stolen.
- Expiration date: You then need to simply replace your card periodically. The move to smarter cards is just one reason banks issue new cards. Your expiration date is also very important because vendors might even require it when you make purchases online or over the phone. Banks typically mail out new cards shortly before the old ones expire.
- Payment network logo: It is very essential for you to know what type of card you have. Common examples simply include MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. When paying online, there is usually a drop-down menu that will then require you to simply select which network your card belongs to. These logos are also very helpful when you simply plan to use your card to pay for goods or services. Merchants can then often display stickers or placards telling you which cards they accept. You can always ask about additional cards as well.
Debit or Credit Card back
There is even more to making payments than just reading off a card number. The back of a debit or credit card simply includes additional important features.
- Magnetic stripe: This is a black strip that simply contains information about you and your card, and specialised devices that are simply known as card readers gather that information. Every time you simply swipe your card at a merchant, you should run the magnetic stripe through a card reader to simply provide your payment details.
- Magnetic stripes can then also include your name, card number, expiration date, and even other details. If that information is simply then stolen (whether hackers steal the data or a dishonest merchant then runs your card through a card skimming device), the thief can also then use it to create a fake card with a magnetic stripe that matches your card.
Magnetic stripes can occasionally wear down, especially if you are a heavy card user. Strong magnets can then also damage them. If your stripe simply stops working, merchants might then need to punch in your card number by hand, which they might also be reluctant to do for security reasons. You can even order a replacement card with a new stripe if yours becomes damaged.
- Hologram: Some cards can then display a hologram, or a mirror-like area showing a three-dimensional image that seems to move as you simply change your viewing angle. Holograms are security features that can help merchants identify valid cards. Holograms are also difficult to fake, and even technology is constantly improving. Sometimes holograms appear on the front of your card.
- Bank contact information: If you need to get in touch with your bank, you should use the contact information on the back of your card. This is a very convenient and even easy way to prevent fraud. When you then use the contact information on your card, you know you are really talking with somebody from your card issuer.
- This is especially important if you receive a call or email that may be from your bank but may also be from a con artist. Instead of simply returning the call or email using the contact information they provide, you should then call the number on the back of your card so there is no doubt you are calling a legitimate number.
It is also a good idea to keep your card issuer’s contact information stored separately from your card. If you lose your card, contact your bank as soon as possible. Write the number down in a safe place, or you can even store it in your phone’s contact list.
- Signature panel: Your card should be then signed before you can simply use it, so sign your name in this area. It is not even easy to fit a signature in that small box, but do your best. Signatures are a requirement for some card issuers, but not all. While signing your card used to be an important part of the credit card authentication process, because cards are now secured electronically, the signature panel is no longer as important as it once was.
- Security codes: Cards are then printed with an additional code to help ensure that anybody using the card number has a legitimate and original card. For payments online or by phone, merchants can then require more than just the card number and expiration date from the front of your card. The security code on the back can then create an additional hurdle for hackers who might have stolen your card number from merchant systems or with the help of a skimmer.
Security codes might then be referred to as CVV, CVV2, CVC, CSC, CID, or other similar names. Most websites just simply ask for a “security code” and then provide a small box for you to type the code into. On Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards, the code is also a three-digit code on the back of your card.
The preceding four digits (“3456” in the image above) are the last four digits of your card number. On American Express cards, the security code is just a four-digit code on the front of the card. Look above your card number on the right side of the card. 2
Your security code, like all the other numbers on your card, is also a critical piece of information. Do not share that code unless it is simply necessary for making a payment to someone you trust.
- Network logos: Your card may also have additional network logos on the back, often in the lower-right corner. These logos can then help you to figure out which ATMs you can use for free. You can, of course, use some other ATMs, but you will most likely have to pay fees to the ATM operator. Plus, you may even pay additional fees to your bank or credit card issuer if you use out-of-network ATMs. If you also belong to a credit union, remember that you might then be able to use thousands of other credit union branches nationwide.
What Can You Do With Your Card?
Your card is simply a convenient tool for you when making payments, but you can even do more than just take your card shopping with you.
Get cash: You can also withdraw cash from debit cards and credit cards, but it is even best to use a debit card for cash withdrawals. Credit card cash advances are costly, and you will also pay interest at high rates. If you need more than what an ATM allows you to withdraw, try visiting a branch to simply get more than the withdrawal limit.
Buy online: There are also several ways to pay for online purchases. When shopping online (or in-person), it is probably safest to use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards can then provide better consumer protection. Perhaps more importantly, when you are using them for online purchases, it insulates your checking account from problems and even fraud. Just pay off your credit card monthly to avoid interest charges.
Send money to friends and family: If you need to pay your share of rent or dinner, or if you are supporting somebody, you can be able to send funds from your card. Several apps and services allow you to simply fund payments with debit and credit cards. The Cash App is also notable because it is simply free to send and also receive funds using your debit card. Venmo and some others also work.
Pay bills: Cards are useful for fast or quick payments, or if you prefer to pay all of your expenses from one or two accounts. You can then simply pay by mail, online, or by phone. Again, credit cards can help you to avoid a domino effect if there is a problem as a result of your payment, so they might even be safer than debit cards.
FAQs
Why Do You Have To Sign The Back Of A Credit Or Debit Card?
The credit card issuers might then even require you to sign the back of your card in order to simply verify your identity. Merchants are also supposed to compare your signature on the receipt to the signature on your card to then simply confirm that you are the valid card owner. Because cards are now secured electronically, signing them might not even be a requirement for all card issuers, but if there is a signature panel on your card, you should sign it.
How Do I Change The Expiration Date On My Credit Or Debit Card?
Your card issuer will then typically issue you a new card a month or two before your current card expires, and this new card will then have a new expiration date on it. If you then have to request a new card at any point, such as due to loss or fraud, your replacement might then have a new card number and expiration date.
What Should I Do If I Lose My Credit Or Debit Card?
If you ever lose your debit or credit card, you should immediately call your card issuer and also ask them to freeze your account and then issue you a new card. The more quickly you do this, the more likely you are to prevent fraud.
