However, this change had an unforeseen consequence: the removal of the cards' tactile features has led to some disadvantage for people with disabilities. These features were a crucial aid for those with accessibility needs to identify and differentiate their cards, orienting them for payment, and allowing them to read their details.

To address this, UK Finance alongside industry participants is developing an ‘Accessible Cards Code of Practice’ which promotes innovations for card design that seek to improve tactile, visual and functional accessibility at the outset.

It has been critical to consider the branding, technical functionality and regulations which determine card design as part of this process. IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST), a global card manufacturer, has assisted our efforts to develop the code of practice with UK issuers, and our continuing collaboration is why we visited their site in Tewkesbury.

During our visit, we learnt about the various steps involved in the creation of credit and debit cards. The Tewkesbury site is involved in the final stage of card manufacturing: personalisation. Over 40 million cards are personalised and issued to consumers annually from this facility alone.

How cards for everyday payments are created

During the site visit to Idemia, we learnt about the end-to-end process of designing and producing cards for payments.

The process begins with a pre-production and pre-press phase, covering the management of graphical elements from design proof submission to print material preparation. The card visuals are printed on both the front and back of sheet stacks, consisting of multiple PVC sheets that form different card layers, including the core with antenna, which is critical for the functioning of the card. The layered sheets are subsequently placed into high-pressure lamination machines, which bond the layers together under heat to form a solid sheet, which is then cut into individual cards. Cards can be milled and prepared for chip insertion.

At the Tewkesbury site, we witnessed hundreds of cards being placed into huge machines along with sheets of cardholder details for an automated personalisation process that is completed in a matter of seconds. On the other half of the factory floor,  advanced machinery seamlessly processes envelopes and letters from issuers, integrating personalised cards with precision and speed. Fascinatingly, some issuers still request certain aspects of card personalisation to be done by hand, adding a bespoke touch to an otherwise highly automated process.

Considerations for creating accessible cards

A real challenge for UK Finance’s accessible cards code of practice has been ensuring cards are readable by vulnerable individuals while conforming to existing card feature placement rules. IST is supporting the code of practice via their creation of accessible card design mock-ups for blind and partially sighted and dyslexic individuals.

IST is a pioneering partner in making payment cards more accessible by co-designing three distinct card cut-outs (also called notches) with a payment scheme, an example among other inclusive features developed to promote the inclusion of blind and visually impaired individuals. UK Finance’s code of practice encourages use of these notches, along with other accessibility features such as larger text and colour contrast.

During our visit, we designed an accessible card mock-up which demonstrated some of the considerations. For example, the word CREDIT or DEBIT on the front of the card cannot be moved to create space for tactile markings due to requirements in the Payment Services Regulations 2017.

Moreover, we had to consider what would look best from a consumer’s perspective for card design. For example, we initially specified a minimum font size of 4.5mm for crucial information on a card (details such as CVV, expiry date, etc). The mock-ups showed this to be impractical in terms of spacing and aesthetics. Another consideration was brand design for banks; many have nominated colours which would conflict with the 7:1 contrast we initially aimed for.

Finally, it is critical that the technical functionality of the card is maintained. When placing preprinted text, it needs to be clear of the contact plate that enables data transfer between the card’s chip and payment terminals.

The variation in design between different issuers’ cards and what suits different customers was fascinating. The visit acted as a reminder that accessibility is not just an afterthought, but a design aspect at every stage of the card design process. By understanding the constraints of this process, alongside the needs of vulnerable customers, policymakers can be better equipped to shape a card standard that is inclusive and functional, ensuring payments remain safe and accessible to all.

Thanks to Tim Haultain and Jodie Peirce and the team for hosting us at IDEMIA Secure Transactions and for supporting our crucial work on accessibility for card payments.