Then and Now – Financial Cards

In this series of articles using source material from historical and current issues of Holography News® (HN), along with a few other contextual sources, I have so far covered the development of commercial holography for use on banknotes, ID cards, head-up displays and the graphics arts industry. This month, I turn my attention to its use on financial cards.

Credit cards

From my perspective, the story of holograms on financial cards begins with credit cards – starting with a problem. In the 1970s, the use of credit cards started to gain widespread popularity, offering convenience for stores, efficiencies for banks and, if properly managed, cash flow control for consumers. This newfound convenience came with an unintended consequence: a surge in counterfeit cards and fraudulent activities. Financial institutions were faced with the daunting challenge of ensuring the integrity of their payment cards.