But what is this strange notch on the new bank cards for ?

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For several years, our bank cards have undergone a real makeover. Exit the embossed numbers, goodbye to the magnetic strip, and make way for a sleek and modern design. But among all these developments, one subtle change has particularly caught the attention of users: a small rounded notch, as if a rodent had nibbled the edge of the card.

At first glance, this innovation may seem counterintuitive. Who has never sworn while trying to extract their card from a recalcitrant wallet, under the impatient gaze of a hurried shopkeeper? ? Reducing the grip surface then seems like a crazy idea. However, this small notch has an unsuspected utility and demonstrates a growing awareness of the specific needs of certain users.

An innovation in the service of accessibility

Contrary to appearances, this modification is neither a manufacturing defect nor an attempt to save money on the part of the banks. It meets a very real need: facilitating the use of bank cards for visually impaired people. Indeed, this notch strategically placed on the side opposite the chip allows users with visual difficulties to easily locate their bank card among the many plastic rectangles that populate our wallets.

But its usefulness doesn't stop there. This small hollow also serves as a tactile marker to indicate the direction of insertion of the card in payment terminals or ATMs. A godsend for all those who have already experienced the frustration of having to return their card after a first unsuccessful attempt!

This initiative is part of a broader approach aimed at making banking services more accessible.According to the French Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted, a blind or partially sighted person is born every 15 hours in France. Worldwide, no fewer than 2.2 billion people are affected by vision problems. Faced with this observation, players in the banking sector have had to rethink their tools.

A gradual evolution of the banking landscape

The story of this little notch began in the UK in 2015. British banks NatWest and RBS, pioneers in the field, were the first to launch cards with this feature. Since then, the idea has gained ground and the giants of the sector have followed suit.

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In 2022, Mastercard unveiled its new “Touch Card” range, taking the concept even further. Three different types of notches were created: the rounded shape, now the most common, is reserved for credit cards; a square notch distinguishes debit cards; while a triangular notch identifies prepaid cards. A diversification that allows users to quickly differentiate their payment methods with a simple touch.

Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Mastercard, then stressed the importance of this innovation: “The Touch Card offers a greater sense of security, integration and independence to the 2.2 billion visually impaired people in the world” he declared when announcing Touch Card.

However, while this progress is undeniably positive, it does not solve all the challenges faced by visually impaired people in their daily lives. The rapid evolution of payment technologies, particularly with the proliferation of touchscreen terminals, poses new problems. Entering a PIN code, for example, becomes a real headache in the absence of a physical keyboard.

In the face of these new challenges, other innovations are on the horizon. Among them, the fingerprint sensor integrated directly into the bank card seems particularly promising. This technology would make it possible to do away with the PIN code, authorizing contactless payments with no amount limit with a simple gesture. For the time being, its deployment remains limited in France, offered as an option by a few establishments on high-end cards.

• The notch on the new bank cards is designed to help visually impaired people identify and correctly orient their card.
• This innovation, initiated in 2015 by British banks, is becoming more widespread with different forms of notches depending on the type of card (credit, debit, prepaid).
• Although this advance improves accessibility, other challenges persist, particularly with the evolution of payment technologies, pushing the sector to develop new solutions such as fingerprint cards.

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