A stored-value card (SVC) is a payment card with a monetary value stored on the card itself, not in an external account maintained by a financial institution. This means no network access is required by the payment collection terminals as funds can be withdrawn and deposited straight from the card. Like cash, payment cards can be used anonymously as the person holding the card can use the funds. They are an electronic development of token coins and are typically used in low-value payment systems or where network access is difficult or expensive to implement, such as parking machines, public transport systems, and closed payment systems in locations such as ships.
A U.S. Navy clerk holds a keypad for a customer to enter his Navy Cash Card personal identification number aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA-5). The system eliminates cash and coins from the entire ship and instead requires sailors to add money from their personal bank accounts to one of two systems held on the cash card.
A vending machine sells farecards for the Washington Metro subway.
Payment cards are part of a payment system issued by financial institutions, such as a bank, to a customer that enables its owner to access the funds in the customer's designated bank accounts, or through a credit account and make payments by electronic transfer with a payment terminal and access automated teller machines (ATMs). Such cards are known by a variety of names, including bank cards, ATM cards, client cards, key cards or cash cards.
Example of two credit cards
Purchasing by debit card
Israeli manual card imprinter
A proximity card