How to Customize a Credit Card

People seem to be customizing everything these days. There are skins for cell phones, iPods, laptops, and so much more. Why not credit cards, too? For many, their credit card may be the most-used possession they have. Some may feel that if it’s going to be used often, it might as well reflect who they are.

Custom credit cards

Credit card companies understand that consumers like the idea, so many offer custom credit cards and credit card designs. Discover’s More card has multiple custom image options, for both consumer and student credit cards:

• The Wildlife credit card features images such as an eagle, wolf, horse and more
• The Sealife credit card’s options include a shark, dolfin, turtle, clown fish and others
• The Monogram credit card displays the cardholder’s initials (or any three letters) and a choice of several stylishly colored backgrounds: girly pink, lime green, elegant black and many more

Capital One’s Card Lab also allows consumers to choose custom credit card images and designs. In fact, just about any photo that you’ve taken — everything from that of a pet to one of your children — can grace the front of your Capital One card.

Credit card designs

If your credit card company doesn’t offer custom credit cards or credit card designs, there still are ways to customize your credit card. CreditCovers.com provides credit card slipcovers, or “skins.” The skins come in a wide variety of credit card designs. Custom skins also can be created based on individual or business wants and needs. These custom credit card designs are easy to apply and easy to remove. The company promises that they are durable and won’t interfere with credit card usage. The only card it doesn’t seem to work with is a smart card — those credit cards that store credit information on a tiny computer chip.

Is it legal to customize credit cards?

Depending on the credit card company, there will be different guidelines to follow. Always remember to read the terms and conditions associated with your credit cards. As long as the credit card designs are not in violation of those terms, customizing credit cards should be perfectly fine.

Lyn Lomasi