Design and ship cards
Last updated: April 11, 2024
Before you can issue physical cards, you must first submit a card design during your onboarding, and select a method to ship the cards to your cardholders.
If you plan to issue virtual cards and will expose the card to your cardholders through a UI, the card design requirement also applies.
With our quickest option, you can use our default card design and add your company name or logo:
To use the default design, submit your company logo to your Checkout.com Onboarding Manager.
Alternatively, you can create a custom design for complete control over the look and feel of your card.
You can customize the colors used across the card, as well as the placement of your logo.
For physical cards, you can also select the color of the inner and outer card layers and the finishing.
You can also choose from several materials for your physical cards, including sustainable options such as recycled ocean plastic and PVC plastic-free materials.
Information
You'll receive a card customization guide during your onboarding that your in-house designers can use as a reference.
When you’ve finalized your card design, submit it to your Onboarding Manager.
Your custom design will need to be approved by Checkout.com and the card scheme. If you’re issuing physical cards, you’ll also need approval from the card manufacturer.
For virtual cards requiring a visual design, you can start issuing cards using the API or the Dashboard when your card design is approved.
For physical cards, you’ll be able to order a set of test cards to review. When you approve the test cards, the manufacturer will print an initial batch of cards, ready for personalization.
When your physical cards are dispatched, they are attached to a customizable card carrier. The customizable carrier can be an A4 paper, slide pack, or a card sleeve.
If you choose to send the cardholder their PIN in the mail, the PIN will be packaged separately in a customizable tri-fold letter mailer.
Note
To adhere to Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements, you must have an alternative method of providing your cardholders with their PIN if you choose to not send them a PIN mailer.
During your onboarding, you must also choose the method you would like to use to ship cards to cardholders:
- Individual: the card is sent directly to the cardholder
- Agency: cards are individually packaged in envelopes with the cardholder address printed and shipped in bulk to a single address, ready for further distribution
- Bulk: cards are shipped in bulk to a single address, without individual packaging
When you create a physical card using the API or the Dashboard, the manufacturer takes a card from the batch and personalizes it with the cardholder name and expiry date you supplied.
The card is then shipped to the appropriate recipient, as specified by your chosen shipping method.
Standard and express shipping options are available for each shipping type.
Note
To ship cards to cardholders who are not located in the European Union, contact your Account Manager.