Asked in Consumer ElectronicsAccepting Credit CardsCredit and Debit CardsCredit
Consumer Electronics
Accepting Credit Cards
Credit and Debit Cards
Credit
Why do credit cards have a magnetic stripe on the back?
Answer

Wiki User
March 21, 2010 5:48AM
So you can use them. Otherwise they are nothing but peices of plastic.
That's what the card scanner 'reads'. It contains the bank's identification and your account number, etc.
Related Questions
Asked in Credit and Debit Cards
Are bank cards affected by being next to another bank card?

The magnetic strips on the back of bank cards and credit cards
can be affected by strong magnetic fields or being close to weak
magnetic fields. When you keep credits cards in a wallet with
magnetic strip touching or being very close together, it is
possible for the magnetic strips to affect each making them
unreadable. Even so, the credit cards can still be used by manually
keying in the credit card number.
Asked in Credit and Debit Cards, Credit
Can the magnetic tape on credit cards be repaired?

"In today's modern world of technology, magnetic encoding has
revolutionized the safe and reliable transfer of personal credit
card data. However, once the magnetic strip has been damaged on the
back of a credit card it will no longer work properly. The only
solution is to replace it with a new card."
Asked in Credit and Debit Cards
How does magnets in credit cards work?

There are no magnets in credit cards. If you're referring to the
'magnetic strip' on the back of the card - it's a secondary system
of identifying the card. When you insert your card into an ATM -
the machine reads the magnetic strip which connects it to the
account-holder's bank. Contrary to popular belief - it does
not contain the PIN associated with the card.
Asked in Business & Finance
What is subsidiary credit cards?

Subsidiary credit cards are viable credit cards issued under the
direction of a major credit card company. For example, the American
Express Company issues several different types of credit cards.
They have cards that give you cash back, cards that give you points
to purchase other items, and cards that earn airline travel miles.
Each one of these types of cards are subsidiary credit cards.
Asked in Credit and Debit Cards, Statutes of Limitations, Credit
How are magnets used in credit cards?

The strip on the back of your credit card is made up of magnetic
particles that contain the account information. Any contact with a
magnet or magnetic field can cause the strip to become demagnetized
and the card to be ruined. Exposure to magnets can cause the
particles in the strip to rearrange, making the card
unreadable.
Read more: Why Do Magnets Ruin Credit Cards? | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_5365431_do-magnets-ruin-credit-cards.html#ixzz1Odckj7cS
Asked in Credit and Debit Cards, Credit Reports, Improving Your Credit Rating, Credit
Why is there a security code on the back of a credit card?

The security code is not only on the back of the card. Example:
American Express puts it on the front.
The basic concept is simple. This number is only phisical....
meaning that it is not also encoded on the credit card magnetic
stripe. The result is, that if you know and can provide this code,
you have the physical card in your possesion.