Apple Card to Lose Magnetic Stripe By 2029

Mastercard last week announced that its cards will no longer be issued with the magnetic stripe by 2029, which will presumably include Apple Card.

apple card 1
The magnetic stripe was an early 1960s technology that allowed card information to be encoded onto magnetic tape that is laminated to the back of a card, paving the way for electronic payment terminals and chip cards. Now, Mastercard is set to be the first payments network to phase out the magnetic stripe.

Starting in 2024, Mastercard credit and debit cards will not be required to feature a magnetic stripe in most markets, including Europe. Banks in the United States will no longer be required to issue cards with a magnetic stripe in 2027. Mastercard expects that the magnetic stripe will disappear in Europe most quickly, where chip cards are already widely used.

By 2029, there will be no new Mastercard credit or debit cards issued with a magnetic stripe, but prepaid cards in the U.S. and Canada will be exempt from this change. By 2033, no more Mastercard credit and debit cards will have magnetic stripes at all, giving the remaining retail partners that still rely on the technology ample time to phase in chip card processing.

The decision comes as consumers have changed their payment habits to prefer newer, more secure technologies. Chip-based cards that feature microprocessors and contactless antennae are now widespread, virtually eliminating the need for the older magnetic stripe technology, which has steadily declined in use in recent years.

apple card front back

The front and rear of ‌Apple Card‌.

As a Mastercard, the ‌Apple Card‌ features a gray magnetic stripe on the rear of the card at the bottom, under the company's specification requirements. According to the current timeframe set out for phasing out the stripe, Apple and its partner Goldman Sachs can start to issue new Apple Cards without the magnetic stripe from 2027. Apple will be obliged to make the change by 2029.

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Top Rated Comments

madman365 Avatar
51 months ago
Appreciate the heads up. Don't wanna be caught off guard 8 years from now. ;)
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trulsdd Avatar
51 months ago
WHAT? You still use magnetic stripes in the US? Haven't seen one of those in years, let alone used one.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GubbyMan Avatar
51 months ago

Oh yes. VERY common at gas stations. It's very uncommon for me to use contactless at the pump.
WHAT? You guys still have gas stations? Haven't used one in years. /s
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SkyRom Avatar
51 months ago
2029? Lol. JFK didn't even need that much warning to get us to the moon ?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MisterSavage Avatar
51 months ago

WHAT? You still use magnetic stripes in the US? Haven't seen one of those in years, let alone used one.
Oh yes. VERY common at gas stations. It's very uncommon for me to use contactless at the pump.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghanwani Avatar
51 months ago
Meanwhile, my Visa debit card still has raised lettering.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)