Custom Metal Credit Card FAQ – Upgrade Your Debit or Credit Card to Metal

Thinking about upgrading your plastic debit or credit card to a custom metal credit card or metal debit card? This custom metal credit card FAQ explains how the process works, what EMV Chip Swap™ means, how safe it is to mail in your card, what design options you have, and how our warranty protects you. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your everyday bank card into a premium metal card, start here.

What is Metal-CreditCard.com and what do you sell?

Metal-CreditCard.com is a custom metal card personalization and engraving service. We transform your existing bank-issued debit or credit card into a premium custom metal card by using laser engraving and proprietary, patent-pending personalization processes (including our optional EMV Chip Swap™ service). We do not operate as a bank or card issuer. Instead, we upgrade your card’s physical body while you keep the same account relationship with your financial institution.*

Is Metal-CreditCard.com affiliated with my bank?

No. MCC is not affiliated with any financial institution, bank, or card issuer. We operate similarly to check-printing companies that personalize checks. In the same way, we provide custom card personalization services for the physical card your bank issues. As a result, your bank or card issuer stays in full control of your account, limits, fees, rewards, and all decisions about your card.

What forms of payment do you accept? Do you accept Bitcoin?

We accept Bitcoin®, PayPal®, Venmo®, Apple Pay®/Cash®, Zelle®, and all major credit cards through PayPal’s secure guest checkout. Because we take fraud prevention seriously, we do not allow instant “one-click” website checkout. Instead, after you submit your order, we send a confirmation email with clear payment instructions. We only start processing your order after we receive your payment.

How safe is your card upgrade process?

We design our process around security from start to finish. Our technicians perform all card upgrades on offline, secure laboratory terminals and use proprietary, patent-pending personalization processes. We ask every client to send in a frozen, locked, or unactivated card for added protection. In addition, MCC does not store personal card data beyond what we need to complete your order, and we securely destroy any production-related data once we finish your custom metal card. We also back our service with a 180-day comprehensive warranty and optional Extended Protection Plans.

Why do I have to mail in my original card?

We require your original bank-issued card in order to complete a safe and accurate upgrade. When you mail in your card, we can:

1. Verify & match your order – We confirm that the card you want to upgrade matches the card details you provided when placing the order. This step helps us prevent fraud.
2. Personalize your upgrade using proprietary processes – Our technicians use proprietary, patent-pending personalization processes to configure your upgraded metal card body so it can work with your existing account, subject to your issuer’s policies.
3. Maintain security & quality control – By handling the physical card in our secure lab, we can run visual and functional checks and confirm that we are upgrading a legitimate, customer-owned card.

For your safety, we require every client to send a locked, frozen, or un-activated card for processing. We will NOT create fake cards with fake numbers. We will NOT convert one network to another (for example, Visa to Mastercard or Visa to AMEX). Each metal card is personalized to correspond to an existing, bank-issued card and account. If anyone tries to use our service to commit fraud, we reserve the right to refuse service and report suspicious activity to law-enforcement authorities.

What is the EMV Chip Swap™ and why is it important?

Our EMV Chip Swap™ service is an optional upgrade that keeps many custom metal cards working at standard chip-enabled payment terminals and ATMs, where your card issuer permits it. During this service, our technicians use proprietary, patent-pending personalization processes to configure your upgraded metal card body to rely on the secure chip elements from your existing bank-issued card. Because of this, the metal card can interact with chip readers in a similar way to your original plastic card. Without EMV Chip Swap™, many chip-only merchants and ATMs may not complete a transaction, even if the card looks great physically.

Do I have to purchase the EMV Chip Swap™ service? What happens if I don’t?

If your plastic card includes an EMV chip, we strongly recommend that you add the EMV Chip Swap™ service. Today, many merchants and ATMs rely on chip-only transactions for security reasons. As a result, an upgraded metal card without chip capability may not be accepted at those locations.

If you decide not to use the EMV Chip Swap™ service, your metal card will usually only work at merchants and terminals that still allow magnetic-stripe or manual entry transactions. However, many newer terminals are programmed to require a chip insert and may decline a swipe if no functioning chip is present. In practice, you may see more declined transactions at chip-only locations if you skip EMV Chip Swap™.

What happens to my EMV chip during the upgrade?

When you select EMV Chip Swap™, our technicians use proprietary, patent-pending personalization processes to incorporate the secure chip elements from your existing bank-issued card into your upgraded metal card body. This work allows many custom metal cards to function at standard chip-enabled payment terminals and ATMs, where your issuer permits it. Throughout the upgrade, your underlying account always remains with your bank or card issuer. They retain full authority to replace, reissue, or update your card at any time based on their own security and account policies.

Will my original plastic card and PIN still work?

In many situations, your original plastic card can still serve as a backup, especially when a merchant does not require a chip. However, some upgrade options—including EMV Chip Swap™—rely on secure elements from your existing card in a way that may change how the original plastic card behaves for EMV transactions going forward. Because issuers can also replace or reissue cards at any time, we recommend that you follow your bank’s guidance about how to use or retire the original card.

In most cases, your PIN, account number, and overall relationship with your bank stay the same after the upgrade. We focus on upgrading the physical card body and configuring the metal card so it can work with your existing account details, subject to your issuer’s policies. We do not change your credit limit, interest rate, rewards program, fees, or any other account terms. All of that remains between you and your financial institution.

Will my metal card work in ATMs and card readers?

We design our metal cards to meet standard thickness requirements so they can work in most ATMs and swipe terminals. In many cases, your upgraded card will function just like a typical metal card from a major bank. However, every piece of equipment and every merchant configuration can differ. Because of this, we cannot guarantee compatibility with every device, and you may occasionally encounter readers—such as certain Square®/iPad® setups—that do not properly accept metal cards. For the best overall experience, we recommend combining EMV Chip Swap™ with a digital wallet such as Apple Pay® for tap-to-pay.

Can I customize my metal credit card?

Yes. You can customize your metal credit card or metal debit card in a number of ways. After you place your order, our design team reaches out within 12–24 hours by email. At that point, you can send sketches, logos, reference images, or text instructions. We then create a custom layout and send you PDF previews. You can request changes, and we keep refining the design until you approve the final version. We never send artwork to production without your sign-off.

To make your design process smoother:

• Design limitations: We do not engrave in color and we do not create exact replicas of existing official bank cards. Instead, we use high-contrast black-and-white engraving. Our team will let you know what is possible and what we cannot engrave.
• Logos & card networks: If you request the card type in your order form (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.), our production team engraves the appropriate logo onto your custom card.
• Fonts: You may choose a font from DaFont.com and send us the name. We download the font and use it in your card layout.
• Replicas: We do not make official replicas of Amex Centurion, “Black Cards,” or any other issuer product. However, you can design an artistic interpretation. For details on what is allowed, visit our Replica Info Page.
• Color effect on Matte Black: We engrave in a single color, but on Matte Black cards the engraving often creates a golden-bronze effect that looks bold for initials, logos, and names.

Can I order a black metal card with no numbers or info?

You can request a very minimal design, but we still need to tie every working metal card to a real bank-issued card and account. You may choose to display less information on the front face of the card, and we can keep the layout clean and simple. However, we do not produce fake, blank, or non-functional cards. All functional metal cards must connect to a legitimate account. Creating fake or non-functional card products goes against our policy and federal law.

What is your return and warranty policy? What if my bank replaces my card?

We want you to feel confident when you upgrade to metal. For that reason, we offer a 30-day return window on standard, non-custom metal cards. Custom engraved cards are final sale because we create them specifically for you. Even so, we protect all cards with a 180-day comprehensive warranty that covers defects, malfunctions, and chip issues.

If your bank sends you a replacement card within six months of your metal upgrade, we work with you under warranty. In many cases, we can replace your metal card when your bank unexpectedly changes or reissues your plastic card. To start a claim, email our support team at [email protected]. If your bank replaces your card early due to fraud or other issues, we review your situation and offer a case-by-case solution under our warranty terms.

What happens when my plastic card expires?

Your metal card follows the same expiration date as your original plastic card. When your bank or issuer sends you a new plastic card with a new expiration date, you need to place a new order if you want that fresh card upgraded to metal. To make this easier, we offer a returning-customer discount. Simply ask us for the current promo code before you reorder.

Do you offer military, veteran, or law enforcement discounts?

Yes. We proudly support those who serve. All verified veterans, active-duty military, and law enforcement officers receive a 20% discount. To claim this offer, email redacted proof of service (for example, VA ID, DD-214, or agency ID with sensitive data covered) to [email protected] before you place your order. We then send you a unique discount code to use at checkout.

How long does the process take?

Turnaround time depends on shipping and design, but we move quickly. After we receive your card in the lab, we typically complete U.S. orders in under 7 business days. Because shipping adds a little time on both sides, most clients see a total door-to-door turnaround of about 7–10 business days.

All U.S. customers—including those in Florida—follow the same process. We email you a free USPS Priority label so you can ship your card to us with tracking. This approach keeps our workflow consistent and secure.

Do you have a local pickup or showroom?

No. We do not operate a walk-in showroom or pickup counter. Instead, we process all orders exclusively through the mail. This system allows us to keep the lab secure, standardize our procedures, and give every client the same consistent experience.

How do I know you don’t store my credit card number?

We treat your card data with the same seriousness that banks expect. To reduce risk, we run personalization on offline workstations and never send your card data over the public internet. We also model our internal procedures after PCI-DSS security standards that the banking industry uses. In practical terms, this means we only use the limited information we need to complete your upgrade and we securely destroy any production-related data after we finish your custom metal card.

Will the metal card show wear or scratches?

Every card—plastic or metal—shows some wear over time. The big difference is how the card ages. Our engravings stay permanent, so you never lose the artwork or text. In addition, our coating resists scratches better than standard plastic. Normal scuffs and minor marks fall under regular wear and tear. However, if you ever see a true manufacturing defect or functional issue, you can reach out under our warranty and we will review your card.

Can I upgrade more than one card?

Yes. Many customers upgrade multiple cards over time. You can submit separate orders for each bank-issued debit or credit card you want to upgrade. We treat each card as its own project so that we can verify, customize, and track every upgrade correctly.

Can I pay instantly on your website?

No. At this time, we do not offer instant pay-on-site checkout. Instead, we send secure payment instructions after you submit your order. You can then pay using PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Zelle, or Bitcoin. This extra step gives us a chance to screen orders, reduce fraud, and keep the service available for legitimate clients who want a real custom metal card upgrade.

Still have questions after reading this custom metal credit card FAQ? You can email us anytime at [email protected] or visit our Order Today page to start your custom metal credit card upgrade.