Question
Does anyone know of a bank that offers a blank credit card? By that I mean no pictures designs etc... other than the number and your name. The reason I ask is that I will be traveling to some countries in the near future that are not exactly friends of the US. While I am very proud to be an American, I like to minimize my exposure as much as possible.
Thanks
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Does anyone know of a bank that offers a blank credit card? By that I mean no pictures designs etc... other than the number and your name. The reason I ask is that I will be traveling to some countries in the near future that are not exactly friends of the US. While I am very proud to be an American, I like to minimize my exposure as much as possible.
Thanks
Citibank's Chairman Card is like that.
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Any person with a bit of knowledge will know where the card is from. I believe that the first 4 digits of all cards tell you what bank, and perhaps the country, as well. I have never seen a credit card that doesn't have contact info in case you lose the card printed small on the back as well.
If you are going to a country that isn't friendly (IE Cuba, or Venezuela), then you may just want to brings some cash with you.
You can also get a refillable debit card, if you don't want it linked directly to you.
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The Chairman card has a Citigroup logo on the front, and because there is no Mastercard logo on the front people may be more likely to look at the reverse side.
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It's interesting to see this posting becuase the top layer of my SPG AmEx card finally peeled totally off. I now have a completely white-faced AmEx. Of course, if AmEx would issue replacement cards more than once every four years, this would not be an issue for me.
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If you are going to a country that isn't friendly (IE Cuba, or Venezuela), then you may just want to brings some cash with you. Cuban businesses will not accept US credit cards because US banks are prohibited by law of completing the transaction.
Venezuela?! Venezuela is not a problem. It turns out the the legally elected head of state has some mental issues but as far as using a US credit card there isn't an issue.
JPL9869, Where are you going?
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Does anyone know of a bank that offers a blank credit card? By that I mean no pictures designs etc... other than the number and your name. The reason I ask is that I will be traveling to some countries in the near future that are not exactly friends of the US. While I am very proud to be an American, I like to minimize my exposure as much as possible.
Thanks
You're kidding, right?
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why don't goto canada and apply for a Canadian credit card? Perhaps a Canadian issued credit card denominated in US$ funds?
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If you really want to do this, your best bet would be a non-American sounding cobrand, like an Asiana or Mexicana Airlines credit card. Someone reading the fine print on the card will still be able to tell they're issued by a US bank, though.
Really, I think anyone set up to take credit cards is going to be more interested in your money than in your nationality. Not so much "Filthy American jackel!" and more "Rich American! Jackpot!"
Also note that the friendliness of the average people you will meet may vary a lot from the offical friendliness between that country and the US.
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I dont care what the fine print on the card says I just dont want a card that screams "look at this rich American".
I will be traveling mainly to Africa, to include Libya and Algeria, the Middle East but South America is also a possibility.
What I was hoping for is just a plain black card with a Visa or MC logo on it but not a whole lot more. I may do what one responder said and try to peel off the top layer of film...
Thanks for your responses.
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I dont care what the fine print on the card says I just dont want a card that screams "look at this rich American".
I will be traveling mainly to Africa, to include Libya and Algeria, the Middle East but South America is also a possibility.
What I was hoping for is just a plain black card with a Visa or MC logo on it but not a whole lot more. I may do what one responder said and try to peel off the top layer of film...
Thanks for your responses.
Try MBNA Quantum. It is a ritzy card that does not look like it.
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You might consider a card issued by HSBC. Even though it is a transnational enterprise in the same way as Citigroup or JPM Chase it isn't an American "brand" and their US presence is relatively new.
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You can always choose cash... or get a card form another country ;)
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You might consider a card issued by HSBC. Even though it is a transnational enterprise in the same way as Citigroup or JPM Chase it isn't an American "brand" and their US presence is relatively new.
That would be my suggestion, except HSBC in the US is generally considered a subprime issuer and it can be hard to get high limits from them.
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That would be my suggestion, except HSBC in the US is generally considered a subprime issuer and it can be hard to get high limits from them.
Hmmm... It is interesting that HSBC issues the first WorldElite Mastercard...
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HSBC bought "Household Finance", a subprime lender, but HSBC also has mainstream consumer and commercial banking operations in the USA.
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Hmmm... It is interesting that HSBC issues the first WorldElite Mastercard...
HSBC's subprime cards are issued under the "Orchard Bank" brand. The standard HSBC branded card is as easy (or hard, depending on where you sit) to get as any other bank's card.
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It's interesting to see this posting becuase the top layer of my SPG AmEx card finally peeled totally off. I now have a completely white-faced AmEx. Of course, if AmEx would issue replacement cards more than once every four years, this would not be an issue for me.
I've never had an issue in getting an old worn out card replaced. I'd no idea Amex had such a policy :confused:
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The default replacement period is 4 years, but you can always call early to get a worn-out card replaced. The annoying thing, though, is that they change the card number so you have to update it for recurring bills.
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I haven't done this myself but why not something like JCB (which I believe is Japanese based) - when I travel, many hotels and airlines do take that card along with all the regular US type brands.
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It's interesting to see this posting becuase the top layer of my SPG AmEx card finally peeled totally off. I now have a completely white-faced AmEx. Of course, if AmEx would issue replacement cards more than once every four years, this would not be an issue for me.
Try logging online and click replacement card or just call them.
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That would be my suggestion, except HSBC in the US is generally considered a subprime issuer and it can be hard to get high limits from them.
You are correct. I bank with HSBC in UK and US, in UK they gave me 9000.00 GBP and in US they gave me 500.00 USD. The customer service in US is horrible, think Providian. In UK they are like Juniper Bank.
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I haven't done this myself but why not something like JCB (which I believe is Japanese based) - when I travel, many hotels and airlines do take that card along with all the regular US type brands.
Not accepted worldwide, not in Africa for the most part. Not issued to non-asians except in selected markets.
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You are correct. I bank with HSBC in UK and US, in UK they gave me 9000.00 GBP and in US they gave me 500.00 USD. The customer service in US is horrible, think Providian. In UK they are like Juniper Bank.
There are different HSBC companies - cards issued by Direct Merchants Bank/Metris often have 5k, 10k, 15k credit lines. Don't get one issued by household or orchard though - those will have low lines.
Why the comparason to Juniper? (Just found this interesting, sonce Juniper is owned by Barclay's and also known as Barclaycard US - and Barclay's is one of the big 4 banks in the UK along with HSBC (along Natwest/RBS and Lloyds TSB).
As far as discrete cards, whats wrong with Amex gold or plat? The ones I've seen from other countries look very similar. Or are you worried about it saying AMERICAN Express on it?
All of my Citi cards are very conservative too - but I wouldn't really worry about it too much.