Spoiler: they’re not. The official thickness of a bank card has been locked at 0.76mm for decades, and ISO standards aren’t budging. But if your cards feel flimsier than they used to, you’re not imagining things.
In This Post
Why They Feel Thinner
- Embossing is dead: Those chunky raised numbers and shiny logos? Gone. Flat-printed designs make modern cards feel wafer-thin.
- Cheaper plastics: Many banks quietly switched to lighter, bendier materials. Your Tesco Clubcard might outlast your debit card.
- Metal envy: Once you’ve dropped an Amex Platinum on the table with a satisfying clunk, going back to flimsy plastic feels like flying Ryanair after Emirates First.
The Psychology of Weight
Weight matters. A heavier card makes you feel like you’re holding something valuable, even though it functions exactly the same. Metal cards lean into this, positioning themselves as status symbols you can physically feel. Flimsy plastic, on the other hand, gives the opposite impression, like a free pen you know will run out after two scribbles.
Aviation Parallels
Airlines strip padding from seats and squeeze in extra rows to save a few kilos of fuel. Banks, in their own way, are doing the same: cutting embossing, printing flat, and trimming material costs. Meanwhile, just as airlines pour champagne in first class to justify ticket prices, banks hand out heavy metal cards to keep premium customers feeling special, same cabin, different service.
The Future of Plastic
Let’s be honest: cards are becoming a backup tool. Most people pay with their phone, watch, or even ring these days. Plastic is hanging around mainly as a safety net, or as a flex if you’ve got metal. Fast-forward a decade, and we might see cards disappear entirely, except for the high-end slabs that exist purely for the prestige drop at restaurants.
WingTips Verdict
Cards haven’t slimmed down on paper, but they feel cheaper in the hand. The divide is clear: heavy metal for prestige, featherweight plastic for everyone else. Like airlines squeezing legroom while first class adds caviar, it’s all about perception, not specs. It’s just the new credit card thickness trend.
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