Some time this year, you will be able to get a credit card that's meant for your pet. If you are shopping for dog biscuits or a dog shampoo or a collar for your dog, your neighbourhood pet shop will allow you to swipe this free form cards to pay for your purchases. The card will carry your dog's or cat's photograph.
Free form cards for pets are just one of the many kinds of free form cards that Visa will be launching in India. Among other things, Visa is introducing free form cards in varying shapes and sizes that can be personalised to reflect the personality and lifestyle of its users, as well as for different occasions. Examples include festive seasons, gift cards, card shapes and designs tailored for music lovers, for pet lovers, sports enthusiasts and home-makers.
The free form card is currently available in Thailand, Korea and Malaysia as a debit card. In India, however, the card is expected to be a credit card. A variant of the free form card, called the Visa Mini card, is available in India.
In India, Standard Chartered Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Citibank have issued mini cards as a companion card to your regular credit card. They are aimed at the young (age bracket: 18 to 26 years), who aspire to a trendy lifestyle, and focused on fashion, clubs, movies and music.
An ICICI Bank executive, however, said banks here had not studied the market for pets and that mini cards were more "a fashion statement for women and the young. It's a niche market."
Mini cards are only 40 millimeters by 66 millimeters, nearly half the size of a regular-sized Visa card. With a perforated hole at the bottom left corner, you can attach the Visa Mini to your key chain, mobile phone or other carry-along devices.
Visa Mini is issued as a companion card to your regular sized Visa card and provides you with an additional convenient way to pay for your Visa purchases. Mind you, however, these cards cannot be used to withdraw cash at ATMs. The can only be used at shops that use electronic terminals with card swipe readers.
Mini cards bear the same details as your regular size Visa card -- your card number, your name and the expiry date. Visa Mini has been a huge success in Asia Pacific where young and tech-savvy consumers represent a significant share of this market, says James Murray, executive vice president, south and S-E Asia, Visa Asia Pacific.
Mastercard too offers similar cards, though these are aimed at women and the young and are not available in India as yet.