Abstract: A device for conducting monetary transactions with smart cards such as blank cards comprises a housing (120), a coupler (121) for smart cards, a slot (121a) located at the coupler for partial insertion of a smart card, a keypad (122) for the input of at least one confidential code associated with the card inserted into the coupler, and a process for validating the transaction. The slot is adjacent to an edge of the keypad, and the coupler and the slot are positioned so that a portion of the card remaining outside of the housing after partial insertion extends at least partially above the keypad, forming a screen during input of the code to protect confidentiality.

Abstract: The invention relates to a card-personalizing apparatus comprising at least one device for treating the cards and one handling robot. The treating device comprises a plurality of personalizing units associated with a control unit. The handling robot includes a feeding hopper (1), a stacking hopper (6), a scrapping hopper (7) and gripper device for gripping the cards (3) mounted on a 2-way shift device (4), a control logic (L) being connected to the control unit to manage the personalizing operations.