Abstract: A card assembly comprising a display portion and a transaction card is provided. The display portion comprises a substantially planar substrate. The transaction card comprises a substantially rectangular and substantially planar substrate having first and second short edges and first and second long edges. The transaction card further comprises at least one magnetic stripe having a card identification number encoded thereon. The at least one magnetic stripe is substantially parallel to the long edges. The transaction card is detachably coupled to the display portion at a coupling interface located along one of the short edges. The card assembly may be configured so that the transaction card can be inserted into a card-reading device while the transaction card is still attached to the display portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for activating and using a transaction card comprising two storage media is provided. A composite transaction card comprises a transaction portion detachably coupled to an activation portion. The transaction portion comprises a substantially planar transaction portion substrate having a machine readable transaction storage medium applied thereto. The transaction storage medium has transaction card data associated with an account stored therein. The activation portion comprises a substantially planar activation portion substrate having a machine readable activation storage medium applied thereto. The activation storage medium has activation data associated with the account stored therein.

Abstract: A foldable data card assembly is disclosed. The assembly is a sheet which has a base portion and a first and second lateral portion which extend from the base portion. The second lateral portion folds toward the base portion to a stowed position, while the first lateral portion folds toward the base portion and the stowed second lateral position to a covering position. A first and second line of weakness cross at least the base portion and first lateral portion and an adhesive is disposed between the lines of weakness and the edge to seal the assembly. The assembly is opened by removing tearing away portions of the sheet above and below the lines of weakness to remove the portions of the sheet which were adhered together. The assembly may then be opened to gain access to the second lateral portion which contains information relating to a data card.