Abstract: Debit cards, such as long distance telephone cards, may be attractively packaged and even readily mounted for point of purchase display, in such a manner that the card is inactive until activated at the point of purchase. The card may be activated at the point of purchase without the necessity of in any way opening up the attractive packaging, or moving any portion of the packaging out of the way, and by merely "swiping" the card while still mounted in the package through a conventional card reader. The card is mounted between first and second panels of primarily cellulose material including an area significantly greater than that of the card, with the card magnetic strip completely exposed (that is uncovered by the panels or any other packaging material). The majority of the card is typically sandwiched between the first and second panels and is removably held to the panels, for example by hold melt adhesive, and the panels are affixed to each other.

Abstract: A card package assembly, and method of production, are particularly suited for use with telephone debit cards. A package is formed by folding a sheet of paper into three panels, one of which has a cutout with adhesive adjacent it. The card is held to the paper covering the cutout with identifying indicia on the card visible through the cutout from the bottom during processing, to allow verification. A tracking strip that may be readily detached from the package without opening it has tracking indicia and transfer tape on the back so that when the release sheet portion of the transfer tape is removed, adhesive is exposed which allows the tracking strip to be connected to any desired surface. The package also includes an opening-facilitating strip which is preferably reinforced, also preferably with a strip of transfer tape.