Metal Card Conversion vs. Bank-Issued Metal Cards: What's the Difference?

Not every metal card reaches your wallet the same way. A bank-issued metal card comes with a new credit product, a credit check, and a recurring annual fee. Metal card conversion takes your existing card and transfers the EMV chip and magnetic stripe data into a solid stainless steel or brass body through a patented process. Same account, same rewards. Only the material and weight change. Here is your breakdown of metal card conversion vs. bank-issued metal card on cost, weight, and customization.

Two Paths to Metal

Both roads end with a heavier card, but what happens along the way is different.

How Bank-Issued Metal Cards Work

Banks package metal cards inside premium credit products. You apply, meet credit requirements (often a 750+ score), and commit to an annual fee from $95 to over $800. The card arrives as a metal-plastic hybrid, 13 to 19 grams, with the bank's standard design.

How Metal Card Conversion Works

Conversion changes only the material. You send in your existing debit or credit card on a prepaid label, and it works with any bank. A patented process (U.S. Patent No. 11,562,194) transfers the EMV chip and magnetic stripe data into a new metal body. Your account and rewards stay put.

Choose from preset engraved designs, full-color UV prints, or a fully custom card. The result: 28 grams of stainless steel or brass, 0.8mm thick.

What you keep when you convert:

• Your existing bank and account
• Your rewards program and credit history
• Your card number and chip (transferred into metal)
• Full control over the design

The Real Comparison

Here is the bank metal card vs. converted metal card comparison.

What the Weight Tells You

A plastic card weighs about 6 grams. Most bank metal cards hit 13 to 19 grams with a metal shell over a plastic core. A converted card at 28 grams is nearly five times the weight of plastic, the difference between blending in and making a sound on a restaurant table.

The Customization Gap

Bank metal cards come in one design. Conversion opens a different level. Laser engraving for a timeless finish, UV color printing for vibrant artwork, diamond-studded options, and limited edition releases. For fintech brands, white-label branded card programs turn this customization into a retention tool.

Which One Fits You

The right answer depends on what you value most.

When a Bank Metal Card Makes Sense

A bank-issued card works if you want a new credit product whose annual fee pays for itself through travel credits or cashback. Credit product first, material second.

When Conversion Is the Smarter Move

Conversion is for people who love their card and want to upgrade without switching banks or passing a credit check. Entrepreneurs, collectors, creators. See how metal card conversion works and why it has been trusted since 2015.

The Bottom Line

The metal card conversion vs. bank-issued metal card decision comes down to one split. Bank cards lock you into a new account with recurring fees. Conversion upgrades what you already carry into 28 grams of solid metal, no credit check, no annual cost, full customization. Your card already works for you. Design Your Card and make it feel like it belongs in your hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between metal card conversion and a bank-issued metal card?

A bank-issued metal card requires a new credit product, a credit check, and a recurring annual fee. Metal card conversion re-engineers your existing debit or credit card into solid stainless steel or brass using a patented EMV chip transfer. Your account, rewards, and bank relationship stay the same.

Should I convert my card or get a bank's metal card?

If you have a card you are happy with, conversion upgrades the material without changing your account or rewards. If you want a new credit product with travel or cashback benefits, a bank-issued card may fit. Conversion is a one-time cost; bank cards charge you every year.

How much does a converted metal card weigh?

A converted metal card from Lion Card weighs 28 grams, made from solid stainless steel or brass. Standard plastic cards weigh about 6 grams. Most bank-issued metal cards weigh 13 to 19 grams from hybrid construction.

Is a converted metal card the same as a premium bank card?

Not the same. A converted card uses your existing EMV chip and magnetic stripe data, transferred into a solid metal body through a patented process. A bank card is a separate credit product with its own account, terms, and fees.

Can a metal card tap to pay?

Metal cards do not support Tap to Pay through the card itself. You can tap to pay by adding your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay on your phone or smartwatch. Chip insert and magnetic swipe still work as before.

Do metal cards work in every machine?

Metal cards work in most standard terminals using chip insert or magnetic swipe. Full-insertion ATMs and readers are not recommended because the rigid body can stick. For those machines, use a mobile wallet or an exposed-card reader.