What Is a Metal Credit Card? The Complete Guide to Converting Your Plastic Card

A metal credit card is not a new account. It is the card you already carry, rebuilt in solid metal. Your chip, your number, your bank, all unchanged. The material, the weight, and the impression change completely.

Most associate "metal credit card" with a bank product needing approval and an annual fee. Alternatively, it can be a re-engineered stainless steel or brass card from your existing debit or credit card, using a patented process. No application, no credit check, no new account — just send in your regular card and receive a metal one. Here is how the process works, what changes, and what stays the same.

What a Metal Credit Card Actually Is

A metal credit card is a payment card made from stainless steel or brass instead of standard PVC plastic. It carries the same EMV chip, the same magnetic stripe data, and the same account information as the original. The difference is physical, not financial.

Lion Card is a card conversion company, not a bank or card issuer. The service takes a working plastic card and transplants the chip and stripe into a metal body, protected by U.S. Patent No. 11,562,194. That patent covers the manufacturing process itself, not just a design. The result is a card that still functions with your bank, your rewards, and your account, but feels entirely different in your hand.

This matters because a metal credit card through conversion is open to anyone. You do not need to qualify for a premium tier. You do not need to switch banks. If you have a credit, debit, or prepaid card with an EMV chip, it can be converted.

How the Patented Process Works

The conversion follows a five-step sequence, refined over a decade of production.

1. Precision cut. The metal card body is milled to exact dimensions, 85.60 by 53.98mm, at 0.8mm thick, to fit the EMV chip.
2. Chip transplant. The EMV chip is carefully removed from your plastic card and prepped for embedding.
3. Secure implant. The chip is implanted into the metal body with micron-level accuracy.
4. Laser weld and encapsulate. The chip is sealed and welded to ensure durability under daily use.
5. Quality inspection. Every card is tested for chip read, magnetic stripe function, and finish quality before shipping.

Your original plastic card comes back alongside the new metal card. The original retains swipe-only capability since the chip has moved to the metal body. Both cards are tracked and shipped securely.

What Changes, What Stays the Same

The conversion changes the material and the feel. It does not change how you pay.

One thing to know: Tap to Pay is not supported on the metal card itself. You can still tap to pay by adding your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. A dedicated Tap-and-Pay metal card line is planned for September 2026. Avoid ATMs or terminals that pull the card fully inside, since the rigid metal body can stick in motorized slots.

Engraved vs. UV Color

Two customization methods, two different looks.

• Laser engraving cuts your design into the metal surface. The result is tactile, monochrome, and permanent. It suits clean text, logos, initials, and classic designs that rely on texture and contrast rather than color.
• UV color printing bonds vibrant, full-color artwork directly onto the metal. The print is durable and fade-resistant. It works for photos, illustrations, brand art, and any design where color is the point.

Both methods are available across all finishes, from brushed and mirror to brass and carbon fiber. You can preview both in the online customizer, approve a mockup before anything is made, and design the rest to match.

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

A custom metal credit card starts at $99. Some premium finishes and add-ons carry a small upcharge, shown as you build your card in the customizer. There are no subscriptions and no recurring fees.

After you order, Lion Card emails a prepaid, tracked shipping label. Production starts the same day your card arrives and takes 1 to 2 business days. Total turnaround runs about 5 to 7 business days for domestic orders and 10 to 14 business days for international shipments.

Every order includes a 30-day guarantee and a 60-day warranty covering chip and magnetic stripe defects.

Your Card, Rebuilt in Metal

You do not need a bank's approval or a premium tier to carry a metal credit card. Convert the card you already use, pick your finish, and keep your exact account, number, and bank. Same chip underneath, a sharper look on top. The patented process has been refined over a decade, and every card is tested before it ships.

Ready to build yours? Start in the design your own studio and choose your finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a metal credit card a new card or my existing card converted?

It is your existing card, converted. Your account number, bank, rewards, and credit line stay exactly the same. The only change is the physical material, from plastic to stainless steel or brass. You are not applying for anything new.

Does Lion Card issue new cards or accounts?

No. Lion Card is a card conversion company, not a bank, card issuer, or rewards provider. The service converts the plastic card you already use into metal, keeping your chip, number, and bank relationship unchanged.

Is a metal credit card worth it?

That depends on what you value. A converted card weighs 28 grams against roughly 6 grams for plastic, lands heavier at the counter, and resists the bending and fading that wear out PVC. If you care how your card looks and feels, and you want something that stands apart, the upgrade is noticeable from the first tap of your wallet. The card still pays the same way.

Can any card be converted to metal?

Most credit, debit, and prepaid cards with an EMV chip can be converted. This works with any bank, since the conversion moves your chip, not your account. Apple Card is the one exception and is not compatible with the process.

Does Tap to Pay work on a metal credit card?

Tap to Pay is not supported on the metal card itself. You can still tap to pay by adding your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. A Tap-and-Pay metal card is planned for September 2026 and will weigh 19 grams.

Is it safe to send my card in for conversion?

Yes. Lion Card is PCI compliant and BBB A+ accredited, and the company never stores, shares, or sells your card data. Your information is used only during the transfer process and is permanently deleted once the order is completed. You can freeze your card or send it with a zero balance, and Lion Card never asks for your PIN, SSN, or banking passwords. Both your original and new metal card ship back on tracked labels.