Capital One Closes Discover Deal  

Capital One has completed its $35 billion acquisition of Discover, making it the largest U.S. credit card issuer. The merger, first proposed in February 2024, received regulatory approval in April, though with significant conditions. Discover was fined over $250 million by the Fed and FDIC for longstanding pricing misclassification issues and must pay $1.225 billion in restitution. As part of the deal, Capital One must submit a corrective action plan within 120 days to address these regulatory concerns.  

For more information, visit capitalone.com. 

CPI Card Group Acquires Arroweye Solutions  

CPI Card Group Inc. has acquired Arroweye Solutions Inc. for $45.55 million in an all-cash transaction completed on May 6. Arroweye, known for its digitally driven, on-demand payment card solutions, enhances CPI’s capabilities by offering hyper-personalization and eliminating inventory needs for customers. This strategic acquisition expands CPI’s portfolio across payment card production, personalization, instant issuance, prepaid and digital solutions, enabling it to serve a broader customer base and pursue additional market opportunities. Arroweye, with approximately 200 employees and a 75,000-square-foot facility in Las Vegas, is expected to generate mid-$50 million in annual revenue in 2025. CPI funded the deal through cash and its credit revolver, without assuming any of Arroweye’s debt or cash. Leadership from both companies expressed optimism about the growth and value this combination will deliver.  

For more information, visit cpicardgroup.com. 

New MetaMask Metal Payment Card  

CompoSecure, in partnership with Baanx and MetaMask, has unveiled the MetaMask metal payment card—a groundbreaking solution that allows users to spend directly from their self-custody MetaMask crypto wallets without relying on traditional banks or pre-converting funds. Backed by Mastercard’s global network, this card enables instant, secure, and seamless transactions via smart contracts, functioning like a traditional debit card but powered by blockchain technology. Operating on the Ethereum-secured Linea network, the MetaMask card bridges the gap between Web3 and real-world spending, transforming crypto into a usable everyday currency. The global launch is set for Q2 2025. 

For more information, visit composecure.com. 

Entrust, ConnectID Tapped for Biometric Fraud Prevention as ID Theft Grows  

Entrust has secured Security Bank Philippines as a new client for its biometric identity verification platform, Entrust Onfido Studio, starting with retail banking onboarding to enhance its eKYC process and later expanding across more services. The bank will leverage the platform’s customizable ID verification workflows to meet compliance and improve user experience. Meanwhile, Australia’s ConnectID—part of Australian Payments Plus—will provide identity verification for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) users through the Caresquare platform, aiming to reduce fraud and errors for over 690,000 participants. In the U.S., identity verification provider ID.me revealed that over 70 million Americans have used its biometric and digital wallet services, which now support interactions with government agencies, healthcare and businesses. 

For more information, visit entrust.com. 

Fiserv Ventures into High-End Restaurants  
 
Fiserv is entering the high-end restaurant market with its new point-of-sale system, Clover Hospitality. The service, tailored for upscale dining establishments, has already signed its first client—Lilia, a luxury Italian restaurant in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. This move parallels American Express’s expansion into exclusive dining services with its acquisition of Tock.   

For more information, visit fiserv.com. 

Convego® Card Designer leverages Cutting-Edge AI to Enable Personalized, Compliant Card Designs  

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has unveiled the Convego® Card Designer, a groundbreaking AI-powered solution that allows consumers to create personalized payment card designs using generative AI—while ensuring strict compliance with financial regulations. Integrated into banking apps, the tool uses both generative and analytical AI to filter prohibited content and verify copyright, offering secure, real-time content screening and adaptive approvals. This innovation transforms payment cards into lifestyle statements and enhances user engagement, all while maintaining industry standards. G+D’s launch at Money 2020 Europe highlights its commitment to bringing secure, creative personalization to banks worldwide, especially in markets like Asia where customized cards are already in high demand. 

For more information, visit gi-de.com. 

New Trends Report from HID 

The 2025 State of Security and Identity Report from HID Global outlines significant changes in how organizations approach security in response to an increasingly complex threat environment. Based on feedback from 1,800 security professionals worldwide, the report identifies key trends such as a growing reliance on mobile credentials and biometric technologies, with 61% of security leaders recognizing mobile solutions as a key trend and 35% already using biometric tech. AI is also playing a larger role in improving efficiency and real-time data analysis in security operations. Additionally, there is a strong shift toward software-driven, unified security platforms, with 73% of security leaders prioritizing these over traditional, siloed systems. The adoption of open platforms is also gaining importance, as more than half of professionals value their ability to integrate seamlessly with other systems. The security channel itself is transforming due to digital innovation, with 77% of partners adapting to growing demands for AI, cloud solutions, IoT integration and advanced analytics. While sustainability is considered by 75% of security leaders when choosing solutions, security and cost-effectiveness remain the highest priorities. Overall, the report underscores a broader move toward scalable, integrated and innovative security solutions that combine both physical and digital functions. 

For more information, visit hidglobal.com. 

First Hardware Accelerator Designed for Post-Quantum Cryptography  

IDEMIA Secure Transactions has introduced an advanced post-quantum hardware accelerator based on Keccak1 to enhance security for cards and other devices amid rising quantum computing threats. This accelerator boosts the performance of quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms, enabling faster and more efficient data protection without affecting user experience. It will be embedded in future IDEMIA quantum-safe chips, ensuring secure and seamless card payments, crypto wallets, SIM-based communications and NFC transactions while maintaining compatibility with existing systems. 

For more information, visit idemia.com. 

Say Goodbye to Manual Card Entry 

Mastercard is working toward simplifying and securing online shopping by phasing out manual card entry for e-commerce by 2030. The goal is to create a one-click checkout experience across all platforms, starting in Europe and expanding globally. Tokenization, introduced by Mastercard in 2013, replaces card numbers with randomly generated tokens to protect consumers’ data from fraud. Over 30% of Mastercard transactions are already tokenized, reducing e-commerce fraud and boosting approval rates. Alongside tokenization, Mastercard is introducing Click to Pay for easier online checkout and payment passkeys using biometric authentication, eliminating the need for passwords or one-time passcodes. By collaborating with banks, fintechs and merchants, Mastercard aims to bring the same security and convenience to online payments as contactless has done for in-store transactions. 

For more information, visit mastercard.com. 

Custom Plastic Card Company Joins ICMA  

Custom Plastic Card Company is proud to announce its membership in the ICMA. 

“We’re excited to join ICMA and connect with fellow card manufacturers, suppliers and innovators,” said [Spokesperson Name], [Title] at Custom Plastic Card Company. “Membership opens the door to valuable networking, participation in key industry events and new opportunities to grow our business and serve customers more effectively.” 

As a member of ICMA, Custom Plastic Card Company will gain access to cutting-edge training, educational content and industry insights that will help the company stay ahead of evolving trends and deliver innovative solutions to its customers. 

Custom Plastic Card Company has been providing high-quality products at affordable prices combined with top-notch customer service since 1983. In addition to blank and printed plastic cards, several additional products are manufactured in its 55,000-square-foot factory in Deerfield Beach, Florida, including RFID technology products, paper gift cards, magnets, car magnets, decals and yard signs. 

For more information, visit perfectplastic.com.