2026 Winners

ICMA Reveals 2026 Élan Award Winners

ICMA’s Élan Awards of Excellence honors companies that are at the forefront of the worldwide transaction card industry. For more than 30 years, the Élan Awards have established the global standard for card manufacturing excellence by recognizing world-class achievements in card design, technological innovation and other categories.

ICMA Founder and Executive Director Jeffrey Barnhart revealed the 2026 Élan Award winners during a ceremony at ICMA’s Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO in Orlando, Florida on April 21.

“The esteemed Élan Awards distinguish ICMA card manufacturing suppliers, card manufacturing personalizers and fulfillment members as leaders in the industry before their peers and customers,” said Barnhart. “Élan Award recipients benefit greatly from heightened industry prestige, positive branding, increased visibility and new business growth opportunities.”

Award Criteria

This year’s Élan Award winners were chosen from more than 181 entries from North America, MEA, Asia, Europe and other parts of the world.

To determine the winners, the Élan Award judges use a quantifiable scoring system, based on criteria including graphical design, printing, complexity, technology, quality, innovation, uniqueness, practicality and security (if applicable). ICMA would like to thank Joel Besnier of BG INGENIERIE; Brian Summerhayes, an ICMA board member, of Barnes International; and Dori Rombola, an ICMA board member, of Infineon Technologies, for serving as judges this year.

The 2026 Winners and Finalists

Best Fulfillment Product, Service or Project

**Winner:** Placard Pty Ltd. for the Emerge Personal Prepaid Debit MasterCard for Emerge

**Finalist:** Chutian Dragon Co., Ltd. for the Swift Rise Digital Currency Hardware Wallet for the Bank of China

**Finalist:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Pet Them Theme Credit Card for China Minsheng Bank

Best Personalization Product, Service or Project

**Winner:** CompoSecure, Inc. for XRP for ARCULUS HOLDINGS, LLC

**Finalist:** CPI Card Group for Street Charity for Street Charity

**Finalist:** CPI Card Group for Zift Prepaid Card for InComm

Loyalty, Promotional and Gift Cards

**Winner:** Hengbao Co., Ltd. for the Jin Hui Laojiao Customized Liquor Card for Jinhui Liquor Co., Ltd.

**Winner:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for The NFC Real Card for Digital Collection – Ancient Egyptian Mural Series for the Shanghai Museum

**Finalist:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Starbucks Sicily Lemon Gift Card for Starbucks

ID Cards

**Winner:** Canadian Bank Note Co. Ltd. for the South Carolina U21 Identification Card for the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles

**Finalist:** Thomas Greg & Sons for the Dominican Republic Driver's License for MIDAS DOMINICANA

**Finalist:** IDEMIA Civil Identity for the Texas 2025 Driver License for the Texas Department of Public Safety

Access Control

**Winner:** Goldpac Limited for the Custom-designed NFC Car Access Key for GAC Group

**Finalist:** Hengbao Co., Ltd. for the ICBC – Shanghai Branch CIIE 8th Anniversary Commemorative Visual Hardware Wallet for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Shanghai Municipal Branch

**Finalist:** Hengbao Co., Ltd for the Bank of China 2025 CIFTIS Hardware Wallet for Bank of China Limited

Unique Innovation

**Winner:** CompoSecure, Inc. for BILT for BILT

**Finalist:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Car Owner Card for Industrial Bank

**Finalist:** Goldpac Limited for the Bank of Communications Zhejian Tourism (Shaoxing) Theme Credit Card for the Bank of Communications

Best Secure Payment Card

**Winner:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Ceramic Card for ICBC Asia

**Finalist:** CompoSecure, Inc. for MGM Rewards for MGM

**Finalist:** Hengbao Co.,Ltd for Jilin Bank AuroraThemed DIY Card for Jilin Bank Co., Ltd.

**Finalist:** CompoSecure, Inc. for HY10 for ORBITAL

Unique Innovation Prototype

**Winner:** CompoSecure, Inc. for THE JADE CARD

**Finalist:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Blossom Way Irregular-Shaped Chip Eco Card

**Finalist:** FEITIAN Technologies US Inc. for the FEITIAN UniPass BioCard

Biometric Cards

**Winner:** IDEMIA Secure Transactions for the sAxess Card x Neiro for Serenity

Metal Cards

**Winner:** CompoSecure, Inc. for Citi Strata Elite for Citi

**Finalist:** CompoSecure, Inc. for MULTIPUNTOS for BANCO CUSCATLAN HONDURAS

**Finalist:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for American Express ICON for Huaxia Bank

Eco-Focused Cards

**Winner:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Lucid waters and lush mountains Card for Postal Savings Bank of China

**Finalist:** Goldpac Limited for the China Construction Bank Dragon Card Family Preferred Card (Premium Edition) for China Construction Bank

**Finalist:** Giesecke+Devrient for Bank Australia 100% Recycled for Bank Australia

Best Regional Card - North America, Europe and Asia Pacific

**Finalist:** IDEMIA Secure Transactions for the sAxess Card x Neiro for Serenity

**Finalist:** Giesecke+Devrient (China) Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Ceramic Card for ICBC Asia

Featured: Peoples Choice

**Winner:** Hengbao Co., Ltd for the ZheshangBank "Zhefu" Card for Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd

**Finalist:** Chutian Dragon Co., Ltd for the Fine Trail Navigator Card - Concept Card

**Finalist:** EastCompeace Technology Co. for the CIB Silk Road Themed Debit Card for Industrial Bank

Award Submission Details

The ICMA Élan Awards of Excellence are open to members only. The 2027 Élan Awards will be presented at the ICMA Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO in Tampa, Florida next May.

To learn more about submitting an entry into next year’s competition, email info@icma.com.