Polaroid Plans to Offer Color Photo Credit Card

Polaroid Corp. and Datacard Corp. said they will market a photo credit card that provides greater security for bank card holders.

A color photograph of the card holder will be imprinted on the plastic cards.

Citibank, the world’s largest bank card issuer, is already using the cards in some locations.

The card uses a Polaroid CS-500 scanner to convert a photo into a digital image that is paired with personal information about the card holder and provided to the card issuer.

Company officials said the card offers increased security because of the combination of personal information and the dyes and layering system used to create the image.

“The real security comes from having a representation of your face on the card,” Datacard spokesman Tom Dunning said.

Polaroid will distribute its Miniportrait cameras to companies using the system.

Datacard will provide the security system--known as the 9000 thermal imprint, three-color print ribbon system. With the 9000 system’s layering process and dyes, attempts to alter the photo are easily spotted, Datacard said.

Datacard and Polaroid called the joint venture a natural step.