Why Do Credit Cards Have Expiration Dates?

Why do credit cards have expiration dates? If you’re like me, you probably haven’t given it much thought, or even paid attention to that date until you get a new card in the mail – or noticed that the one you have is about to expire. But issuers take expiration dates seriously; turns out, they have to. Here are four reasons why credit cards expire.

Reason #1: Fraud Prevention

This is the top reason you’re likely to hear when asking this question. “They are mandated by our operating agreements with Visa and MasterCard to help protect against fraud,” says Natalie Brown, spokeswoman for Wells Fargo.

How do they do that? “The expiration date is used by merchants and issuers to validate that a card is open (through physical presentment at point of sale) and valid (through real-time authorizations),” says Marcy Cohen, VP, senior business leader of worldwide communications for MasterCard. She goes on to explain: “Fraudsters can get their hands on card numbers more easily than they can expiration dates; if counterfeit cards are created and don’t have a valid expiration date, the card will be declined.”

Reason #2: Another Chance to Check Up on You

“A limited term expiration date of say three years (typical), allows the credit worthiness of cardholders to be revaluated on an ongoing basis – in addition to the normal annual review,” says Bob Hammer, founder and CEO of R.K. Hammer, a bankcard advisory firm.

While in the past you’d often get a generous credit line increase when a replacement card arrived, during the past few years some cardholders have received a new card with a lower credit line. But if your credit is strong and you’ve kept your account active by using it from time to time, you probably don’t have anything to be concerned about. And don’t worry that your card issuer might arbitrarily raise the interest rate or add an annual fee to your card when it renews. That’s not allowed, thanks to protections offered under the Credit CARD Act.

Reason #3: So You Can Use It

Depending on how often you use your card and where you keep it when you’re not using it, the plastic may take a pretty good beating. “Cards wear out and the mag stripes cannot work forever, so cards need to be renewed,” says Cohen. “Dates allow the issuer to proactively replace cards on a timely basis prior to the magnetic stripe wearing out, or images becoming worn due to use.” Hammer that adds a “plastic card has only so much life expectancy before the mag stripe and ‘tipping’ (the painted name and numbers on the face of the card) deteriorate, and would need to be reissued anyway.”

If an issuer gets the new card to you before the old one wears out, it’s less likely you’ll reach for another piece of plastic in your wallet.

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Reason #4: To Get a Facelift

If your new card looks prettier than the previous one, there’s a reason for it.

“Card designs are also refreshed periodically and the replacement schedule also helps keep the cards looking up-to-date,” says Brown. Hopefully you’ll like that flashier piece of plastic enough to pull it out of your wallet and use it more often. At least that’s what your issuer hopes.

Image: Brett L., via Flickr