Diagram illustrating the stages a credit card goes through from application to delivery

Credit cards are undoubtedly the most important payment tool for most of us when shopping.

So what stages does a credit card or debit card go through before it reaches our pocket?

  1. The customer submits a card application request (SMS, Internet Branch, Corporate Branch, Branch, Mobile Branch, etc.)
  2. Based on the submitted request, the card application is entered into the system.
  3. Using the entered information (the customer's full name, requested card limit, etc.), an LKS (Limit Control System) inquiry is performed for the customer.
  4. If the LKS inquiry is successful, a limit is assigned to the customer and the card information is created.
  5. The Magnetic Data and Chip Data information for the card is generated.
  6. The generated Card Production file is sent to the card production company. (Card Production files are generated encrypted and sent to the card production company. The data encrypted by the bank is decrypted by the card production company, which then prints the card.)
  7. Card production takes approximately 1 day.
  8. The physically printed cards are picked up by the courier company.
  9. A Courier file (which may also be a web service) is generated for the cards handed over to the courier and sent to the courier company.
  10. The courier company matches the physical cards with the information in the courier file sent by the bank and sorts them by province and district. (This takes approximately 1 day.)
  11. The sorted cards are dispatched for distribution the next day.
  12. The courier delivers the card to the customer within 3-4 business days.
  13. The courier shares the delivery information (Delivered, Not at Address, etc.) with the bank.
  14. The response file from the courier (which may also be a web service) is uploaded to the bank's system, where it is tracked.
  15. If the card application was made through the bank's ADK (alternative distribution channels), the Card Application Agreement and identity documents are collected from the customer by the courier and delivered to the bank in physical form.

Note: Cards are generally issued in a blocked state and sent to the customer this way. The card status is automatically activated once the card is delivered to the customer in person, or once the customer sets a PIN for the card.