Credit card with a fresnel magnifying lens formed in a section of the transparent core

A financial transaction card adapted for individual use in reading information stored externally to the card, the card of the type having machine readable information contained thereon identifying the user and the issuing institution for transacting business at locations remote from the issuing institution, the card comprising:

• a. a rigid substantially rectangular base comprising a core of a substantially transparent material and having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer of sheet material secured to the top surface of said core and a bottom layer of sheet material secured to the bottom surface of said core, each said layer having an opening and the opening in said first layer being aligned with the opening in said second layer;
• b. machine readable information carried on one of the layers for identifying the user and the issuing institution;
• and
• c. a magnifying lens produced by formation of fresnel contour lines on the top surface of the core in the opening of said first layer and in non-interfering relationship with the machine readable information.