Credit card with magnifying lens

A financial transaction card adapted for use in reading externally stored information comprising

• (a) a plurality of layers comprised of a plastic material, said plurality of layers including a top layer and a bottom layer forming a rigid laminate, wherein said rigid laminate has a transparent area, said transparent area having an upper surface upon which fresnel contours are formed, said transparent area and said fresnel contours jointly forming a magnifying lens,
• (b) a strip affixed on said rigid laminate for carrying machine readable information,
• (c) a signature strip, and
• (d) embossed alpha-numeric indicia,
• wherein said card has a length and a width and is substantially non-foldable over its entire length and entire width.

A method of producing a financial transaction card comprising the steps of

• (a) forming a rigid base comprised of a plastic material having a transparent area, said transparent area having an upper surface,
• (b) embossing alpha-numeric indicia on said rigid base,
• (c) affixing to said base a strip for carrying machine readable information, and
• (d) forming fresnel contour lines on said upper surface of said rigid base which together with said transparent area forms a magnifying lens.