Smart payment instruments

A method for operating a payment instrument connected to a network via a communication interface, comprising:

• maintaining one or more sets of identification data in a memory of the payment instrument;
• providing access to the one or more sets of identification data via one or more access interfaces of the payment instrument;
• selecting one of the one or more sets of identification data;
• adjusting the one or more access interfaces to provide access to the selected set of identification data;
• requesting a representation of the selected set of identification data from a server;
• receiving, via the communication interface, at least a part of the representation of the selected set of identification data from the server via the network;
• and
• displaying the representation on one or more displays.

A system for operating payment instruments, comprising:

• one or more server devices;
• and
• a plurality of payment instruments communicating with the one or more server devices via a network,
• wherein each of the plurality of payment instruments includes:
• a memory configured to store one or more sets of identification data;
• a communication interface configured to connect the payment instrument to the network;
• one or more access interfaces configured to provide access to the one or more sets of identification data;
• one or more displays configured to display representations of the one or more sets of identification data;
• and
• a processing circuit configured to select one of the one or more sets of identification data, adjust the one or more access interfaces to provide access to the selected set of identification data, request at least a part of a representation of the selected set of identification data from a server device of the one or more server devices, receive, via the communication interface, the at least a part of the representation of the selected set of identification data from the server device via the network, and cause the representation to be displayed on the one or more displays.