How to Destroy a Metal Credit Card

Best Credit Cards in December 2023Articles

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Written by

Glen Luke Flanagan

Glen Luke Flanagan is a former senior credit card writer for LendingTree. His work ranged from credit card reviews to educational pieces, and he joined the team in June 2019 with a background in journalism and government communications.

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Getting rid of a plastic credit card can be as easy as snipping it up with scissors or running it through the shredder — but a metal credit card is harder to destroy. We’ve got some tips to help you do so effectively.

Click below to learn more:

How to destroy a metal credit card
Why destroy your metal credit card?
How to get a metal credit card
History of metal credit cards

3 ways to dispose of a metal credit card

Mail it back to the issuer.You can likely request a prepaid envelope from your card issuer for this purpose.
Take it to a bank branch.If the financial institution that issued the card has physical bank or credit union branches, you may be able to take the card to one of those and turn it in. But first, call the number on the back of your card and ask if you can do this, to make sure you’ll get the in-branch assistance you need.
Cut it up using tin snips.Regular scissors likely won’t get the job done, depending on what kind of metal your card is made from and how thick it is. However, tin snips are designed for cutting metal — if you go this route, cut the card up thoroughly enough that you destroy the magnetic stripe and EMV chip for maximum security.

What not to do with a metal credit card

For one thing, don’t try to run your metal credit card through the shredder. You’re more likely to damage the shredder than destroy the credit card. The same holds true for trying to cut the card up with scissors.

You also shouldn’t turn to a third-party service to destroy your card — this is worth noting for all credit cards, whether metal or plastic. If someone is trying to get your credit card, there’s a high likelihood it’s a scam.

Why destroy your metal credit card?

Destroying old credit cards is a smart step to protect you from identity theft. You’ll also want to consider how to close the credit card account — which can be done by calling the number on the back of your card and talking with a customer service representative.

Some consumers may worry closing a credit card account hurts your credit score. If you’re carrying a balance on other cards, closing one account can cause your score to dip by affecting your overall utilization ratio. But if you keep utilization low and use your other cards responsibly, your score should rebound. Plus, if the closed account was in good standing, that history stays on your credit reports for up to 10 years.

Metal credit cards are more common and accessible now than they once were. Here are a few metal credit cards with valuable rewards programs and no annual fee or low annual fees:

U.S. Bank Altitude^® Go Visa Signature^® Card

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How to Destroy a Metal Credit Card | LendingTree (5)

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Regular APR:18.24% - 29.24% (variable)

Check out our U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card review

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Rewards:Earn Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more..

Sign-up bonus:Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Annual fee:$95

Regular APR:21.49%–28.49% variable

Check out our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards:Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.

Sign-up bonus:Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening .

Annual fee:$95

Regular APR:19.99%, 26.24% or 29.99% (variable)

The information related to Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

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History of metal credit cards

Metal cards were first introduced by American Express in 1999 with the debut of the Centurion card. This luxury card already had an exclusive status due to being invite-only, but Amex elevated the hype by making the card out of titanium. Over the years, metal cards have become increasingly popular and less exclusive.

Some metal cards, of course, are luxury cards with exclusive benefits and expensive annual fees. But there are also popular travel and cash back cards made of metal with low annual fees or no annual fee. Though metal cards aren’t as rare as they once were, consumers may still enjoy them because they’re noticeably heavier and sturdier than flimsy plastic cards, and might inspire conversation when splitting a bill.

Many card issuers these days enhance the design of their cards by using titanium, stainless steel and embedded metals. Some cards may be solid metal, while others may be metal covering a plastic core.

Did you know? Chase temporarily ran out of the metal needed to make the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, a luxury travel card which currently has a $550 annual fee, after a successful marketing campaign in 2016.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

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I'm an enthusiast with extensive knowledge about credit cards and financial products. My expertise is backed by a deep understanding of the credit card industry, including features, benefits, and trends. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about the best credit cards in December 2023.

The article discusses credit cards and their associated information, primarily sourced from LendingTree, an advertising-supported comparison service. LendingTree provides a platform where companies compensate them, impacting how and where offers appear on the site. It's crucial to note that LendingTree aims to include the best deals available but doesn't guarantee that the information represents all available products.

The authors, Glen Luke Flanagan and Alexandria White, along with the managing editor, Robin Ratcliff, contribute to the content. They emphasize the commitment to providing accurate and actionable content, following strict editorial guidelines. The article is updated as of April 29th, 2022, indicating the relevance of the content at the time of publication.

The main topic of the article is "How to destroy a metal credit card." It provides insights into why one might want to destroy a metal credit card, including the methods for disposal. The recommended ways include mailing it back to the issuer, taking it to a bank branch, or cutting it up using tin snips. The article also highlights what not to do with a metal credit card, such as running it through a shredder.

Furthermore, the article mentions the history of metal credit cards and their popularity. It notes that metal credit cards are more common now and lists a few examples with valuable rewards programs and either no annual fee or low annual fees. The mentioned cards include the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Each credit card is presented with details such as rewards, sign-up bonuses, annual fees, and regular APR. For instance, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card offers 4X points on dining, 2X points at grocery stores, and a $15 credit for streaming services, with no annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides 60,000 bonus points after a specified spend and offers benefits like 5x on travel and 3x on dining, with a $95 annual fee. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, a $300 cash bonus, and has a $95 annual fee.

Additionally, the article briefly mentions the history of metal credit cards, starting with American Express introducing the Centurion card in 1999, made of titanium. Metal cards have since become more popular, with various materials used in their construction.

In summary, the article provides comprehensive information on credit cards, including the process of destroying metal credit cards and details about specific cards available in the market as of December 2023.

How to Destroy a Metal Credit Card | LendingTree (2024)

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

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American Express Disclosure

Editorial Guidelines

3 ways to dispose of a metal credit card

What not to do with a metal credit card

Why destroy your metal credit card?

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

History of metal credit cards

Credit Cards Resources

U.S. Bank Altitude^® Go Visa Signature^® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card