History

People have engaged in commerce to exchange goods and services for payment throughout the ages. These financial transactions did not always involve monetary payments. There was a time when ‘standard’ money did not even exist and people utilized other forms of payment to perform transactions.

The card (charge plate) from its first appearance1 – as a ‘loan tool’ back in the 1800, to the first ‘closed – loop’ system card of New York‘s Franklin National Bank, the Diners Club Card in 1950 and of course the American Express Card in  1958  has been going through a lot of transformation, mainly a far as technology and security is concerned. Increased security started with the magnetic stripe in the 1960’s, a feature still used for many cards for storing ‘invisibly data‘. Security  and global spread of EMV chip cards (Europay International, Mastercard and VISA)  started mid of the 1990s. Moreover, the arrival of radio-frequency identification RFID enabled contactless interaction (e.g. ID verification).

For payment card manufacturers these evolutions in the market brought with them multiple technologies to deal with in the manufacturing process together with pioneering security requirements and product guidelines and mandates. The product itself is not just plastic, it is produced following strict guidelines issued from not only the three above mentioned payment scheme providers but also from public authorities and financial regulators. Both physical and logical characteristic of the products are subject to rigorous testing and approval procedures, overall accuracy matters and strict tolerances have to be kept at all times.

EMV and RFID technology relies on high-tech chip operating systems implementing strict internal protocols, algorithms and procedures enabling secure processing of highly sensitive financial and personal data.

Cardholders and/or consumers take the above for granted and virtually see only the ‘marketing side’ of a plastic card. With all printing features available today, with stamped hot foils, to special scenst applied, lacquer layers, translucent areas and even gold bars and crystals incorporated into a plastic card body, there are literally almost no limits to the creativity of a card designer apart from the form factor and size of a payment card, which has remained unchanged for centuries not to jeopardize global acceptance in any payment device.

Payment cards are not just pieces of plastic but one of the most sophisticated and secure payment tools incorporating advertising and promotional features making it a vivid part of our lives. For almost  40 years AUSTRIACARD has been the partner of choice for many of our customers guaranteeing flexibility and personal service around payment cards. See more.

1 History of Credit Cards by Jay MacDonald and Taylor Tompkins

Scroll to Top
DISCLAIMER

You should read the following important notice before accessing, reading or using in any way the Prospectus on this website.

This Prospectus of the company under the corporate name “AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG” (hereafter the “Company”) which can be accessed through this link (https://www.nbg.gr/el/footer/enimerwtika-deltia) of the website of NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A., was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission on 24.01.2023 and relates to the dual listing of the shares in the Company on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, including (a) the existing shares in the Company and (b) the new shares in the Company to be issued in the context of a capital increase due to the merger by absorption by the Company of the company under the corporate name “INFORM P. LYKOS HOLDINGS S.A.” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares”).

The Prospectus is not published in relation to and does not constitute offer of Shares by or on behalf of the Company.

The Prospectus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission following its transfer by the Austrian Financial Market Authority pursuant to article 20(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, in connection with the information that must be furnished to investors as required under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, Greek law 4706/2020 and Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/979 and 2019/980, as amended and in force. The aforementioned approval shall not be considered as an endorsement of the Company and the quality of the Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investment in the Shares entails risks. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the Shares.

The Prospectus will be valid for one (1) year from the date of its approval by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. Each significant new factor, material mistake, or material inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Prospectus which may affect the assessment of the Shares in the Company and which arises or is noted between the time when the Prospectus is approved and the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, will be included in a supplement to the Prospectus which will be published in accordance with article 23 of the Regulation 2017/1129 on the Prospectus, in accordance with at least the same arrangements made for the publication of the Prospectus. No obligation for the publication of a supplement to the Prospectus applies after the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Distribution of the Prospectus and any other documents or information contained in this link and this webpage may be in general restricted by the law and the regulatory framework applicable in some countries. This webpage and its content do not in any way constitute an offer for sale or solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful under its applicable legislative and regulatory framework.

Finally, investors outside of Greece and Austria or investors subject to the relevant legislation and jurisdiction of other countries may be prohibited to exercise any rights deriving from the Shares, regardless of whether they acquire Shares in any way. If you are viewing this website from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Japan and / or any other country other than Greece and Austria, where the information provided in the Prospectus is not permitted by the law, please leave this website.

DISCLAIMER

You should read the following important notice before accessing, reading or using in any way the Prospectus on this website.

This Prospectus of the company under the corporate name “AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG” (hereafter the “Company”) which can be accessed through this link (https://www.nbg.gr/el/footer/enimerwtika-deltia) of the website of NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A., was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission on 24.01.2023 and relates to the dual listing of the shares in the Company on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, including (a) the existing shares in the Company and (b) the new shares in the Company to be issued in the context of a capital increase due to the merger by absorption by the Company of the company under the corporate name “INFORM P. LYKOS HOLDINGS S.A.” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares”).

The Prospectus is not published in relation to and does not constitute offer of Shares by or on behalf of the Company.

The Prospectus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission following its transfer by the Austrian Financial Market Authority pursuant to article 20(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, in connection with the information that must be furnished to investors as required under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, Greek law 4706/2020 and Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/979 and 2019/980, as amended and in force. The aforementioned approval shall not be considered as an endorsement of the Company and the quality of the Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investment in the Shares entails risks. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the Shares.

The Prospectus will be valid for one (1) year from the date of its approval by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. Each significant new factor, material mistake, or material inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Prospectus which may affect the assessment of the Shares in the Company and which arises or is noted between the time when the Prospectus is approved and the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, will be included in a supplement to the Prospectus which will be published in accordance with article 23 of the Regulation 2017/1129 on the Prospectus, in accordance with at least the same arrangements made for the publication of the Prospectus. No obligation for the publication of a supplement to the Prospectus applies after the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Distribution of the Prospectus and any other documents or information contained in this link and this webpage may be in general restricted by the law and the regulatory framework applicable in some countries. This webpage and its content do not in any way constitute an offer for sale or solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful under its applicable legislative and regulatory framework.

Finally, investors outside of Greece and Austria or investors subject to the relevant legislation and jurisdiction of other countries may be prohibited to exercise any rights deriving from the Shares, regardless of whether they acquire Shares in any way. If you are viewing this website from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Japan and / or any other country other than Greece and Austria, where the information provided in the Prospectus is not permitted by the law, please leave this website.

DISCLAIMER

You should read the following important notice before accessing, reading or using in any way the Prospectus on this website.

This Prospectus of the company under the corporate name “AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG” (hereafter the “Company”) which can be accessed through this link (https://www.nbg.gr/el/footer/enimerwtika-deltia) of the website of NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A., was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission on 24.01.2023 and relates to the dual listing of the shares in the Company on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, including (a) the existing shares in the Company and (b) the new shares in the Company to be issued in the context of a capital increase due to the merger by absorption by the Company of the company under the corporate name “INFORM P. LYKOS HOLDINGS S.A.” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares”).

The Prospectus is not published in relation to and does not constitute offer of Shares by or on behalf of the Company.

The Prospectus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission following its transfer by the Austrian Financial Market Authority pursuant to article 20(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, in connection with the information that must be furnished to investors as required under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, Greek law 4706/2020 and Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/979 and 2019/980, as amended and in force. The aforementioned approval shall not be considered as an endorsement of the Company and the quality of the Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investment in the Shares entails risks. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the Shares.

The Prospectus will be valid for one (1) year from the date of its approval by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. Each significant new factor, material mistake, or material inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Prospectus which may affect the assessment of the Shares in the Company and which arises or is noted between the time when the Prospectus is approved and the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, will be included in a supplement to the Prospectus which will be published in accordance with article 23 of the Regulation 2017/1129 on the Prospectus, in accordance with at least the same arrangements made for the publication of the Prospectus. No obligation for the publication of a supplement to the Prospectus applies after the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Distribution of the Prospectus and any other documents or information contained in this link and this webpage may be in general restricted by the law and the regulatory framework applicable in some countries. This webpage and its content do not in any way constitute an offer for sale or solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful under its applicable legislative and regulatory framework.

Finally, investors outside of Greece and Austria or investors subject to the relevant legislation and jurisdiction of other countries may be prohibited to exercise any rights deriving from the Shares, regardless of whether they acquire Shares in any way. If you are viewing this website from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Japan and / or any other country other than Greece and Austria, where the information provided in the Prospectus is not permitted by the law, please leave this website.

DISCLAIMER

You should read the following important notice before accessing, reading or using in any way the Prospectus on this website.

This Prospectus of the company under the corporate name “AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG” (hereafter the “Company”) which can be accessed through this link (https://www.nbg.gr/el/footer/enimerwtika-deltia) of the website of NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A., was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission on 24.01.2023 and relates to the dual listing of the shares in the Company on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, including (a) the existing shares in the Company and (b) the new shares in the Company to be issued in the context of a capital increase due to the merger by absorption by the Company of the company under the corporate name “INFORM P. LYKOS HOLDINGS S.A.” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares”).

The Prospectus is not published in relation to and does not constitute offer of Shares by or on behalf of the Company.

The Prospectus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission following its transfer by the Austrian Financial Market Authority pursuant to article 20(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, in connection with the information that must be furnished to investors as required under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, Greek law 4706/2020 and Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/979 and 2019/980, as amended and in force. The aforementioned approval shall not be considered as an endorsement of the Company and the quality of the Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investment in the Shares entails risks. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the Shares.

The Prospectus will be valid for one (1) year from the date of its approval by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. Each significant new factor, material mistake, or material inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Prospectus which may affect the assessment of the Shares in the Company and which arises or is noted between the time when the Prospectus is approved and the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, will be included in a supplement to the Prospectus which will be published in accordance with article 23 of the Regulation 2017/1129 on the Prospectus, in accordance with at least the same arrangements made for the publication of the Prospectus. No obligation for the publication of a supplement to the Prospectus applies after the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Distribution of the Prospectus and any other documents or information contained in this link and this webpage may be in general restricted by the law and the regulatory framework applicable in some countries. This webpage and its content do not in any way constitute an offer for sale or solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful under its applicable legislative and regulatory framework.

Finally, investors outside of Greece and Austria or investors subject to the relevant legislation and jurisdiction of other countries may be prohibited to exercise any rights deriving from the Shares, regardless of whether they acquire Shares in any way. If you are viewing this website from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Japan and / or any other country other than Greece and Austria, where the information provided in the Prospectus is not permitted by the law, please leave this website.

DISCLAIMER

You should read the following important notice before accessing, reading or using in any way the Prospectus on this website.

This Prospectus of the company under the corporate name “AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG” (hereafter the “Company”) which can be accessed through this link (https://www.nbg.gr/el/footer/enimerwtika-deltia) of the website of NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A., was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission on 24.01.2023 and relates to the dual listing of the shares in the Company on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, including (a) the existing shares in the Company and (b) the new shares in the Company to be issued in the context of a capital increase due to the merger by absorption by the Company of the company under the corporate name “INFORM P. LYKOS HOLDINGS S.A.” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares”).

The Prospectus is not published in relation to and does not constitute offer of Shares by or on behalf of the Company.

The Prospectus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission following its transfer by the Austrian Financial Market Authority pursuant to article 20(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, in connection with the information that must be furnished to investors as required under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, Greek law 4706/2020 and Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/979 and 2019/980, as amended and in force. The aforementioned approval shall not be considered as an endorsement of the Company and the quality of the Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investment in the Shares entails risks. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the Shares.

The Prospectus will be valid for one (1) year from the date of its approval by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. Each significant new factor, material mistake, or material inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Prospectus which may affect the assessment of the Shares in the Company and which arises or is noted between the time when the Prospectus is approved and the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, will be included in a supplement to the Prospectus which will be published in accordance with article 23 of the Regulation 2017/1129 on the Prospectus, in accordance with at least the same arrangements made for the publication of the Prospectus. No obligation for the publication of a supplement to the Prospectus applies after the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Distribution of the Prospectus and any other documents or information contained in this link and this webpage may be in general restricted by the law and the regulatory framework applicable in some countries. This webpage and its content do not in any way constitute an offer for sale or solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful under its applicable legislative and regulatory framework.

Finally, investors outside of Greece and Austria or investors subject to the relevant legislation and jurisdiction of other countries may be prohibited to exercise any rights deriving from the Shares, regardless of whether they acquire Shares in any way. If you are viewing this website from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Japan and / or any other country other than Greece and Austria, where the information provided in the Prospectus is not permitted by the law, please leave this website.

DISCLAIMER

You should read the following important notice before accessing, reading or using in any way the Prospectus on this website.

This Prospectus of the company under the corporate name “AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG” (hereafter the “Company”) which can be accessed through this link (https://www.nbg.gr/el/footer/enimerwtika-deltia) of the website of NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A., was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission on 24.01.2023 and relates to the dual listing of the shares in the Company on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, including (a) the existing shares in the Company and (b) the new shares in the Company to be issued in the context of a capital increase due to the merger by absorption by the Company of the company under the corporate name “INFORM P. LYKOS HOLDINGS S.A.” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares”).

The Prospectus is not published in relation to and does not constitute offer of Shares by or on behalf of the Company.

The Prospectus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission following its transfer by the Austrian Financial Market Authority pursuant to article 20(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, in connection with the information that must be furnished to investors as required under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, Greek law 4706/2020 and Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/979 and 2019/980, as amended and in force. The aforementioned approval shall not be considered as an endorsement of the Company and the quality of the Shares that are the subject of the Prospectus. Investment in the Shares entails risks. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in the Shares.

The Prospectus will be valid for one (1) year from the date of its approval by the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. Each significant new factor, material mistake, or material inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Prospectus which may affect the assessment of the Shares in the Company and which arises or is noted between the time when the Prospectus is approved and the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange, will be included in a supplement to the Prospectus which will be published in accordance with article 23 of the Regulation 2017/1129 on the Prospectus, in accordance with at least the same arrangements made for the publication of the Prospectus. No obligation for the publication of a supplement to the Prospectus applies after the commencement of trading of the Shares on the Regulated Market of the Athens Exchange and the Regulated Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Distribution of the Prospectus and any other documents or information contained in this link and this webpage may be in general restricted by the law and the regulatory framework applicable in some countries. This webpage and its content do not in any way constitute an offer for sale or solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful under its applicable legislative and regulatory framework.

Finally, investors outside of Greece and Austria or investors subject to the relevant legislation and jurisdiction of other countries may be prohibited to exercise any rights deriving from the Shares, regardless of whether they acquire Shares in any way. If you are viewing this website from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Japan and / or any other country other than Greece and Austria, where the information provided in the Prospectus is not permitted by the law, please leave this website.