Bank Card
Hannah Fry takes a look at the bank card, the digital key to accessing cash, and finds out how its extraordinary innovations have some surprising and sinister origins.
Hannah Fry takes a look at the bank card. This humble piece of plastic is often taken for granted, but it’s the digital key to accessing cash and is packed full of extraordinary technological innovations - including some with surprising and sinister origins.
Hannah is granted the first ever TV access to Visa’s European bank card data centre, discovers why we have Russian spies to thank for contactless payments, and finds out how the CIA and a 1950s housewife helped kick-start the bank card revolution.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Clip
-
![]()
What’s inside a bank card?
Duration: 02:35
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Hannah Fry |
| Series Producer | Eileen Inkson |
| Executive Producer | Paul Overton |
Broadcasts
- Thu 10 Nov 2022 20:00
- Fri 11 Nov 2022 23:35
- Tue 29 Nov 2022 02:35
- Mon 17 Jul 2023 19:00
- Mon 6 May 2024 16:15
Featured in...
![]()
The Science Behind It All
Learn about amazing scientific discoveries and unravel technological mysteries.
![]()
Know Your Stuff
Stay informed with these essential titles, offering key insights on the issues that matter
![]()
Award winners
Selection of winners and nominees from RTS and BAFTA Scotland Awards.
Learn more about how tech design of the smartphone can be more sustainable, with The Open University
Visit The Open University Website.
Six remarkable things I discovered while making The Secret Genius of Modern Life
Hannah Fry tells six extraordinary stories she learnt whilst making the new series.