Cardholders

A cardholder is an individual who possesses a card issued by an organization to access services, authorize transactions, or verify identity. Cards can be physical or digital and may serve as payment instruments, identification credentials, access keys, or membership proofs. The term covers anyone who holds and uses a card under the issuer's terms, including primary holders and authorized users.

Common categories of cardholders include payment card holders (credit and debit cards), identification card holders (drivers’ licenses, national ID cards), library cardholders, transit or access control cardholders, and loyalty or membership cardholders. The functions of cardholders vary by category—payment cards enable purchases, identification cards confirm identity, and access or loyalty cards grant entry or rewards.

Responsibilities and protections: Cardholders are typically expected to keep cards secure, memorize or protect authentication details such as PINs or passwords, and report loss or suspected misuse promptly. They should review billing statements or account activity for unauthorized transactions. Liability for fraudulent charges and remedies depend on jurisdiction and the card type; many payment cards offer limited liability when timely reported. Data protection rules govern how cardholder data is stored and shared; organizations must follow standards like PCI DSS for payment card information.

In digital wallets and mobile payments, cardholder data may be tokenized, with the actual card number not transmitted during transactions. Cardholder privacy concerns focus on data collection, consent, retention, and data breaches.