Credit card design charges forward

It’s not just a Visa — it’s a Duetto Visa, offered by Starbucks and bearing an evocative depiction of one of the chain’s beverages.

Forget about low interest rates, rewards points and free balance transfers.

To attract new customers in a crowded market, the nation’s credit-card issuers are pitching cards with sleek features, including a hefty one that its promoters say has “plunk factor.”

Inspired by consumer interest in eye-catching products such as retro toasters and fashionable can openers that have moved from the cupboard to the countertop, credit-card companies are creating unique cards aimed at winning the coveted “top of wallet” position — the card pulled out the most often.

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