The bank card was born 50 years ago, not far from Marseille, in Gémenos (Bouches-du-Rhône), on the premises of Gemalto, which has since been bought by the Thales group. The "bank card remains completely relevant today, thanks also to the new players in payment, the digital banks," says a group strategy manager. Among the innovations, a fingerprint payment card, already marketed in Turkey, is due to arrive on the French market next year. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES N°36GP83E