The present invention relates to a credit card comprising a card body,
which comprises fingerprint reading means providing fingerprint signals
representative of at least one fingerprint from a card user, when at
least one finger of said user is pressed against said fingerprint reading
means. Said card body further comprises data carrier means holding at
least card owner fingerprint data and secured data, and fingerprint
authentication means for activating said secured data. The card body
further comprises an electrical power supply delivering electrical
current to at least said fingerprint reading means. Accordingly, there is
no need for an external electrical power supply, and thus the existing
standard card reading systems, such as ID-card readers, money transfer
machines such as ATM's and the like may be used in conjunction with said
credit card. Thus, investments into new standard reader systems are not
necessary in order to improve the security of the secured data carried by
the credit card. A complete and self-contained automated authentication
process is conducted prior to communication concerning said secured data
being established between said credit card and any of the existing ATM's
on the market today, irrespective of type (automated or manually
operated), manufacturer, version, or geographical position of said ATM
and of credit card use.