Provided is a card reader that transports a substantially rectangular card along the shorter direction thereof and processes the card, wherein, even in cases of processing, for example, a card on which a magnetic stripe is formed parallel to the longer direction of the card on one surface thereof and on which an external connection terminal of an IC chip is formed on the other surface, it is possible to ensure contact pressure between the external connection terminal and an IC contact spring. This card reader comprises: a magnetic head (7); and a head movement mechanism that moves the magnetic head (7) in the width direction of a transport path (5), and also moves the magnetic head (7) between a head abutting position at which the magnetic head (7) can abut against a card (2) and a head retreat position at which the magnetic head (7) is retreated from the transport path (5). An opening (28) through which the magnetic head (7) passes when the magnetic head (7) moves in the width direction of the transport path (5) is formed in the transport path (5). When an IC contact spring (59) contacts an external connection terminal of the card (2), the magnetic head (7) is located at the head abutting position and abuts against one surface of the card (2).