A financial transaction card adapted for individual use in reading information stored externally to the card, having machine readable information contained thereon identifying the user and the issuing institution for transacting business at locations remote from the issuing institution, includes:a. a rigid substantially rectangular base comprising a substantially transparent material and having a top surface and a bottom surface;b. machine readable information carried on the base for identifying the user and the issuing institution; andc. a magnifying lens produced by formation of fresnel contour lines on the top surface of the base and in non-interfering relationship with the machine readable information.