What it means
کارت بانکی (kârt-e bânki) means bank card or debit card. Both parts are loanwords: کارت (kârt) comes from English or French “card,” and بانکی (bânki) is the adjectival form of بانک (bânk), which entered Persian from Italian “banca” through French “banque.” In Iran virtually all bank cards function as debit cards tied directly to an account. Credit cards in the Western sense are rare: most Iranians use their کارت بانکی for all card payments, both in-store and for online purchases on domestic platforms. A close, more specific term is کارت عابر بانک (kârt-e âber-e bânk, ATM debit card), which is the formal name used on most Iranian bank cards.
How to use it
- کارت بانکیمو گم کردم. (kârt-e bânkiam-o gom kardam.) “I lost my bank card.”
- کارت بانکیت رو اتومات بزن. (kârt-e bânkit-o automât bezan.) “Put your bank card in the ATM.”
- برای خرید آنلاین کارت بانکی لازمه. (barâye kharid-e ânlâyn kârt-e bânki lâzeme.) “You need a bank card for online purchases.”
- کارت بانکیم مسدوده. (kârt-e bânkiam masdude.) “My bank card is blocked.”
Cultural note
Every Iranian adult with a bank account holds at least one کارت بانکی, and many people have cards from several different banks because the interbank network (Shetab, شتاب) allows transfers across institutions. Because international sanctions cut off Iran from Visa, Mastercard, and other global networks, Iranian bank cards only work within Iran’s closed domestic system. This means Iranians traveling abroad must carry cash in foreign currency, and foreigners visiting Iran must exchange currency on arrival. The physical card design is standardized across all Iranian banks through the Shetab network logo.