For identification purposes a photograph is taken of each cardholder and printed on the front of the U Card. It is electronically stored and used only with the cardholder's express written consent.

Role Code and Student/EmplID ID Number

There are thirteen different role codes that identify cardholders as part of the University of Minnesota community. They are student, affiliated student, visiting student, faculty, retired faculty, staff, affiliated staff, retired staff, academic staff, affiliated academic staff, retired academic staff, visitor, and regent. The role the cardholder has been assigned by the University is printed on the first line of the U Card. Student/employee ID number will also be printed on the first line as well.

Card Number

Card numbers are used to uniquely identify U Cardholders as a member of the University of Minnesota community. It is also referenced by TCF Bank when a U Card is used to access an ATM with U Card checking. Cardholders may open the U Card checking account and use it to directly deposit student financial aid credit balances. U Card checking accounts can be opened at the U Card Office or at any TCF Bank branch.

Name

The name of the U Cardholder is printed on the third line.

Authorization Code

Use this number in conjunction with your PIN when placing calling card calls.

Library Number

This number is used by the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities and Duluth campus library systems when Cardholders check out library materials.

Codabar

This number is used by Morris and Crookston campuses when Cardholders check out library materials.

Issue Date

This is the date the U Card was issued to the Cardholder. Eligibility to services expire electronically. Expiration is determined by the service provider (e.g., the library, not the U Card Office, decides when a U Cardholder is no longer eligible to check out library materials).

Top Magnetic Stripe

The U Card's top magnetic stripe acts as a key to electronically access cardholder information. This stripe holds the key to university database information like a cardholder's name, library number, card number and student/emplID number. This information is compared to current database information to verify eligibility. The magnetic stripe and encoding is in accordance with the International Standards Organization's (ISO) specifications. It has a high coercivity and should be kept away from other card's magnetic stripes as it could demagnetize them. The higher coercivity means that it is difficult to demagnetize the U Card's magnetic stripe, however, machines using magnetic fields such as MRIs or CTs could damage the U Card's stripe.

Signature Panel

This panel should show the cardholder's signature in black, permanent ink.

PLUS and Express Teller Logos

These logos remind U Card checking account holders that there is NO TCF fee for transactions made at any ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) worldwide that bears the PLUS or Express Teller logo symbol.

TCF BANK Logos

The U Card has partnered with TCF Bank to provide a free checking account package (the U Card checking account) to the University community.

Bottom Magnetic Stripe

The U Card's bottom magnetic stripe (called a value stripe) is used for the U Card's Gopher GOLD program allowing cardholders to deposit up to $50.00 into cash-to-card machines and then make small purchases on campus. Click to learn more about the Gopher GOLD program.

U Card Information

The U Card's familiar maroon and white logo is displayed next to our customer service phone number and web address. This easy reference is available to cardholders whenever information about our program is needed.

Gopher GOLD Information

The U Card's Gopher GOLD logo is displayed both on the U Card and on vending and copy machines that accept Gopher GOLD as a method of payment. Value stored on the U Card's bottom magnetic stripe is non-refundable, even if the U Card is lost, stolen, or damaged.