A protective container is provided for a magnetic card, such as a gift card or credit card, which shields the enclosed card from potentially damaging magnetic fields, thereby greatly reducing the possibility that information stored on the card will be erased. A preferred embodiment container having high magnetic permeability is stamped from metal containing nickel and iron. Other embodiments of the container, which provide less protection from unwanted magnetic fields, are stamped from mild steel. The protective container may take a variety of shapes and may include an injection molded or vacuum-formed plastic insert which retains the stored card in a preferred position. A protective container preferably has a lid which provides a full surround enclosure. The lid may be of a slide-on, press-on, or hinged type.