A smart card personalization system maintains a database containing card
issuer data format templates, card applications, card operating system
commands, and personalization equipment specifications and provides a
centralized interface of inputs and outputs to a card issuing process
which dynamically adjusts to changes in the issuing process to easily
permit a card issuer to change data formats, card applications, card
operating systems and/or personalization equipment in a card issuing
process. The system interfaces to any card issuer management system,
manages the transfer of cardholder data and card applications to the
particular personalization equipment used, and maintains statistics for
real-time and off-line inquiries to support critical management and
reporting functions. Furthermore, the system works with a variety of
security methodologies to prevent fraud.