Papara Premieres Thales SketchMyCard
By Lauren Towner · 10 July 2024

Papara, a leading fintech in Turkey, has partnered with Thales, the global leader in advanced Technologies, to deploy Thales’ innovative SketchMyCard solution. Papara users now have the freedom to design unique and personalised payment cards that reflect their individuality, creativity and lifestyle, complemented by Papara’s highly successful and well-designed range of payment cards.
Since launching SketchMyCard, Papara has observed an increase in card orders, active users and transaction volumes. Established in 2016, Papara is a fast-growing fintech with over 20 million individual users. With the support of Thales’ end-to-end personalisation service and image processing, users requesting a new payment card can select an option that Papara has branded ‘Design My Card’. The experience creates an enjoyable and personal connection with Papara by offering users the chance to create their own wall of graffiti with a combination of drawings, sketches or doodles and ready-made creations from an extensive gallery.
Emre Kenci, CEO at Papara, said: “At Papara, we hold user experience above all else. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, we provide fast, simple, affordable and enjoyable financial services for all. By partnering with Thales SketchMyCard, we are enabling our users to unleash their creativity and bring self-expression to their everyday transactions. We’re thrilled to have partnered once again with the Thales team, who also supported the launch of our Voice Payment Card, the first-ever payment card designed specifically for people with visual impairment. These initiatives strengthen our vision to be a super app with a clear purpose: bringing financial freedom for all.”
Nassir Ghrous, Senior Vice President, Banking and Payment Services for Asia, Middle East and Africa at Thales said: “Aligning perfectly with the modern consumer trends for hyper-personalisation and social media connectivity, the unique emotional bond provided by SketchMyCard has a powerful impact on consumer behaviour. Holders are proud to share and use their self-designed payment cards. That translates into higher activation and transaction rates, and top-of-wallet status. By deploying our solution, Papara offers a service that attracts more users, forge stronger relationships with cardholders, and provide further differentiation in a competitive market.”
Thales’ Gemalto SketchMyCard is an innovative customisation offer that may be used by any bank in conjunction with its growing range of sustainable and eco-conscious card body materials. This includes, Ocean Plastic® cards, manufactured from waste recovered from coastal areas, and Bio-sourced cards, which are made from plant-based materials.
About the companies
Thales
Website · 22 stories on FF News since 2021
Previously on FF News:
- Worldline Pioneers Global ISO 20125 Standard to Decarbonize Digital Services 14 October 2026
- Thales Unveils AI-Powered Cybersecurity Suite and Google Cloud Partnership at Paris Cyber Summit 1 October 2026
- APIs Become Primary Target for Cybercriminals: Over 40,000 API Incidents in First Half of 2025 14 September 2025
Papara
Part of Türkiye Emlak Katılım Bankası · Website · 10 stories on FF News since 2021
Previously on FF News:
- Dinari Launches First Tokenized U.S. Stocks for Self-Custody Trading via USDC Partnership 24 August 2026
- Thunes and Papara Establish a Bilateral Partnership to Enable Cross-Border Transfers to and from Türkiye 11 November 2024
- Papara Announces New Partnership With DriveWealth and Upcoming Stock Investment Product at Money 20/20 Europe 4 June 2024
Companies in this story: Thales, Papara
People in this story: Emre Kenci, Nassir Ghrous