A cards safe for the safe keeping of credit, debit, and switch cards, or any other small personal item used for making payments or for deposit/security purposes. A card is retained inside a box (30) which is retained by the seller. The box (30) is locked in a secure condition with two locking arms (88), which require a key (70) to unlock them. A locking bar (126) slides across the edge of the box (30) in a slot (46). The key has a protrusion (110), which stops at a correct location to bear against locking arms, which are otherwise biased to a locked state by springs. The key (70) enters the box (30) through a slot (106), and the lock releases. The box (30) can only be opened with the unique key.