| The credit card is the result of many merchant credit | | | | infrastructure. |
| systems. It was used for the first time in the 1920s. | | | | The credit cards were not always made of plastic. |
| The first credit cards were used in the United States | | | | They also consisted of metal, paper, celluloid, and fiber. |
| to sell fuel to the automobile owners. Their number | | | | In 1946 John Biggins invented the program that |
| was increasing dramatically and, in 1938, several firms | | | | connected the local merchants to bank customers. |
| started to use each other's cards. | | | | The banks billed the customer, coming from the |
| Edward Bellamy invented the first credit card in 1887. | | | | merchants that deposited sales figures into the bank. |
| He was the first to use the term "credit card". Ralph | | | | France was very fast to develop chip-based credit |
| Schneider and Frank X. McNamara invented the | | | | cards and now this is the major anti-fraud credit |
| concept of using cards to pay merchants in 1950. The | | | | feature. Now the design of the credit cards is |
| Diners Club produces the first general purpose card, | | | | important too. The customers are tempted to use the |
| shortly followed by American Express and Carte | | | | prettiest cards; they prefer best designed logos too. |
| Blanche. Western Union had begun a similar activity in | | | | The personalized cards were used by Bank of Hawaii |
| 1914. | | | | in 1969. They are delivered usually online by many |
| In 1958 the Bank of America provided the | | | | specialized software firms. |
| BankAmericard: the product that evolved into the | | | | Now, millions of families use the general-purpose credit |
| actual Visa system. Mastercard appears in 1966 when | | | | cards, from many issuers, with the best conditions. This |
| some banks established MasterCharge. | | | | simple way to offer credit to customers is becoming |
| Those who were traveling all over the country needed | | | | more and more popular. Tips paid by credit cards are |
| an effective way to make the necessary transactions. | | | | always welcome. We must remember that finance |
| They needed to be able to take their credit anywhere | | | | charges may be different depending on the method |
| and use banking facilities. Barclaycard, in 1966, in the | | | | used by the creditors. All terms and conditions on the |
| UK, launched the credit card for the first time outside | | | | credit card use must be deeply understood. The bills |
| of the United States. | | | | must be promptly paid to keep the credit rating high |
| The card reaches huge adoption level in the United | | | | and avoid important charges. Late payment charges |
| States, Canada and UK, but many cultures were | | | | must be avoided too. It is wise to keep a list of all |
| cash-oriented in the last part of the 20th century. | | | | credit card numbers. In case of theft or loss, this is the |
| There are still many countries where the credit card | | | | easier way to report the accident to the credit cards |
| system is poor, depending on the individual banking | | | | issuer. |