Credit Cards - the beginnings ..

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Credit Cards is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Credit Cards.

Today it's referred as the old plastic but all credit card buffs know that the first credit cards were not made of plastic but cellulose and metal plates.

Encyclopedia Britannica documents that, the use of credit cards originated in the United States during the 1920s, when individual firms, such as oil companies and hotel chains, began issuing them to customers.

Also, in the 1920's, stylish stores in the United States issued them to their favorite customers.

So at that time they were highly localized in acceptance. So if you lived in Los Angeles you couldn't use your credit card in Chicago. But credit cards gained nationwide usage after the likes of Henry Ford gave the world mass produced automobiles.

You can see that there's practical value in learning more about Credit Cards. Can you think of ways to apply what's been covered so far?

The ability to travel across America had the unintended consequence of popularizing the credit card usage.

The 1950's saw the founding of the Diners Club, which now is one of the biggest credit card companies worldwide.

Its founder, Mr. Frank McNamara probably was surprised the way his start up turned out to be. The card was first intended to enable Diners customers to have their meals without paying for them, and Diners club would foot the bill.

The customers then would repay Diners Club. In 1951, Bank of America, encouraged by Diners success, started a card that is now called VISA. And other California banks started their card which later became MasterCard.

The American Express made its debut in 1958. At that time, the banks realized that the card business was a mass market business, and they later began mailing anyone with address (some of them dead) offering the new found craze.

Of course, it's impossible to put everything about Credit Cards into just one article. But you can't deny that you've just added to your understanding about Credit Cards, and that's time well spent.;-)