post WW II the advent of the jet airplane and business travel created the credit card. it was first used by "businessmen"
Franklin Bank in NY invented the credit card in 1951. The Diner's Club card started around that time also. It was a charge card that could be used at a dozen restaurants in midtown Manhattan. Visa, formerly known as Bankamericard, and Mastercard which used to be called Mastercharge both started in the mid 60s. It was the launching of these two card types that started all the trouble we're in today. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Master Charge Speaking of Master Charge, I noticed something strange as I read the credit report from Experian. Both of my Citibank MasterCards were listed as "Citibank Mastercharge," even though that name was changed at least 20 years ago. The credit reporting business is full of such anachronistic absurdities. Those people are still living in 1975, and have no idea what's going on today.
