What were the first two credit cards?
Sophia Koch
Updated on February 06, 2026
Used mainly for travel and entertainment, the Diners Club Card claims the title of the first credit card in widespread use. Although its purchases were made on credit, Diners Club was technically a charge card, meaning the bill had to be paid in full at the end of each month.
Which company introduced first card?
Andhra Bank
In India, Andhra Bank was the first to introduce credit cards in 1981.
What company introduced the first credit card in 1950?
Diners Club founder
In 1950, Diners Club founder Frank McNamara introduced a novel method of paying for purchases. He called it a “credit card.”
What credit cards were used in 1950?
Most historians trace the modern credit card to the founding of Diners Club in 1950, the first charge card that could be used to make purchases at multiple retailers. Diners Club was a new twist on an ancient practice.
What was the name of the first credit card company?
McNamara had the idea of needing only one credit card. McNamara discussed the idea with Bloomingdale and Sneider, and the three pooled some money and started a new company in 1950 which they called the Diners Club. The Diners Club was going to be a middleman.
Who was the first airline to accept an American Express credit card?
Miss Amexco, Lynn Weston behind an oversized novelty American Express credit card in 1960. She stands at the door to an Alaska Airlines plane as they were the first major airline to honor the card. (Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images)
When did tobacco companies start issuing cigarette cards?
Cigarette cards are trading cards issued by tobacco manufacturers to stiffen cigarette packaging and advertise cigarette brands . Between 1875 and the 1940s, cigarette companies often included collectible cards with their packages of cigarettes.
When did credit card companies start using electronic payment systems?
Throughout the 1970s, the two companies would both start to introduce electronic payment systems in two stages. The companies started by changing the authorization system in 1973. That authorization system was in charge of making sure a customer’s card had credit available. Then]
