The First Credit Card
Sunday September 5, 2004
At the beginning of the twentieth century, people had to pay cash for almost all products and services. Although the early part of the century saw an increase in individual store credit accounts, a credit card that could be used at more than one merchant was not invented until 1950. It all started when Frank X. McNamara and two of his friends went out to supper. Learn the story behind the first credit card.
Comments
That information is NOT correct. In a movie that was RELEASED in 1941 Loretta Youngs character specifically uses her credit card to pay for gas and lodging at a Nevada Motel…. While I can certainly acknowledge that the movie transaction was just that it never-the-less validates and confirms that credit cards WERE in use in 1941…. The film was
“Bedtime Story” and the obvious implication is that they indeed were in use well before this time-line would refer to.