Credit cards originated in the United States in 1915.

The earliest institutions to issue credit cards were not banks, but department stores, restaurants, entertainment industries and gasoline companies. In order to attract customers, promote goods, and expand turnover, some stores and restaurants in the United States selectively issue credit chips similar to metal badges to customers within a certain range. Later, they evolved into cards made of plastic as customer purchases. As proof of consumption of goods, we have launched a credit sales service business for purchasing goods at our store or company or gasoline station with credit chips. Customers can purchase goods on credit at these stores and branches that issue chips and pay on schedule. This is the prototype of the credit card.

It is said that one day, American businessman Frank McNamara was entertaining guests for a meal in a New York hotel. After the meal, he found that he had forgotten his wallet with him. He was deeply embarrassed and had to call his wife to bring it with him. Pay cash at the hotel. So McNamara came up with the idea of ??starting a credit card company. In the spring of 1950, McNamara and his friend Schneider invested US$10,000 to establish the "Diners Club" in New York, the predecessor of Diners Club. Diners Club provides members with a card that can prove their identity and payment ability. Members can use the card to record their purchases. This kind of credit card that does not require bank processing is still a commercial credit card.

In 1952, Franklin National Bank in California, USA, was the first financial institution to issue a bank credit card. In 1959, the American Bank of America issued the American Bank card in California. Since then, many banks have joined the ranks of card-issuing banks. In the 1960s, bank credit cards were quickly welcomed by all walks of life and developed rapidly. Credit cards became popular not only in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and European countries. Since the 1970s, developing countries and regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia have also begun to issue credit card services.