It's easy to take credit cards for granted, seeing as how we've had them handy for so long. As a matter of fact, you may not know that credit cards date back as far as the mid-1900s, which is where a bit of history can come into play. As a matter of fact, the man who was responsible for creating the credit card in the first place went by the name of Frank McNamara. Here are just a few of the important details about him, courtesy of Bob Jain.
While the following story about Frank McNamara has since been debunked, it's an interesting tale all the same. For those who do not know, back in 1949, McNamara was in Manhattan, enjoying dinner with someone he worked with. Once the meal was done and the check arrived, he came to the realization that he didn't have money to cover said bill. McNamara's wife soon arrived at the restaurant with the money, but it's been said that this created the idea of credit. As stated earlier, though, this admittedly interesting tale has been proven untrue.
For those who want the true story, McNamara was once an executive at the Hamilton Credit Corporation. As he saw that business wasn't exactly on an uptrend, he proposed the credit card concept to his friends. What it would do, essentially, is allow people to cover restaurant bills via charge, with the amounts being paid off later. To say that this revolutionary would be an understatement, as I'm sure reputable authorities such as Bobby Jain CS can agree. It wasn't long until the first American credit card company, the Diner's Club, came to fruition.
The Diner's Club was so revolutionary for its time that the premise started with 27 participating restaurants. If you were a member of the Diner's Club, you would be able to sign for bills at restaurants, with the promise that they would be paid back in the future. Not only was this useful for those who forgot their money, as was the case with the false story covered earlier, but others that worked on tight budgets in general. The Diner's Club charges issued fees to help the company make a profit, which aren't much different from modern credit card fees that Bobby Jain Credit can observe.
While the Diner's Club and Frank McNamara's involvement are both great pieces of history, it also paved a path for other companies to follow. As a matter of fact, years after the Diner's Club formed, the likes of American Express threw their hats into the proverbial ring. These companies clearly saw the appeal of credit as a payment option, and wanted to offer their own services. Perhaps they wouldn't have risen to the surface without McNamara starting things off.
While the following story about Frank McNamara has since been debunked, it's an interesting tale all the same. For those who do not know, back in 1949, McNamara was in Manhattan, enjoying dinner with someone he worked with. Once the meal was done and the check arrived, he came to the realization that he didn't have money to cover said bill. McNamara's wife soon arrived at the restaurant with the money, but it's been said that this created the idea of credit. As stated earlier, though, this admittedly interesting tale has been proven untrue.
For those who want the true story, McNamara was once an executive at the Hamilton Credit Corporation. As he saw that business wasn't exactly on an uptrend, he proposed the credit card concept to his friends. What it would do, essentially, is allow people to cover restaurant bills via charge, with the amounts being paid off later. To say that this revolutionary would be an understatement, as I'm sure reputable authorities such as Bobby Jain CS can agree. It wasn't long until the first American credit card company, the Diner's Club, came to fruition.
The Diner's Club was so revolutionary for its time that the premise started with 27 participating restaurants. If you were a member of the Diner's Club, you would be able to sign for bills at restaurants, with the promise that they would be paid back in the future. Not only was this useful for those who forgot their money, as was the case with the false story covered earlier, but others that worked on tight budgets in general. The Diner's Club charges issued fees to help the company make a profit, which aren't much different from modern credit card fees that Bobby Jain Credit can observe.
While the Diner's Club and Frank McNamara's involvement are both great pieces of history, it also paved a path for other companies to follow. As a matter of fact, years after the Diner's Club formed, the likes of American Express threw their hats into the proverbial ring. These companies clearly saw the appeal of credit as a payment option, and wanted to offer their own services. Perhaps they wouldn't have risen to the surface without McNamara starting things off.
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