Credit — Card

Before McNamara's cardboard card, merchants in the 1800s and early 1900s used metal coins or "Charga-Plates" to let regular customers buy on credit locally.

: American Express launched its first card, and Bank of America introduced the "BankAmericard," which eventually became Visa . credit card

: A few months later, he returned to that same restaurant and paid using a small cardboard card—the Diners Club card . Before McNamara's cardboard card, merchants in the 1800s

: To settle the bill, his wife had to drive down and pay for him, an embarrassment he didn't want to repeat. Before McNamara's cardboard card