CC Evolution

Sometimes I save the weirdest things!  When I became an adult, got my first credit card, I thought this was IT!  I finally felt all grown up!  Of course, the down side to credit cards was learning to make payments and being financially responsible. 

But as they came and went, name changes, canceling accounts, stores closing, it occurred to me to save them. Some days, there wouldn't BE credit cards!  We're not fully there yet, but how many of you pay for stuff with your phone???  

So I thought the old cards could tell a story some day.  Sometimes the cards themselves changed.  I remember my Macy's card was well used!  And Mervyns was my fav place to shop until  they closed.  Montgomery Wards closed  as well.  Chevron and Shell are still going strong.  Price Club became Costco.

Bank of America started the BankAmericard in 1958. It was rebranded as Visa in 1976.  But the store charge cards were easiest to get for young people just starting out.  My first credit card was JCPenney in 1976.  I still have that account!  In fact, ordering from the catalog was so popular back then I had my account number is memorized!  lol

As technology evolves, and things change, I will always remember my favorite cards! 

Edit:  some of these cards have no magnetic strip. They were put into a manual machine along with a 2 or 3 part invoice and the roller mechanism was slid across the card and back.  We called it "zip zap" .  Your total purchase and your account number was recorded on these slips.   How automated we have become!!!