What was Visa’s original name when its payment card launched in 1958?

Visa’s original name was BankAmericard when its payment card launched in 1958.

Bank of America introduced the BankAmericard program in Fresno, California, in September 1958. It was one of the first general-purpose credit-card programs to let customers make purchases and carry balances rather than settling every transaction immediately.

The program expanded beyond Bank of America and became an international network. In 1976, the various national BankAmericard organizations adopted the name Visa, creating a more neutral global brand. Visa Inc. later became a publicly traded payments company rather than a traditional bank.

BankAmericard is often confused with Master Charge, the earlier name of Mastercard. They were competing card networks with different origins. Visa’s name change reflected its move from a bank-specific American brand to an international payment system.