Which bank introduced the first widely used bank-issued credit card, BankAmericard, in 1958?

Bank of America introduced the first widely used bank-issued credit card, BankAmericard, in 1958.

The launch took place in Fresno, California. The bank mailed unsolicited cards to many local residents, a large-scale experiment intended to test whether a revolving credit system could work for everyday purchases. Customers could buy goods and repay balances over time rather than paying the entire amount immediately.

The program encountered fraud, defaults, and administrative problems, but it established a model that spread beyond California. BankAmericard was later licensed to other banks and became an international card network.

In 1976, BankAmericard was renamed Visa. This history is distinct from the earlier Diners Club card, introduced in 1950, which was primarily a charge card and was not initially a bank-issued revolving credit product.