Who invented credit cards?
A definition of the word “credit” is “trustworthiness.” Any time you borrow something with intent to pay it back can be considered credit — someone is trusting you to pay them back. The idea of credit has been around for a long time — but it wasn’t until the late 1940s that the concept of modern-day rewards credit cards was sired. Do you know the backstory? We’ve come a long way since the trading of cowrie shells, furs and wampum. (Photo by Joseph Hostetler/Million Mile Secrets) Who invented credit cards? It’s hard to imagine a system of exchanging goods like spices or cattle, a world existing not too distantly in our rear-view mirror. The irony is that even cash seems antiquated for those of us who have been in the miles and points hobby for years. I rarely ever have cash on my person (which is actually pretty irresponsible), because I wouldn’t consider paying a bill with it. The most rewarding way to make purchases do...