Getting to Know Credit Card Companies

Are you planning to buy a car? Have you decided to buy a house and start a family? Are you planning to save up money on future investments? Credit cards can give you that option.
Before makinga choice, it wouldn't hurt to know more about the history of various credit card companies and brand acceptance. It's just like getting to know a person's background in life. Once you get to know them, the more secure you feel. Some of the leading credit card companies you can entrust your savings and loans to are Discover Card, American Express, and Visa.

Discover Card was originally introduced by Sears in 1985. This giant company has over 50 million card holders. Discover cards holders are mostly from the United States and the cards are accepted in any Sears or Wal-Mart branch. The brand is widely accepted in many countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Belize, Palau, and many of the Caribbean Island nations. Discover Card is also accepted in China since it has been announced that Discover Network has formed an alliance with China UnionPay Network.

Top credit card brand American Express has been around since 1850 and was initiated in Buffalo, New York, by Henry Wells, William Fargo, and John Butterfield as an express business. According to Working Mothers, a U.S. based magazine, American Express was named one of the 100 Best Companies for working mothers living in the U.S. in 2006.

American Express has growing merchants and restaurant partners such as 7-eleven, CVS/pharmacy, McDonald's, Regal Entertainment Group, and Ritz Camera. The company is also known for its goodwill campaigns by issuing Red Card wherein the company contributes through the Global Fund in aiding African women and children suffering from HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.

Another reliable company is Visa, which means Visa International Service Association. The name was derived through a long history that dates back to 1958 when the Bank of America launched its credit card program in Fresno, California. In 1970, BankAmericard issuer banks took control of the credit card program and renamed it National Bank Americard Inc. (NBI). IBANCO, later in 1974, was founded and served as a multinational member corporation. Its function is to manage the international BankAmericard program.

IBANCO suggested that since various networks were involved, one name should be used to represent the company. The term Visa was then conceived and the name has gained universal acceptance through its products and services.

Credit card companies give you the option to save, take loans, have discounts in certain establishments or purchase things when money in cold cash is not around. Some credit card companies give you more options through their business partners, such as charging your dinner in a restaurant, purchasing hardware, going out on a vacation, and the like.

What if your specific want or need is not supported by your credit card? If you make a friend, then you can get to know more of your friend's friends. In other words, try to get to know your credit card company more, and discover the “friends” or other business establishments that the company is in partnership with so you'll get the most benefits in the end. Get to know them more and appreciate your “friends” with benefits!