Credit card

Credit cards are global financial instruments issued by banks and financial institutions, primarily running on networks established in the United States. While the concept of modern consumer credit cards originated in the USA with the Diners Club in 1950, the industry is now highly decentralized.

The physical production of the plastic or metal cards occurs in specialized high-security facilities worldwide, often managed by companies like Thales or IDEMIA. The branding on the card usually represents the issuing bank, while the payment network (such as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express) facilitates the transaction infrastructure between merchants and banks globally.