What company introduced the first charge card to America in 1950?

Diners Club, which was created partially through a merger with Dine and Sign, produced the first "general purpose" charge card and required the entire bill to be paid with each statement. The idea of customers paying different merchants using the same card was conceived in 1950 by Ralph Schneider and Frank McNamara, founders of Diners Club. It is now held that Diners Club was the first independent credit card company in the world.

A few years later other companies followed Diners Club. Carte Blanche followed; and, in 1958 American Express created a worldwide credit card network (these companies initially used charge cards that later acquired credit card features).

Bank of America launched the BankAmericard in Fresno, California, which would become the first successful recognizable modern credit card. This card succeeded where others failed. BankAmericard was able to convince large numbers of merchants to accept its card. It was eventually licensed to other banks around the United States and then around the world.