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History of Accepting Credit Cards

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By 1969, most independent bank charge cards had been converted over to either the BankAmericard or Master Charge cards.

Eventually, charge card issuing and processing became too large of a task for the banking industry to handle. That is what lead to the emergence of credit card associations such as Interlink Association, Western States Bank Card Association, and National BankAmericard Inc. Current associations include Visa and Master Card.

The next major changes in the credit card industry involved streamlining transaction processing and reducing credit card fraud. Electronic authorizations were developed in the early 1970s which allowed retailors the ability to check a customers credit limit 24 hours per day.

By the mid 1970s, the credit card industry started exploring international waters, but had some difficulty because of the name association; “America” in BankAmericard, for instance. This lead to the renaming of BankAmericard to Visa and Master Charge followed suit by changing its name to Master Card.

By 1979, electronic processing was improving. Electronic dial up terminals and magnetic strips on the back of credit cards allowed retailers to swipe the customer’s credit card through the dial up terminal, which accessed issuing bank card holder information. This process gave authorizations and processed settlement agreements in a mater of 1-2 minutes. An added benefit was paper reduction.

The early 1980s, gave birth to the first Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), which allowed consumers access to cash, and to make deposits, 24 hours a day across our nation and in other countries as well. Account users could obtain cash in many different currencies.

Since its existence, Visa has been a leader in credit card innovation. Because of this they have emerged as the world’s leading credit card association with over 1-billion cards being issued, and carrying over 50% of all credit card transactions conducted world wide.

“Visa (International) is a “not for profit” organization comprised of over 40,000 member Banks and MasterCard is a for “Profit” company who issues credit cards and sets and maintain rules for credit card acceptance and processing. They are both run by board members who are mostly high-level executives from their member banks and industry heavy hitters.”

There are five leaders in the credit card industry: Visa International, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diner’s Club. There are others trying to penetrate the industry like check processing companies, Euro Card, JCB and ATM companies but credit cards still account for over 90% of all e-commerce transactions !

A Complete Guide on Credit Card Balance Transfer

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Summary: Worried about your credit card debt? Well, balance transfer is a good option, provided you know the ins and outs of the process. Credit card debt relief programs help you get to know the balance transfer process better.

Credit card relief program You can keep better track of your debt by transferring your balance from high interest credit cards to a lower interest one. This also facilitates paying off your debt faster. But most of the time there are hidden charges incurred during the transfer process which could make the deal turn costly for you. That’s why it is mandatory to understand the intricacies of credit card balance transfers before opting for one. Debt management experts recommend credit card relief programs as the best source for learning more.

Here are some tips on credit card balance transfers which will help you get the most out of your credit payment.

Check out the introductory rate duration Most credit cards offer introductory annual percentage rates (APRs) for balance transfers. But the offer is for a specific time period, and, once the period is over, you will be charged with normal interest rates. Hence credit card debt program experts recommend checking the validity of the introductory rate offer before you decide to go ahead with it.

Calculate the transfer fees Normally the savings from a credit card balance transfer are more than the cost of the transfer fee. But debt management experts still suggest that you calculate the transfer fees to ensure that it will be profitable for you. According to credit card relief program counselors, you are charged either with 4% of the transferred amount or a minimum of $10 as the balance transfer rate. Check if you can pocket more savings with this provision than with regular rates.

Build a solid credit score The low-rate balance transfer option depends on your credit score. The higher your score, the better chance you have for lower interest credit payoff. Do you know that 35% of your FICO score is based on your payment history? That’s why debt management experts suggest paying your monthly balance on time to strengthen your credit score.

Take advantage of a balance transfer Credit card balance transfers generally take around two weeks to complete. Here is a debt management strategy: don’t fall behind in your regular monthly debt payments during this period as it will compromise your credit score. A late fee of any sort can impact your credit score negatively, which could ultimately affect your balance transfer process.