VISA

…universal merchant acceptance was the BankAmeriCard, originally issued in 1958 by Bank of America. The card started in California but grew from there. In 1966, Bank of America expanded its bank card program by forming the BankAmeriCard Service Corporation, which licensed banks outside of California and allowed them to issue…

…beginning in 1966, and renamed VISA in 1976–77. Many banks that began credit card plans on a citywide or regional basis eventually affiliated with major national bank plans as the range of included services (meals and lodging as well as store purchases) expanded. This development changed the nature of personal…