Bankcard
Australian credit card, 1974–2006 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bankcard was a shared brand credit card issued by financial institutions in Australia and New Zealand between 1974 and 2006. It was managed by the Bankcard Association of Australia, a joint venture of Australia's largest banks, and was the nation's first mass market credit card.
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Type | credit card |
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Manufacturer | Bankcard Association of Australia |
Available | No |
Website | http://www.bankcard.com.au/ ![]() |
Before 1974, only store cards, Diners Club and American Express were available in Australia and these were either restrictive or only accessible to the wealthy.[1][2]
In the first decade after its introduction, Bankcard dominated the Australian credit card market, with more than five million cardholders at its peak in 1984.[3] As a result of a declining cardholder base, falling transaction volumes and shrinking market share in relation to internationally accepted credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, the card was withdrawn from use in 2006.[3]