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Swipe into Amazement: Top 6 Unbelievable Fun Facts About Credit Cards You Never Knew!

illustration of credit-cards
Dive into the fascinating world of plastic money with these intriguing and amusing fun facts about credit cards that might just make you swipe with a smile!

1. Swiping Right Before Tinder

Long before swiping right was a thing, people were swiping their Diners Club cards with delight: In the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the world's first multi-purpose charge card, quickly amassing 10,000 elite New York members who could use the card at 28 classy eateries and two swanky hotels. As an industry trailblazer, they also added travel insurance perks and corporate card options, before eventually being scooped up by BMO Financial Group for a fancy first-date in the world of credit cards.
Source => dinersclubus.com

2. Eastwood's Lottery Swipes

Feeling lucky, punk? Well, you might just be Clint Eastwood's kindred spirit in the Empire State: In New York, it's actually legal to purchase lottery tickets using a credit card, but remember to double-check with both the merchant and your card issuer, as some may have their own rules or treat it as a cash advance.
Source => wblk.com

3. The Gatsby of Credit Cards

If you ever fancied waltzing into the elite soirées of the wealthy, flashing an invitation that would make even Gatsby green with envy, the American Express Black Card is the golden (or rather, black) ticket you've been looking for: Known formally as the Centurion Card, this exclusive, invitation-only charge card is offered to high-net-worth individuals with a jaw-dropping $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee—and that's just the tip of the diamond-encrusted iceberg, as the full criteria and fees remain shrouded in AmEx's mysterious allure.
Source => investopedia.com

4. Diamond Swipes for Royalty

Forget gold digs, it's all about diamond swipes with this royal gem of a credit card: The Dubai First Royale MasterCard is exclusively designed for royals and ultra-wealthy individuals, boasting no pre-set spending limits, a personal relationship manager, and topped off with an exquisite .235-carat diamond right in the center, surrounded by real gold accents, putting your average plastic card to shame.
Source => dannydealguru.com

Rewarding Philanthropy

5. Rewarding Philanthropy

Forget casino winnings and lottery tickets, play your heart away with a philanthropic twist: Major credit card issuers like American Express, Chase, Citi, and Wells Fargo allow cardholders to redeem their reward points for charitable donations to organizations like Feeding America, American Red Cross, UNICEF USA, and others, bringing a whole new meaning to the term "rewarding generosity."
Source => forbes.com

6. Homeless Magazine Goes High-Tech

When cash is king but you're not royalty: Swedish payment firm iZettle equipped Situation Sthlm, a magazine sold by homeless or disadvantaged individuals in Stockholm, with smartphones and card readers, becoming the first publication of its kind to accept debit and credit card payments worldwide.
Source => theguardian.com

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