Turning cash into cards

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About this collection

Today, whether your bank card is in your wallet or on your phone, making a quick payment has never been easier. That hasn’t always been the case. Cast your mind back to the UK’s cash-based economy in the 1960s. Shoppers were still heavily reliant on coins, banknotes and cheques to make their transactions. However, plastic cards were just around the corner thanks to several successful initiatives in the US. Some of the new cards offered a line of credit – opening up exciting purchasing possibilities on the high street and abroad. Meanwhile, cash cards provided customers with a quick way to withdraw and deposit their money at any time of day. Dive into this snapshot to explore the evolution of HSBC UK’s card products.

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