COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 522210

Credit Card Issuing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1892–1996founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedGeneral Electric CompanyFoundedGeneral Electric Company
1892
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedBank Hapoalim B.M.FoundedBank Hapoalim B.M.
1921
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedEmpresas Copec S.A.FoundedEmpresas Copec S.A.
1934
FoundedS.A.C.I. FalabellaFoundedS.A.C.I. Falabella
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedNippon Shinpan Co., Ltd.FoundedNippon Shinpan Co., Ltd.
1951
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedUny Co., Ltd.FoundedUny Co., Ltd.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedEmpresas Almacenes Paris S.A.FoundedEmpresas Almacenes Paris S.A.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedCencosud S.A.FoundedCencosud S.A.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedMetris Companies Inc.FoundedMetris Companies Inc.
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
Bank Hapoalim B.M. →
Active · founded 1921 · Israel
Bank Hapoalim B.M.
Bank Hapoalim B.M. →
Active · founded 1921 · Israel
Bank Hapoalim B.M.
Empresas Copec S.A. →
Active · founded 1934 · Chile
Empresas Copec S.A.
Empresas Copec S.A. →
Active · founded 1934 · Chile
Empresas Copec S.A.
S.A.C.I. Falabella →
Active · founded 1937 · Chile
S.A.C.I.
S.A.C.I. Falabella →
Active · founded 1937 · Chile
S.A.C.I.
Nippon Shinpan Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
One of Japan's leading consumer lending companies, Nippon Shinpan Co., Ltd.
Nippon Shinpan Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
One of Japan's leading consumer lending companies, Nippon Shinpan Co., Ltd.
Uny Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · Japan
Early 20th century:[fs54]Choju Nishikawaya opens a footwear store in Nudge, the largest city in Chubu.
Uny Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · Japan
Early 20th century:[fs54]Choju Nishikawaya opens a footwear store in Nudge, the largest city in Chubu.
Empresas Almacenes Paris S.A. →
Active · founded 1973 · Chile
Empresas Almacenes Paris S.A.
Empresas Almacenes Paris S.A. →
Active · founded 1973 · Chile
Empresas Almacenes Paris S.A.
Cencosud S.A. →
Active · founded 1978 · Chile
Cencosud S.A.
Cencosud S.A. →
Active · founded 1978 · Chile
Cencosud S.A.
Metris Companies Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Metris Companies Inc., a financial products and services provider, has risen quickly in the industry by targeting the…
Metris Companies Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Metris Companies Inc., a financial products and services provider, has risen quickly in the industry by targeting the…
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