History of the MasterCard Logo

In 1966 a number of banks formed the Interbank Card Association (ICA). The name Master Charge was licensed by the above mentioned California banks from the First National Bank of Louisville, Kentucky in 1967. With the help of New York's Marine Midland Bank, now HSBC Bank USA, these banks joined with the ICA to create "Master Charge: The Interbank Card". The card was given a significant boost in 1969, when National City Bank joined, merging its proprietary Everything Card with Master Charge.

In 1979, "Master Charge: The Interbank Card" was renamed simply "MasterCard".

	The original Master Charge logo displayed in store windows from 1967-1979.
	First MasterCard logo used from 1979-90
	MasterCard logo used on cards 1996 to present.
	Corporate logo  introduced in 2006 and is not used on cards.

Another good example of the logo evolution.