A credit card is a payment card issued to users (cardholders) to enable the cardholder to pay a merchant for goods and services based on the cardholder's accrued debt (i.e., promise to the card issuer to pay them for the amounts plus the other agreed charges).[1] The card issuer (usually a bank or credit union) creates a revolving account and grants a line of credit to the cardholder, from which the cardholder can borrow money for payment to a merchant or as a cash advance. There are two credit card groups: consumer credit cards and business credit cards. Most cards are plastic, but some are metal cards (stainless steel, gold, palladium, titanium),[2][3] and a few gemstone-encrusted metal cards.[2]
A regular credit card is different from a charge card, which requires the balance to be repaid in full each month or at the end of each statement cycle.[4] In contrast, credit cards allow the consumers to build a continuing balance of debt, subject to interest being charged. A credit card differs from a charge card also in that a credit card typically involves a third-party entity that pays the seller and is reimbursed by the buyer, whereas a charge card simply defers payment by the buyer until a later date.
A credit card also differs from a debit card, which can be used like currency by the owner of the card.
In 2018, there were 1.12 billion credit cards in circulation in the U.S., and 72% of adults had at least one card.[5]
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