"Kredit" is the Yiddish word for credit

If it's a snap of plastic "kredit" cards on the "universal-krom" (department store) counter that gets you in the Hanukkah spirit, or if your motto is, "If there's a card, there's a way," read the following chronology. Remember, there are bigger things in life than money--bills, for instance.

2005 Bank Leumi launches a "kredit" card that observes the Sabbath.
The "Yomtov-Friendly" credit card will serve the ultra-orthodox community in Israel, estimated at 800,000 people. The marketers say that up to 200,000 would be offered the new card.

According to Sen. Chuck Schumer, "New Yorkers pay the highest credit card interest in the nation" with New Yorkers typically carrying $9,000 "kredit" card balances.

Chase offered a Limited Edition King Kong Universal Entertain- ment MasterCard.

The new MasterCard "PayPass" credit card allows one to charge 2 premium chicken ranch sandwiches, a couple large fries, some drinks, 2 "epl" (apple) pies and a side "salat" (salad) from McDonald's. $15 tap. (not needing a free hand to swipe and sign: priceless).

On Sundays, most churches across America collect offerings in the form of cash and checks. Now some churches are accepting charge cards, as well.

2004 83% of undergrads have at least one "kredit" car and that the average balance for college students is $2,327.

American Express has a new card called IN:NYC--designed to appeal to "yung" (young) New Yorkers. It offers Gotham- Centric rewrds for very "dolar" (dollar) spent.

2003 JP Morgan Chase and Universal Pictures issued an Incredible Hulk MasterCard in June.

2001 The average card holder carries "nayn" (9) "kredit" cards in his/ her wallet. That's about 30 per household.

Levitz and Seaman's--dos mebl (the furniture) giants-- charge 24 percent interest, just under the legal limit of 25% on their cards.

With the "nay" (new) "Visa Buxx" card, teenagers can get used to paying with plastic. Technically, the card is not a credit card, but something like a debit card. Kids can only spend the amount previously deposited in the account.

2000 American Express Co. offers disposable "kredit" card numbers for safer online shopping.

Visa put about 10,500 cash cards in boxes of Kellogg's cereals. Most of the reusable cards come with a stored value of $20, but 500 are worth $100 and two are loaded with $25,000.

The average "kredit" card balance is $1,600.

1999 Wal-Mart is now offering their own credit card, the first in the company's 37-year-history.

"Got" (God) is now accepting American Express. Many churches have added electronic funds transfer to more traditional forms of giving.

l998 Chase Manhattan Bank offers a "kredit" card with a built-in magnifying lens for reading "restoran" (restaurant) receipts and such.

Santa Clara County (CA) will offer some suspects a kiosk where they can use a credit card to get out of "di turme" (the slammer/jail). The heaviest use is expected from those arrested for "minervertik" (minor) crimes with bails under $5000.

1997 Peter Luger--"der bifsteyk" (the steak) house--has issued more than 67,000 customers his special house "kredit" card. Morris, "di kats" (the cat) has his own "kredit" card, sponsored by Heinz Pet Products, First National Bank of Milwaukee and 1,400 local chapters of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"Muzik" (Music) aficionados can flash the Frank Sinatra MasterCard, the Jerry Garcia Private Issue Card, or the KISS Visa.

1996 Molly McDermott of Great Falls, VA, received a pre-approved Visa card. Molly is a shaggy, 140-pound "hunt" (dog)!

1994 Chase Manhattan Bank sent videos oozing with"mitgefil" (sympathy) to troubled cardholders, asking them to call to arrange making their "tsolung" (payment) current. The video was titled, "Together, We Can Work It Out."

Nordstrom's became the "erht" (first) major retailer to issue a Visa card that competes with its store card.

Delaware based-MBNA-teamed up with Paramount Pictures to launch a Star Trek MasterCard.

In the movie, "The Flintstones," audiences got to hear Betty Rubble (Rosie O'Donnell) and Wilma Flintstone (Eizabeth Perkins) say, "Charge it."

Volkswagen offered a credit card that gives users rebates on new VWs.

1992 MasterCard Int'l suggested that about 10% of high school juniors and seniors, or about 640,000 teen-agers, had regular access to a credit card either in their own "nomen" (name) or that of an adult.

1991 Citibank introduced Photocards for its Visa and MasterCard holders. Merchants can compare the "punim" (face) on the card with the mug trying to use it.

1990 Students at the Simon Lake Elem. School in Milford, CT, use plastic cards to charge their school "lontsh" (lunch).

1989 Elvis lives in "plastik" (plastic). "Der kinig" (The King) has come back as a MasterCard, an affinity card, issued by Leader Federal Savings & Loan of Memphis.

1988 Fustuce Ringgenberg received a "briv" (letter) offering him a MasterCard from an Ohio bank with a $5,000 limit even though he has never had a "shtele" (job) in his life.

Janet Ringgenberg said she was flabbergasted that her cat, known as Fred, got a preapproved "farbetung" (invitation), while she had been trying unsuccessfully to get a card for 3 years.

1986 Bloomingdale's finally accepts Visa and MasterCard, but not until after the Christmas holidays.

1885 Sears' Discover credit card is launched.

1979 The largest collection of valid credit cards is one of 932, all different, by Walter Cavanagh of Santa Clara, CA. The cost of acquisition was nil; they're worth more than $1,000,000 in credit.

1965 The Bank of America ran a publicity stunt in which a man lived for a "khoydesh" (month) using only his BankAmericard.

1951 Franklin National Bank (NY) offers bank credit cards.

1950 Frank MacNamara and a friend, Ralph Schneider, offer a Diners' Club Card, allowing its 200 bearers to charge food and revelry. Made of cardboard, it lists the 28 participating establishments on the back.

1947 Credit cards for "di ban" (the railroad) are introduced.

1938 Sears Roebuck has over 25 million charge customers, according to American Enterprise Teaching Notes.

Wanamaker's of Philadelphia and other "universal-krom" (department stores) institute revolving credit, opening up charge accounts to the great majority of Americans. The amount a customer is allowed to charge and repay each month are set according to the customer's ability to pay.

1934 Air travel by credit card is introduced by American Airlines.

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Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is a retired business educator and free-lance writer.
She has discovered the buy now, PRAY LATER plan.