Responding to the imminent arrival of revolving credit cards from the United States, a consortium of Australian banks launched Bankcard in October 1974, using the new technology of the mass mailout. Every Australian with a bank account received a Bankcard, which helped normalise the credit card in Australia. Bankcard’s flat ‘democratic’ offer contrasted with the tiered systems of the US credit cards, which were set up to confer status on the biggest spenders. Its introduction also coincided with significant steps in the economic liberation of Australian women. Some department stores were slow to introduce Bankcard to their customers, but by the early 1980s, it became clear that they needed to respond to a rapidly evolving credit environment.