My Father Invented The Debit Card

He just didn't know it. Born in 1908, a first generation American, he lived through the depression and never wanted to owe anyone anything. He paid cash for every car he owned. He paid cash for the first three houses we lived in -- never had a mortgage til we moved to a town that was too rich for us.

He carried an American Express card, but mostly paid cash. When he and my Mom went on a trip, he would take several thousand (i.e. two or three) dollars out of his savings and send them

to American Express. Only then could he comfortably use the card on their vacation.

There you have it. The original debit card.