The credit card was born in the 1880s, became a metal card for privileged Western Union customers in 1914, and was transformed into plastic in the 1950s with the invention of the Diners Club Card. The last became so popular that within a year, there were more than 20 000 people using it. This success was followed by the first UK charge card in 1951, the American Express charge card in 1958 and the rest is money spending history.

However, payment history is being rewritten and the credit card is being steadily replaced by inventive new solutions that are more secure, easier to use and utterly convenient. From biometrics to NFC to secret handshakes, payment is about to get interesting. Here are six reasons why: