Taken from an article written in the Credit Card Collector newsletter, 1991.
The First National Bank of Omaha, doing business as the First BankCard Center, issued different “scenic” MasterCards and Visas for each of 25 different states. That’s 50 different MasterCards and Visas to collect.
The Featured States from West to East
The 25 states are, from west to east: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Each card has a full-color reproduction of some scenic vista unique to that state. Arizona, for instance, has the Grand Canyon on the Visa and Saguaro cactus silhouetted by a sunset on the MasterCard. And there are variations.
Some Special Mentions
Nebraska Designs
The Nebraska Visa shows a sunset over the Platte River, while the MasterCard has the University of Nebraska football stadium in Lincoln, teeming with fans.
Iowa Designs
The Iowa Visa illustrates a Mississippi River vista, while the MasterCard shows the state capital in Des Moines, with a surreal Iowa farmhouse behind it.
Vermont Designs
The Vermont Visa shows a New England church. The Vermont MasterCard has a small farm on it. Both cards illustrate the beautiful colors of autumn in New England.
How You Could Apply for a Card
To get an application, you had to call First National Bank and specify the “scenic” cards for your state. You had to be specific, because otherwise they would send you an application for their Platinum card, which was dull and drab.
Annual fees were $20.00 for one card and $30.00 for both. Several credit card collectors canceled immediately upon receiving the cards, and avoided paying the fee.
The First Bankcard Center maintains that you had to live in the state you were getting the card for, but some exceptions were granted.
You had to allow eight to 10 weeks to process your application, as they were not a mainstream credit card issuer and did not process anywhere near the cards that banks like Citibank or Chase Manhattan did.
If you were turned down, you could lay low for six months and re-apply. If your basic information was unchanged, you’d usually get the cards.
Copyright 1991, Greg Tunks
