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An example of the front in a typical credit card:

1. Issuing bank logo
2. EMV chip (only on "smart cards")
3. Hologram
4. Card number
5. Card network logo
6. Expiration date
7. Card holder name
8. Contactless chip

An example of the reverse side of a typical credit card:

1. Magnetic stripe
2. Signature strip
3. Card security code

A credit card is a payment card issued to users (cardholders) to enable the cardholder to pay a merchant for goods and services based on the cardholder's promise to the card issuer to pay them for the amounts plus the other agreed charges.^[1] The card issuer (usually a bank) creates a revolving account and grants a line of credit to the cardholder, from which the cardholder can borrow money for payment to a merchant or as a cash advance.

A credit card is different from a charge card, which requires the balance to be repaid in full each month or at the end of each statement cycle.^[2] In contrast, credit cards allow the consumers to build a continuing balance of debt, subject to interest being charged. A credit card also differs from a cash card, which can be used like currency by the owner of the card. A credit card differs from a charge card also in that a credit card typically involves a third-party entity that pays the seller and is reimbursed by the buyer, whereas a charge card simply defers payment by the buyer until a later date. In 2018, there were 1.122 billion credit cards in circulation in the U.S.^[3]