Mastercard exists because a bank mailed credit cards nobody had asked for.
In 1958, Bank of America mailed unsolicited credit cards to about 60,000 residents of Fresno, California, then rolled BankAmericard out statewide. Rival banks banded together to compete, forming the Interbank Card Association in 1966. Their card became Master Charge in 1969 and Mastercard in 1979.
Mastercard on Brandseum