Mastercard International created an internationally accepted credit card system from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, which quickly became popular around the world. In 1966, an organization called the Interbankcard Association was formed. In 1967, four California banks formed the "Western States Bankcard Association (WSBA)" and launched the MasterCharge credit card plan. Soon, the association joined the Interbank Card Association and licensed MasterCharge to the association. In 1969, the Bank Card Association purchased the patent rights of MasterCharge and unified the credit card names and style designs of various card issuers. In 1970, the Interbank Card Association obtained the patent for MasterCharge. Like U.S. commercial banks, the Interbank Card Association is also actively expanding into the international market, such as establishing a network with the European Credit Card International Organization to expand global acceptance. In 1978, MasterCharge was renamed MasterCard. In the following ten years, the original name of MasterCharge was changed to MasterCard. Mastercard International is a non-profit association of financial institutions around the world, including commercial banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions. Its basic goal remains unchanged: to facilitate the exchange of bank card information between domestic and foreign members, and to facilitate issuers, regardless of size, to enter the bank card and traveler's check market and seek development.