I applied for my first credit card in the early 1970’s when I had my first job; the bank declined my application because they claimed I had insufficient financial history. That initially seemed plausible until a male colleague, who was earning less and had even less history, was able to get a card from the same bank. It turned out the bank interpreted my position as a starting actuary as being a clerk; after all, women weren’t supposed to have actuarial careers!