Your Flexible Friend

The Access credit card

So you remember it? That iconic piece of Britain that was the Access card? But what happened to it? You could be forgiven for thinking it’s still with us. People still drop “Access” into conversation, and you might even see old Access signs outside shops. The last time the author saw Access on anything like an official form was a cashback application for a Nikon digital camera which, in 2006, still offered a refund to the purchaser’s Visa or Access card!

There’s lots to tell… but one thing is very important: Access as a credit card brand is now the intellectual property of Mastercard International Incorporated. This is acknowledged at the foot of every page.

This website grew out of the author’s interest in the subject. It brings together paper and TV adverts and much of the history of the brand. Although the author didn’t work for Access itself, he did work for the company that acquired the card processor Access had become. Access was always a brand of great pride in Southend-on-Sea: it felt home-grown and home-loved, as practically all of its processing and fulfilment was done at several sites in the town.