David Bowie was a legend in the music industry, but his name was also a presence in financial services, where his identity was synonymous with innovation.
Bowie died Sunday at age 69 following a battle with cancer. Perhaps the most influential of the financial products to bear his name during his life were the
Another effort that is lesser-known is
The concept eventually faded, as banks realized the Web was a channel that required the same level of integration as its other points of customer contact. But every so often someone tries the concept again; the rise of prepaid cards gave life to products themed around well-known personalities ranging from the financially savvy
A much more recent trend is the development of niche currencies, usually playfully named variants of bitcoin. But there are also new physical currencies, or what The New York Times calls "
David Bowie's influence on financial services may not be as well-remembered as his influence on culture and entertainment, but it's clear that anytime there is an innovative financial product in need of a name, Bowie could take the spotlight again.
Daniel Wolfe is Editor in Chief of PaymentsSource.