Society outbids rivals for state fair contract. (Society National Bank; Ohio State Fair)

Society National Bank beat out three local rivals to win the state's contract to process credit card purchases at the Ohio State Fair.

This is the first time the fair has permitted purchases using Visa and MasterCard. The cards can be used to purchase items such as admission tickets, concert tickets, fair rides and parking passes.

This is also a first for the bank, which is looking for new avenues of business from this deal.

"We'll try this new type of processing and see what happens," said Jay Barker, assistant vice president at Society. "It could lead to credit card payments in areas like the health care industry, fast food, airport parking and things …