Unlocking opportunities for everyone

We’re a world-leading digital payments network that removes barriers and connects people to the global economy. We aim to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Innovation built to help everyone

Innovation is in our DNA, it is the foundation of our business and it is at the core of everything we do.

Visa helps power the global economy

We connect businesses, banks and governments in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
Visa fact sheet

  • 4.3B Visa cards connecting people globally¹

  • ~14K Financial institutions²

  • 276B Payment transactions³

  • 130M+ Merchant locations around the world⁴

A network working for everyone

As a trusted network, we facilitate digital payments across more than 200 countries and territories among a global set of consumers, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, strategic partners and government entities through innovative technologies.

See how Visa helps enable money movement globally

Pioneering payment technology

Our journey begins in 1958, the year that Bank of America launched the first consumer credit card program in the U.S. We expanded internationally in 1974 and introduced the debit card in 1975. In 2007, regional businesses around the world were merged to form Visa Inc. and, in 2008, the company went public in one of the largest IPOs in history. Today, we operate in more than 200 countries and territories with products and services available on cards, laptops, tablets, mobile devices and more. We continue to evolve, but our vision remains the same–to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

  • BankAmericard 1958 Bank of America launches BankAmericard, the first card with a “revolving credit” feature

  • Visa is born 1976 BankAmericard becomes Visa–a name that sounds the same in all languages

  • Meet Visa Inc. 2007 Visa forms a global corporation, while Visa Europe remains member-owned

A history of making payment history

Visa has a rich history of innovation, collaboration and disruption that formed one of the world’s largest payments networks. We are leveraging our innovative spirit to enable the future of money movement.

Visa’s Lynne Biggar, Kelly Tullier, & a group of 10+ year employees joined by NYSE President Stacey Cunning to celebrate Visa’s 60 years of existence.
Dos mujeres en un comercio de bazar entregandose un cuadro

A network working for everyone

As a trusted network, we facilitate digital payments across more than 200 countries and territories among a global set of consumers, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, strategic partners and government entities through innovative technologies.

See how Visa helps enable money movement globally


Interchange fee in Ukraine

  • ¹ As of 30 June 2023.
  • ² As of 30 September 2023.
  • ³ For the 12 months ended on 30 September 2023; includes payments and cash transactions.
  • ⁴ The number includes an estimated 30 million locations through payment facilitators, which are technology providers that provide payment acceptance services to merchants on behalf of acquirers. Data provided to Visa by acquiring institutions and other third parties as of 30 June 2023.