Visa

Visa is not a bank and does not issue credit cards. It is a payments platform and the Visa card scheme is an international network that makes it possible for consumers, retailers and other businesses to transact quickly and securely.

The European payment system is wholly owned and operated by more than 4,000 members who include banks and other payment service providers from 36 countries across Europe.

It is the scheme's members that are responsible for issuing cards, which bear the Visa logo - one of the most recognisable symbols in the world. Cards with the Visa logo can be used to pay for goods or services anywhere the Visa logo is displayed across more than 200 countries around the world.

Headquartered in London, the scheme provides the platform, systems, services and rules that facilitate these electronic payments between millions of consumers, retailers, other businesses and governments.