Visa credit cards

Confused about Visa credit cards? Want to know the difference between a MasterCard and a Visa credit card? We are independent and impartial, so can help you compare credit cards from both Visa and MasterCard. That way, you can find the best card to suit your needs.

Visa and MasterCard are both payment systems, not credit cards in themselves. They rely on providers to issue credit cards using their system.There are no significant differences between them. MasterCard and Visa are the names of the global companies who manage credit cards. They can both be used around the world.

If you're thinking of travelling, check which type of card is more prevalent in the countries you'll visit. MasterCard and Visa credit cards are both internationally recognised, but one might be a better choice than the other depending on the country you wish to use it in.

There are 88.7 million Visa cards in circulation in the UK. The Visa payment system is owned by 21,000 financial institutions. Visa also sponsors the Olympic and Paralympic games and the Rugby World Cup.

Visa recently introduced 'the Verified by Visa' scheme to tackle fraud when giving your details on the internet. This service protects your Visa card details with a password, but is currently in its infancy with only a handful of retailers carrying the scheme.

Chip and PIN (Personal Identification Number) technology is an initiative agreed to by Visa, MasterCard and Europay. Instead of signing for purchases, you need to use a PIN in exactly the same way as you do with debit cards. It was introduced as a way to combat credit card fraud. When France introduced a similar security system, domestic fraud fell by 78%.