Which company launched the Maestro debit-card brand in 1991?

Mastercard launched the Maestro debit-card brand in 1991.

Maestro was created as an international debit-card scheme connected to Mastercard’s payment infrastructure. Cards bearing the brand could generally be used for purchases and cash withdrawals, with transactions often authorized against the cardholder’s bank account.

The brand helped banks offer electronic debit payments across borders as payment terminals and ATM networks became more widespread. Maestro cards were especially common in Europe and other markets outside the United States.

Maestro is sometimes confused with Mastercard’s credit-card products. The key distinction is that a Maestro card was principally a debit product, while Mastercard is the broader payment brand used for both credit and debit cards. Mastercard began retiring Maestro issuance in several markets in the 2020s.