Visa operates the Visa payment network and became a public company through an IPO in 2008.
Visa's initial public offering took place in March 2008 and was one of the largest U.S. IPOs at the time. The company operates a global electronic-payments network connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments. Visa generally does not lend money directly to cardholders; banks issue many Visa-branded cards.
The Visa network processes authorization, clearing, and settlement for payments. This role differs from that of a bank, which may hold deposits or extend credit. Visa also differs from payment processors and digital-wallet companies, even though those businesses can connect to its network.
Visa's scale and recurring transaction activity have made it one of the most valuable financial-services companies by market capitalization. The company is publicly traded under the ticker V. Its two main share classes are Class A and Class C, with Class A being the more widely traded class.