Visa was the first payment-network company to reach a US$500 billion market capitalization.
Visa crossed the US$500 billion valuation level in 2018 as investors valued its global electronic-payments network and strong margins. Visa does not generally lend money to cardholders; instead, it operates the network that connects consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and payment processors.
The modern company grew out of BankAmericard, a credit-card program launched by Bank of America in 1958. BankAmericard was later expanded internationally and rebranded Visa in 1976. Visa became a publicly traded company in 2008 after one of the largest initial public offerings in the United States.
Visa is often confused with the banks that issue Visa-branded cards. Issuing banks set many account terms and extend credit, while Visa supplies the payment network. Its market capitalization therefore represents the public valuation of the network company itself.