Visa operates the global card network identified by the blue-and-gold Visa logo.
Visa Inc. runs a worldwide electronic payments network connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments. It generally does not lend money directly to cardholders; banks and other issuers provide the cards and extend credit, while Visa helps authorize, clear, and settle transactions. That scalable network model has supported a very large market capitalization.
The company grew from Bank of America’s BankAmericard program, launched in California in 1958. BankAmericard was renamed Visa in 1976, creating a brand designed for international use. Visa became a public company in 2008 after separating from Visa USA and related organizations.
Visa is often confused with a card issuer. A Visa card may be issued by a bank, but the Visa name identifies the payment network. Mastercard follows a similar network model, whereas American Express combines network and card-issuing roles more directly.