Visa uses the slogan “Everywhere you want to be” and became one of the world's most valuable financial companies.
Visa's roots reach back to Bank of America's BankAmericard, introduced in 1958. The card system expanded through licensing and eventually became Visa, a global payments network connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments.
Visa generally does not lend money to cardholders in the way an issuing bank does. Instead, its network helps authorize, clear, and settle transactions. Banks issue Visa cards, while merchants typically work with acquiring institutions and payment processors.
The company became publicly traded in 2008 in one of the largest initial public offerings in United States history at that time. Its market capitalization is tied to expectations for payment volume, international commerce, digital transactions, and future profitability. Network volume and company revenue are related but not identical measures.