Debit

Visa debit programs combine unsurpassed global acceptance with strong customer utility across a range of platforms that can be customized to the needs of different regions and demographics. Visa debit products give consumers the choice to “pay now” electronically using available funds, allowing consumers to access their checking or bank deposit accounts directly, with convenience and reliability.

Visa Global Debit Platforms

  • Visa Debit: Visa Debit, which is known as the Visa check card in the U.S., is issued with a Visa brand mark through a financial institution. Visa debit gives consumers the point-of-sale (POS) convenience of a credit card but accesses funds on deposit rather than a credit line. It can be used to purchase goods or get cash in all types of merchant environments, from typical retail transactions to mail or telephone orders to Internet transactions. Cardholder authorization can take place with either a personal identification number (PIN) or signature, and with or without electronic POS authorization.
  • Visa Electron: Visa Electron is ideal for customers with newer banking relationships or in countries that require all transactions to be authorized. Authorization can be either PIN- or signature-based. Internet transactions can also be supported, at the issuer’s discretion. Visa Electron is accepted at any Visa merchant location with an electronic authorization terminal, throughout the Visa global ATM network and at telephone and Internet merchants accepting Visa.
  • PLUS: Used around the world as the Visa global ATM mark, PLUS gives cardholders access to their funds in local currencies at ATMs worldwide. The PLUS mark can be added to a bank’s ATM card, allowing it to extend this global ATM convenience and its brand to its existing customer base.
  • Interlink: Interlink is the largest online point-of-sale network in the United States. Interlink is one of the easiest ways to make everyday purchases and get cash back in large cities and small towns across America.
  • Other Platforms: There are other platforms that may also carry debit functions for specialized uses. For example, Visa Horizon is a chip-based pre-authorized card product for emerging markets.


February 2008