Paperless money or plastic cards are a very popular method used for payments in today’s world. There are a number of credit cards, charge and debit cards that are available to choose from which include companies such as Visa, Master, Maestro, American Express, etc. Visa and Maestro do not have their own cards and do not provide credit/debit. They offer to banks and financial institutions the Visa and MasterCard (holding company of Maestro) brand payment products, which are then offered by associated banks. The article explains each type of card and highlights how each is similar and different to one another.
Visa Card
Visa cards are Visa Inc. branded credit and debit cards, which facilitates payments around the world. Visa Inc. is a financial services firm that facilitates e-funds transfers globally through their many payment products. Visa does not issue its own credit cards or offer credit facilities; rather it provides financial institutions with Visa Inc. branded payment products that offer debit, credit, and other types of facilities. Visa credit cards allow cardholders to borrow money and repay the money with interest if the unpaid balance is carried over past a specific period of time. Visa debit cards are also a popular payment mechanism; however, debit cards do not offer credit facilities and the amount due will be directly taken from the card holder’s bank account.
Maestro Card
Maestro card is the debit card that is provided by Mastercard Inc. Maestro cards can be obtained from associate banks that carry Mastercard’s payment products. The Maestro card is linked to the cardholder’s bank account, and when the cardholder makes a purchase using the Maestro card, the funds are taken out from the cardholder’s bank account. However, it is necessary that the card holder has sufficient funds in his bank account for the payment to go through; if not, the cardholder should make overdraft arrangements with their bank to make sure that the card is not rejected at the point of purchase.
What is the difference between Maestro Card and Visa Card?
Visa and Maestro cards are both widely accepted cards that are used for making electronic payments globally. Visa Inc. has both debit and credit cards, whereas Maestro is the debit card division of MasterCard Inc. There are a number of differences between the Visa card and Maestro card. The Visa card has wider acceptance than Maestro cards and has a greater international usage than the Maestro card. Another major difference is that Visa cards come with credit or debit facilities which mean the cardholder can either purchase goods on credit and pay later, or purchase goods by directly charging the amount for their bank balance. Maestro cards are debit cards and, therefore, do not provide a credit facility. The cardholder can only make payments up to the amount that is held in their bank account, or must set an overdraft arrangement with the bank.
Summary:
Maestro Card vs Visa Card
• Visa and Maestro cards are both widely accepted cards that are used for making electronic payments globally.
• Visa cards are Visa Inc. branded credit and debit cards which facilitates payments around the world. Visa Inc. is a financial services firm that facilitates e-funds transfers globally through their many payment products.
• Maestro card is the debit card that is provided by Mastercard Inc. Maestro cards can be obtained from associate banks that carry Mastercard’s payment products.
• Visa card has wider acceptance than Maestro cards and has a greater international usage than the Maestro card.
• Visa cards come with credit or debit facilities whereas Maestro cards are debit cards only; therefore, do not provide a credit facility. The Maestro cardholder can only make payments up to the amount that is held in their bank account, or must set an overdraft arrangement with the bank.