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What Is Visa?

Visa is the world’s largest payment network. Over 335 million credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards are in circulation bearing the Visa brand name – more than 100 million more than Mastercard, its closest rival.

Visa is a global financial corporation with its headquarters in Foster City, California. The company, as the largest payment network, helps banks conduct electronic funds transfers – the process by which card payments are made.

Visa does not issue credit cards itself. Nor does the company issue its own debit cards or prepaid cards. Instead, Visa partners with banks, lenders, and other financial institutions to provide payment solutions for their card products.

Where is Visa Accepted?

The visa network is the most extensive payment network in the world. As such, Visa credit cards are accepted in over 200 countries across the globe. While Mastercard is accepted in slightly more countries (212 to 200), Visa is accepted by more merchants – over 40 million to date.

The Visa network is so vast there is never a need to ask, “do you accept Visa?” The chances are that if the store takes electronic payments, they take Visa. This reliability is what makes Visa such a trusted name in the credit card industry.

Having a card with Visa on it gives you the peace of mind that you are protected anywhere you go. It’s no wonder Visa’s slogan, “It’s everywhere you want to be,” is so iconic.

Types of Visa Credit Cards

While Visa doesn’t issue cards themselves, they do offer several tiers of credit cards to issuers. Each tier has unique benefits and perks for cardholders, including comprehensive protection. There are currently three tiers of Visa personal credit cards and three tiers of Visa business credit cards:

Personal cards:

Classic/ Traditional/ Platinum
Signature
Infinite

Business cards:

Business
Signature Business
Infinite Business

Traditional

Visa Traditional (also known as Visa classic or Visa Platinum) is the basic level of Visa credit or debit card. These cards offer basic protections and benefits that most cardholders have come to expect from the Visa name. Traditional Visa cards typically do not have an annual fee, except for some secured credit cards.

Visa Traditional Features

Visa Platinum credit cards feature the following protections and security features:

Roadside Dispatch: Visa Roadside Dispatch is a pay-per-use towing and roadside assistance program. This program gives travelers peace of mind should they break down, anywhere, 24/7.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Receive coverage when you use your Visa to pay for the entire cost of car rental. This protection covers damage due to collision or theft.
Cardholder Inquiry Service: 24/7 access to Visa customer service representatives who can provide detailed information for members in all major languages.
Lost or Stolen Card Reporting: Visa will help you block your lost or stolen card and connect you with your bank.
Emergency Card Replacement: Once connected with your bank, Visa will work with them to get you an emergency replacement card within one to three days. Conditions apply.
Emergency Cash Disbursement: Visa can also work with your bank to help get your emergency cash until your new card arrives.
Zero Liability: Cardholders pay nothing if their card is subject to unauthorized use or theft.

Visa Signature

Visa Signature is the mid-tier of the Visa range of card products, offering elevated service, benefits, and security. Signature cards may – or may not – have an annual fee and typically come with rewards from the issuer.

Visa Signature Benefits

Beyond the primary perks of any Visa card, Visa Signature cardholders can anticipate a higher level of benefits, including:

Extended Warranty Protection: This program provides holders with an extra year of warranty coverage for eligible U.S. manufacturer goods with a warranty of one year or more.
Year-end Summary: A detailed summary of your spending to help simplify your budgeting in the new year.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: 24/7 assistance for Signature cardholders anywhere in the world.
Visa Signature Concierge: Customized customer service to help cardholders make reservations, buy tickets, and receive advice.
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Signature cardholders get exclusive access and guest privileges at over 900 luxury hotels worldwide.
Roadside Dispatch
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Cardholder Inquiry Services
Zero Fraud Liability

Visa Infinite

Infinite is the ultimate in credit card perks and protections. Infinite credit cards are the most prestigious of travel cards, offering luxury, statement credits, and hefty annual fees to match. These cards are the upper tier of a bank’s credit card lineup.

Visa Infinite Benefits

Since Infinite cards often come with an annual fee of $400 or more, cardholders naturally expect the best Visa benefits. Fortunately, Infinite packs them in droves, including:

Return Protection: Receive extra protection for items you purchase with your Infinite Card of up to $300.
Purchase Security: Eligible purchases made with an Infinite card are protected from damage or theft within 90 days of purchase.
Travel Accident Insurance: $500,000 of accidental death or dismemberment coverage for travel booked with an Infinite Card.
Trip Cancellation/ Trip Interruption Insurance: If you must cancel or interrupt a trip paid for with your Infinite Card, Visa will reimburse you for the non-refundable costs.
Trip Delay Reimbursement: Get reimbursed if your flight is delayed by more than six hours or requires an overnight stay. Terms and conditions apply.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Receive reimbursement for lost or missing luggage when you purchase an airline or common carrier ticket with your Infinite card.
Visa Infinite Concierge: Personalized concierge service 24/7.
Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection: Enhanced benefits over Signature, including free breakfast, room upgrades, and more.
Global Entry Statement Credit: Receive a $100 statement credit for TSA/ Global Entry application fees every four years. This service lets cardholders get through security and customers quickly – and on to their destination.
Priority Pass Lounge Access: VIP access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide.
Airline Incidentals Credits: Cardholders receive statement credits for additional costs when flying, such as in-flight Wi-Fi, extra checked bags, and more.
Roadside Dispatch
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Cardholder Inquiry Services
Zero Fraud Liability

Visa Business

Visa business cards come with many of the same features of personal cards, but with additional tools to help businesses succeed. These tools include payment management by combining statements, additional employee cards, and business monitoring tools. These protections allow companies to keep control of their finances, while the Signature and Infinite perks enable employees to travel in comfort and style at the same time.

Issuers Who Only Provide Visa Cards

Some issuers offer credit cards from a variety of payment networks. Others, however, feature one payment network specifically. Here are some of the credit card issuers who only provide Visa credit cards:

Black Hills Federal Credit Union – including the Cash Back Business, Cashback, Visa Rewards Business, Visa Rewards, Traditional Business, and Traditional Visa Cards.
BOK Financial – including the Secured Visa and College Real Rewards Cards
California Bank and Trust – including the Amazing Rewards and Amazing Rewards Business Cards
Comerica Bank – including the Secured, College Real Rewards, and Visa Platinum Cards.
Family Security Credit Union – including the Cash Rewards, Platinum Business, and Student Visa.
Firefly Credit Union – including the Visa Signature, Business Rewards, and Platinum Rewards.
First Citizens Bank – including the Accelerae Your Rewards Visa, No Annual Fee Visa, Cash Back, and Smart Option Visa.
First Financial Credit Union – including the Gold and Platinum Cards.
First Horizon Bank – including the Platinum Premier, Secured Classic, Classic, and Visa Signature Cards.
IBERIABANK – including the Business Classic, Business Rewards, Visa Signature, and Platinum Rewards.
Liberty Bank – including the Secured, Business, Platinum, and College Rewards Cards.
Los Angeles Federal Credit Union – inclduing the Platinum and Signature Rewards.
NASA Credit Union – including the Visa Classic, Advantage Rewards, or Cash rweards.
National Bank of Arizona – including the Amazing Cash and Amazing Rate.
New York Community Bank – including the 2% Cash Back and Secured Card.
Oregon State Credit Union – including the Business Visa, Visa Value, and Visa Rewards.
Park National Bank – including the Secured, Platinum, and College Real Rewards.
PenFed – including the Gold Visa, Pathfinder, Power Cash Rewards, and Promise Visa.
Regions Bank – including the Cash Rewards Visa Signature, Explore Visa, Life Visa, Prestige, Business, and Business Enhanced Cards.
State Farm Bank – including the Business, Good Neighbor, and Rewards Visa.
Unify Credit Union – including the Fixed-Rate Visa, Variable-Rate Visa, Visa Gold, Platinum, and Share Secured.

What Are the Best Visa Credit Cards for 2021?

Because there are so many Visa credit cards in circulation, it can be challenging to find the right card for you. Almost every bank and lender offer Visa products, except for some larger issuers, such as Discover, American Express, and HSBC.

Here are some of the top Visa card offers for 2021, as chosen by the BestCards team:

Chase Sapphire Reserve – The Best Travel Credit Cards of 2021
UBS Visa Infinite – Best Luxury Card of 2021
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature – Best Visa Dining and Entertainment Card of 2021
Chase Freedom Unlimited – Best Cashback Credit Card for 2021
Marriott Bonvoy Bold – Best Hotel Card of 2021
Total Visa – Best Unsecured Visa Card for Bad Credit of 2021
Upgrade Card – Best Installment and Balance Transfer Card of 2021
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card – Best Business Travel Card of 2021