As credit card users, we are often faced with the decision of which type of credit card to use. Visa and American Express are two of the most commonly used types of cards, but what are the differences between them? This blog post will discuss some of the key differences between Visa and American Express.
What is Visa?
- Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments to fast, secure, and reliable electronic payments. Visa operates one of the world’s largest retail electronic payments networks and is an accepted payment brand by merchants worldwide. More than 3 billion Visa-branded cards are used by consumers and businesses around the world, including nearly 60 million in the United States.
- Visa has more than 30,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Foster City, California.
Visa does not issue cards, extend credit, or set rates and fees for consumers. Rather, Visa provides financial institutions with Visa-branded payment products that they then use to offer credit, debit, prepaid and cash-access products to their customers. - In addition to traditional card-based transactions, Visa has been a pioneer in developing alternative payment types using mobile phones, biometrics, and other innovative technologies.
Today, Visa’s technology connects approximately 70 percent of the world’s face-to-face card transactions. Visa also offers advanced analytics tools that help financial institutions better manage risk and prevent fraud.
What is American Express?
- American Express is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center in New York City. The company was founded in 1850 and is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. American Express is best known for its credit card, charge card, and traveler’s check businesses.
- Amex cards account for approximately 24% of the total dollar volume of credit card transactions in the US. American Express also operates a Travelers Cheques business. American Express had $33.4 billion in total assets and $112.5 billion in total revenue as of 2018. American Express can be used globally and is accepted by over 22 million merchants worldwide. American Express has over 110 million cards in circulation, with nearly 50% of American households having at least one American Express card.
- American Express offers a variety of cards that offer different rewards such as cashback, points, or miles. American Express also offers merchant services such as chargeback protection and fraud prevention. American Express has been voted as one of the most reputable brands in the world and is a member of the Fortune 500 list.
Difference between Visa and American Express
Visa and American Express are two of the biggest names in credit cards, but there are some key differences between the two. For one, Visa is a global company, while American Express is primarily based in the United States. This means that Visa cards are accepted by more merchants around the world. Additionally, Visa offers a variety of card products, from debit and credit cards to prepaid cards, while American Express focuses primarily on credit products.
Another difference is that Visa is a member-owned organization, while American Express is a publicly-traded company. This means that Visa is run by its member banks, while American Express is beholden to shareholders. As a result, Visa cards tend to have lower interest rates and fees than American Express cards. Finally, Visa has a much larger network of ATMs than American Express, so cardholders can more easily access cash when they need it.
Conclusion
Visa and American Express are both credit card companies that offer a variety of benefits to their customers. However, there are some distinct differences between the two brands. For example, American Express is known for its luxury perks, such as airport lounge access and hotel elite status. Visa, on the other hand, is more widely accepted around the world. If you’re looking for a credit card with luxurious perks, American Express may be a better choice for you.
