MasterCard is an association of member banks which issues its cards directly to the consumer, laying down and preserving its own rules for processing. Initially, banks that wanted to issue MasterCard credit cards had to become a member of either MasterCard or Visa. Today, banks can belong to both of these organisations, enabling them to offer a greater variety of credit cards to their customers.
MasterCard is one of the most recognised credit card associations in the world, and its cards can be used across the globe. The association focuses heavily on credit card fraud and safety, and its member banks have provided a great deal of information to improve the way credit cards are used today.
