Mastercard
Mastercard runs a global payments network that links banks, merchants and cardholders, earning fees on each transaction and on services such as security and data.
It never issues cards or lends money.
Banks issue the cards; Mastercard earns fees for switching each payment and selling services around it.
How big is Mastercard?
Fees on every payment, plus services.
- Payment network$19.5B
- Value-added services and solutions$13.3B
Connect banks. Charge per payment.
- 1Banks, merchants, cardholders
- 2Each card payment
- 3Fees and added services
The more payments flow through the network, the more it earns.
- The Vanguard Group8.6%
- BlackRock7.7%
- Mastercard Foundation7.4%
CEO: Michael Miebach
- 1966Banks form the Interbank Card Association
- 1968First links outside the U.S.: Mexico and Europe
- 1985Acquires the Cirrus ATM network
- 1991Launch of Maestro
- 2002Merges with Europay and becomes a share corporation
Every number on this page comes from Mastercard's own reports.
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