Card association explained

A card association or a bank card association is a network of issuing banks and acquiring banks that process payment cards of a specific brand.

Examples

Familiar payment card association brands include UnionPay, RuPay, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Troy and JCB.

While once card associations, Visa and Mastercard have both become publicly traded companies.^{[1] [2]}

Statistics

Among United States consumers alone, over 600 million payment cards are in circulation.^[3]

Notes and References

1. http://www.thestreet.com/s/visa-ipo-seeks-mastercard-riches/newsanalysis/serious-tools-serious-investors/10401747.html?puc=_htmlbtb "Visa IPO Seeks MasterCard Riches"
2. Web site: Mastercard Incorporated MA . NYSE.com . 26 June 2021.
3. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/credit/view/ frontline: secret history of the credit card: watch online | PBS