Visa credit cards

What is a Visa credit card?

A Visa credit card is issued by a bank or lender and runs on the Visa payment network, which processes transactions securely and is accepted worldwide, with fraud protection and contactless payments.

Visa doesn't issue cards itself; it's the network that powers them. So the rate, fees and rewards come down to the issuer, not the logo. To compare the other big network, see Mastercard cards.

Types of Visa credit cards

Visa cards cover the full range: balance transfer cards for clearing debt at 0%, business cards, frequent flyer cards linked to Qantas or Velocity, low rate cards for a carried balance, no or low annual fee cards, rewards cards, and travel cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance.

Visa vs Mastercard

David Boyd, co-founder of Credit Card Compare: "There are still a few places that don't accept American Express cards, and there's not much difference between a Visa or Mastercard credit card. They both offer very similar fraud monitoring and purchase protections. The big difference is in the card rates, rewards, fees and features."

How Visa credit cards work

When you use a Visa card, you borrow from the issuing bank. The Visa network authorises the payment and moves funds from your credit limit to the merchant.

You get a monthly statement and must pay at least the minimum by the due date. Pay in full to avoid interest; otherwise interest applies to the remaining balance.

Benefits of Visa credit cards

Depending on the card, you may get contactless and digital wallet payments, insurance like travel cover and purchase protection, premium-tier perks such as lounge access and concierge, 24/7 global customer assistance to report a lost card, and access to Visa shopping and entertainment offers.