topic Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern. in Credit Cards

MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:04:49 GMT

Figured I would ask about it to see if others are experiencing the same.

I just realized a few weeks ago that I have not held a Visa card in nearly 3 years. Not for lack of trying - I've gotten a lot of cards since then, but they are all MasterCard.

I know some of the larger banks - Chase, Citibank, Bank of America - are still offering Visa cards. Question is, why isn't anyone else? Does it seem to anyone else that Visa cards are starting to become a rare breed?

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

wmarat — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:09:40 GMT

Practically every financial institution offers Visa.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Walt_K — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:09:42 GMT

I noticed the same thing. It seemed like I could only get approved for a mastercard for a long time. I thought it maybe had something to do with MC being easier to get when you were rebuilding, but that wasn't based on anything other than conjecture (and not sure that it makes any sense).

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:20:00 GMT

@wmarat wrote:
Practically every financial institution offers Visa.

Last I looked, Wells Fargo does not. My credit union does not.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Travis-84 — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:20:05 GMT

I only have 3 credit cards (US bank debit, US bank credit, and Penfed), but I don't have a single Master Card. All my cards are Visa.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

DI — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:31:25 GMT

I have an equal amount with the exception of two AMEX network cards and a Discover network card. My debit card has always been a Visa. I don't think I've ever seen a debit Mastercard before.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:47:41 GMT

I really haven't noticed that.

My Wells Fargo and Chase Freedom are both Visa's and my local CU has Visa mainly but haven't apped for it since my Freedom and Discover are still new, didn't want another new account in such a short time. Gotta let the inq age a bit before i apply for another card.

And reading DI's post. I do have 1 MC debit, Paypal

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:55:25 GMT

Interesting. Maybe there's some California thing going on.

I've had bank accounts with USAA, Cabrillo, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Washington Mutual, Chase, PayPal and some smaller credit unions. Of those debit cards, the only Visa I've ever had was over a decade and a half ago, at one of the credit unions.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

aftermath — Mon, 30 May 2011 03:09:41 GMT

It's all about money.

Whichever network offers the bank the most kickback for using their network (espcially if it's exclusively) is the one the bank will go with.

I remember when Washington Mutual used to be around, I had a VISA debit card, then one day they sent me a MC debit card and then right before Chase bought them, they switched back to a VISA debit card again. (I think it was a bidding war between VISA and MC).

Penfed got rid of their MC and was exclusively VISA until they came out with their Amex card.

US Bank and B of A are exclusively VISA, minus a couple of their co-branded cards.

It's just like COKE and Pepsi. Whoever gives the most kick-back to the restaurant chain (McDonalds, Burger King, etc. etc.) is what the restaurant chain will go with.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 03:12:30 GMT

i have a visa, two mastercards...... never thought about it

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

-Cain- — Mon, 30 May 2011 03:14:25 GMT

Debit mastercards are out there. My MLB banking debit with BofA is a MasterCard.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 03:25:43 GMT

I know for me personally any MC Ive applied for doesn't want a thing to do with me, not even places like Capital 1. But I have two Visa (State Farm and a Local Credit Union).

I can say as a manager at a restaurant, when I go over the financials Visa sales usually account for about 2/3rds of all credit transactions, with Mastercard taking about 20%, and usually AMEX with the remaining (Discover is very rare for some reason). So from my perspective business wise Visa isn't becoming a rare breed.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 03:54:19 GMT

My Citi Forward and Wells Fargo Debit card are both Visa.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:11:32 GMT

I manage a sports bar and have noticed pretty much the same thing. The only difference is that MC and Visa are lumped together on our batch reports, but I see the same approximately 85% between the two. As for the rest... maybe 12% Amex and 3% Discover.

On a side note my BOA Redskins debit card is MC.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

scottwagnon — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:44:59 GMT

i have held this belief that everyone should have a credit card of each of the 4 major netorworks.

thats [visa] [mastercard] [amex] [discover/diners/jcb/unionpay]

YOU are the 5th network.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:01:48 GMT

@scottwagnon wrote:
i have held this belief that everyone should have a credit card of each of the 4 major netorworks. WhY?

thats [visa] [mastercard] [amex] [discover/diners/jcb/unionpay]

YOU are the 5th network.

I think Paypal/BillMeLater is becoming the 5th network.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:33:29 GMT

@scottwagnon wrote:
i have held this belief that everyone should have a credit card of each of the 4 major netorworks.

thats [visa] [mastercard] [amex] [discover/diners/jcb/unionpay]

YOU are the 5th network.

Exactly! Why put all of your eggs in one basket?

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 08:10:13 GMT

@scottwagnon wrote:
i have held this belief that everyone should have a credit card of each of the 4 major netorworks.

thats [visa] [mastercard] [amex] [discover/diners/jcb/unionpay]

YOU are the 5th network.

I have all of those ... and I'm done!

Wow! How many of you know about JCB? I only see that sign at Japanese store here in CA.

JCB is very popular in Japan, but I never had it even before I came to US.

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

andre181 — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:47:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@wmarat wrote:
Practically every financial institution offers Visa.
Last I looked, Wells Fargo does not. My credit union does not.

Currently, all of WF's debit AND credit cards are Visa's

Re: MasterCard/Visa - noticing a pattern.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 12:04:30 GMT

Visa is going to remain the defacto brand and network for a while. They've got huge market share, and they aren't going anywhere any time soon.