Visa Inc

Visa operates a global payment network that connects banks, merchants, and cardholders. It licenses the Visa brand to financial institutions, which issue credit and debit cards to consumers and businesses. When a cardholder makes a purchase, Visa's network routes and authorizes the transaction between the merchant's bank and the cardholder's bank. Visa charges fees based on transaction volume, number of transactions, and cross-border activity — it does not extend credit or hold deposits itself. Customers are primarily banks and financial institutions, with revenue ultimately tied to consumer and business spending globally.