Mastercard payment services

Mastercard is a global leader in payment processing technology. Originally established in 1966 by a group of California banks as Interbank Card Association (ICA), it later became Master Charge before settling on the name Mastercard in 1979. Unlike banks, Mastercard does not issue cards or extend credit itself; rather, it provides the technology network that facilitates electronic funds transfers between banks and merchants.

Today, Mastercard is a publicly traded multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York. Its global headquarters drives innovation in digital payments, cybersecurity, and financial inclusion. As a publicly held company, it is owned by various institutional and individual shareholders, operating one of the largest and most sophisticated financial networks in the world across more than 210 countries and territories.