BankAmericard Launched
Visa's origins trace back to 1958 when Bank of America launched the first consumer credit card program, BankAmericard, in Fresno, California.
1958
1970
BankAmericard Goes International
Bank of America began licensing the BankAmericard program to banks outside the United States, marking the start of Visa's international expansion.
1976
Rebranding as Visa
BankAmericard was rebranded as Visa to create a more universal identity. The name "Visa" was chosen to be easily recognizable in many languages and cultures.
1983
Introduction of Visa Debit
Visa introduced its debit card, allowing consumers to make purchases directly from their checking accounts, further expanding its range of financial products.
1993
Launch of Visa Electron
Visa Electron, a debit card targeted at younger consumers and those new to banking, was launched, providing more accessibility to electronic payments.
2007
Visa Inc. Formation
Visa underwent a corporate restructuring, merging Visa USA, Visa Canada, and Visa International into a single entity, Visa Inc., in preparation for its initial public offering (IPO).
2008
Visa Inc. IPO
Visa Inc. went public, raising $17.9 billion in what was then the largest IPO in U.S. history.
2010
Visa Acquires CyberSource
Visa acquired CyberSource, a leading provider of electronic payment and risk management solutions, for $2 billion, enhancing its e-commerce capabilities.
2015
Visa Europe Acquisition
Visa Inc. acquired Visa Europe for €21.2 billion, consolidating its global operations and creating a more unified global payment network.
2016
Visa and PayPal Partnership
Visa and PayPal announced a strategic partnership to enhance the consumer experience and expand digital payment options.
2017
Visa Launches Visa Direct
Visa introduced Visa Direct, a real-time push payment platform that allows businesses and consumers to send and receive money quickly and securely.
2018
Visa Acquires Fraedom
Visa acquired Fraedom, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology company providing expense management and payment solutions, to bolster its business solutions portfolio.
2020
Visa Acquires Plaid
Visa announced its acquisition of Plaid, a fintech company that connects applications to users' bank accounts, for $5.3 billion, although the deal was later called off due to regulatory concerns.
2021
Visa Acquires Tink
Visa completed the acquisition of Tink, a European open banking platform, for €1.8 billion to enhance its open banking capabilities.
2023
Visa Expands Crypto Offerings
Visa expanded its cryptocurrency offerings, including partnerships with major crypto platforms to facilitate digital currency transactions and integrations.
2024
Visa's Continued Innovation
Visa continued to innovate with advancements in digital payments, AI-driven fraud prevention, and the expansion of its global payment network to support emerging financial technologies.
