Visa International Service Association owns and operates retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services, primarily authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as related value-added services. It offers a range of branded payments product platforms, which customers use to develop and offer credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access programs for cardholders. The company owns a range of payment brands, including Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink that are licensed to customers for use in their payment programs. In addition, it provides other value-added processing services, including risk management, debit issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, and value-added information services. Visa International Service Association has a strategic alliance agreement with Monitise plc to partner the development of mobile services. The company was formerly known as IBANCO, Ltd. and changed its name to Visa International Service Association in 1977. Visa International Service Association was founded in 1974 and is based in Foster City, California. Visa International Service Association operates as a subsidiary of Visa Inc.
Source : Businessweek [http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=3027767]