Card Scheme(s)

Visa, MasterCard and American Express are perhaps the most well known card schemes in operation, and are responsible for setting the business rules that govern the issuing and acceptance of all the payment cards that carry their logo. Such rules will apply on a global basis, so that cardholders can use their cards anywhere in the world. In the UK, banks and building societies must be members of the appropriate card scheme in order to be able to issue cards and acquire card transactions.