Are Capital One cards Visa®, Mastercard® or Discover®?
When you use your Capital One credit card, the transaction is processed by one of three payment networks: Discover, Visa or Mastercard. You can tell which one by checking for the payment network’s logo.
How and why these companies work together comes down to the differences between credit card issuers and credit card networks. But there’s a little more to it since Capital One acquired Discover.
What you’ll learn:
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Card payment networks and card issuers work together. In general, networks are responsible for processing transactions.
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Issuers are the actual lenders. Lenders set card terms and determine benefits.
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Capital One issues Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit cards.
- Discover and American Express® are also credit card networks.
What credit cards does Capital One issue?
Capital One issues credit cards that use Discover, Visa and Mastercard.
Visa vs. Mastercard
Visa and Mastercard are two of the four largest payment card networks in the U.S. But neither issues credit cards. Instead, they work with financial institutions that issue cards to individuals and businesses.
Credit card issuers do the actual lending. They also set card terms and conditions, including fees and rewards.
Capital One cards
So what cards does Capital One offer? Here’s a brief overview.
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Which card should I choose?
Issuers determine which networks to work with. And unless you’re traveling abroad, you may not even notice a difference in card payment networks.
Instead, it might make more sense to consider cards based on your spending habits and credit goals when choosing a credit card. For example, you might consider things like APR, credit requirements, annual fees and rewards.
Capital One, Visa, Mastercard and Discover FAQ
Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions about Capital One credit card networks:
Is there a difference in fees charged by Capital One?
Capital One and other credit card issuers determine fees based on the credit card.
Do Capital One Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards have different credit card security features?
Security features, such as alerts, card lock (and unlock), and $0 liability for unauthorized charges are the same for all Capital One credit cards.
How can you tell if a credit card is a Visa, Mastercard or Discover?
Most credit cards include the card network’s logo somewhere on the front or back of the card. But cardholders can also look at their credit card numbers:
- Visa cards start with 4
- Mastercard cards start with 2 or 5
- Discover cards start with 6
Key takeaways: Are Capital One Cards Visa, Mastercard or Discover?
Capital One owns Discover and issues credit cards on three separate networks.
Explore and compare all Capital One credit cards to find the one that’s right for you. You can also check whether you’re pre-approved for a Capital One card before applying. It’s quick, and it won’t hurt your credit scores.
