Chip Lupo, Credit Card Writer
@CLoop
Discover cards are issued by Discover, which is now owned by Capital One. Capital One also operates the Discover Global Network, which includes Discover, Diners Club International, and the Pulse electronic funds transfer network.
Discover Bank was merged into, and is now a division of, Capital One, N.A., an FDIC-insured bank. Note that even though Discover was acquired by Capital One in May 2025 and now operates under Capital One’s ownership, there have been no immediate changes for Discover customers.
Discover still provides credit cards, banking services and other lending products directly to its customers. Because Discover issues credit cards that run on its own card network, the company is more similar to American Express than to the larger card networks, Visa and Mastercard, which don’t issue their own credit cards.
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People also ask
Discover vs. Mastercard: What are the main differences?
The biggest difference when you pit Discover vs. Mastercard is that while both are credit card networks, Discover also is a credit card issuer. Credit card networks decide where cards can and can’t be used, as well as process transactions. Credit card issuers set rates, approve applicants and send out cards, among other things. Discover handles both functions. So, Discover credit cards are issued by Discover and belong to the Discover network. Mastercard credit cards, on the other hand, are issued by dozens...
read full answer by WalletHub, Financial CompanyIs Discover a bank?
Yes, Discover is a bank. Specifically, it operates as Discover Bank, an online bank that offers a variety of financial services including checking and savings accounts, personal loans, home equity loans, student loans, and credit cards.
Beyond Discover Bank, Discover Financial Services, the parent company, also owns and operates the Discover and Pulse networks, and Diners Club International.
read full answer by Ramses Delgado, Banking ModeratorIs Discover a Visa or Mastercard?
Discover is not a Visa or a Mastercard. Discover is a completely separate company that operates its own card network, and it also differs from Visa and Mastercard by actually issuing many of the credit cards on its network. Visa and Mastercard aren’t card issuers, so the cards on their networks come from lots of different banks and credit unions.
However, Discover is similar to Visa, Mastercard and American Express in the sense that all four are...
read full answer by WalletHub, Financial CompanyDid we answer your question?
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