Visa Credit Cards

Visa is what’s known as a card network. Like Mastercard, for example, Visa dictates where a credit card can be used. Merchants accept plastic based on card network, after all, not the credit card company that actually issued the card (e.g. Capital One or Chase).

A credit card that does not have a card-network logo is known as a store card. Such cards can only be used at the particular retailers they’re affiliated with.

A credit card’s network also is responsible for many cardholder benefits. This includes $0 liability for fraudulent purchases. You can get a feel for how good Visa’s credit card benefits are from the following WalletHub studies:

• Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance
• Rental Car Insurance Study
• Price Protection Report
• Extended Warranty Report
• Purchase Protection Report

You can easily apply for a Visa credit card on WalletHub. Simply compare offers based on the features you're looking for (e.g. rewards or 0% intro rates), check your free credit score to make sure you have a good shot at getting approved, and submit your application. You’ll have the best Visa credit card for your needs in no time.

Of course, there’s little reason not to at least consider Mastercard, too. Getting the best possible card, not necessarily the best Visa, should be your main objective, after all.

A Visa rewards card is a credit card on the Visa network that offers cash back, points or miles for every dollar that you spend. It is not a card from one specific credit card issuer, though. Dozens of credit card companies offer Visa rewards cards, including Bank of America, Capital One, Wells Fargo and all of the other big banks.

With that being said, it's worth noting that Visa gift cards are sometimes referred to as Visa rewards cards, too.

People can mean a few different things by “signature credit card.” But most commonly, it refers to Visa Signature credit cards. And in that sense “Signature” describes the types of benefits the card provides. Not rates, rewards and fees, though Visa Signature Cards do tend to be rewards cards with no preset spending limit for people with good or excellent credit. Rather, “Signature” means that cardholders have access to the Visa Signature Concierge as well as special offers and experiences.

In many other respects, however, Visa Signature credit cards are actually quite diverse. They’re issued by dozens of different banks and credit unions. Many are affiliated with specific airlines, hotel chains, or other companies/organizations. And they offer quite different terms. For example, both the Amazon.com Credit Card and the AeroMexico Credit Card are Visa Signature cards.

That said, “signature credit card” could also refer to chip-and-signature credit cards. These smart cards have an embedded computer chip but still require you to sign for purchases, as opposed to entering a code with a chip-and-PIN card.

In that sense, and with the rise of digital wallets, the term could also come to mean any credit card that requires you sign to complete a transaction.

The Visa Signature Concierge is basically a glorified customer-service line that’s available to Visa Signature cardholders 24/7. What’s unique is that they’ll help you with certain types of special requests, including:

• Booking dining, entertainment and recreation;
• Coordinating travel; and
• Delivering gifts.

Yes, as of June 2016, you can use any Visa card at Costco. In other words, you don't need a Costco Card, but you can't use a Mastercard, American Express or Discover card.