Viewpoints

Visa’s Blog – Visa Viewpoints

PERSPECTIVES ON DIGITAL CURRENCY

Jan 28, 2012

Make Every Day Privacy Day

I recently read a report about identity theft – where personal information is hacked or hijacked and then used to perpetrate fraud.  It stated that identity theft led to losses in excess of $13 billion!  It was another great reminder of how important it is for people to be aware of the simple ways they can stop it.  We all have a part to play in cyber security, but individuals can play a huge role in keeping their own information safe.

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Posted by: Russell Schrader, Visa Chief Privacy Officer on January 28, 2012 at 5:02 pm

Category: Privacy
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Jan 26, 2012

A definitive information source on what makes global travelers tick, now available for download

Will the United States and United Kingdom continue to reserve the title of favorite holiday destinations of travelers in the next two years? Who are the world’s most generous travelers and how much does good food help in getting travelers to visit a country again?

The answers to these questions, and more, from the Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011 report are available for download from today. In its sixth year, the report provides an in-depth look and analysis into international travel trends and travel behavior globally.
Interesting findings include:
• Indian travelers are leading the pack in terms of medical tourism, with 23 percent spending on healthcare and medical services while on holiday, compared to the global average of 11 percent.
• Apart from travelers from Hong Kong who still largely rely on travel magazines, the rest of the world’s travelers seek information online.
• Moroccans enjoy the longest breaks with 61 percent stating they plan to stay more than 20 nights while away on holiday.

To view the full findings and insights, download the Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011 here.

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Posted by: Jag Mistry, Corporate Relations, Visa Inc. on January 26, 2012 at 2:51 pm

Category: About Visa, Benefits of Digital Currency, Cross Border
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Jan 13, 2012

Visa Innovators Make Progress a Priority

When people think of Visa, inventing may not be the first thing that comes to mind.  However, as one of the largest global payments technology companies, innovation has been key to Visa’s growth for more than 50 years.  This long standing commitment to progress has enabled more people in more places to enjoy the benefits of electronic payments across a wide spectrum of devices, platforms and channels.

Innovating keeps us at the forefront of the payments industry. Across the organization, at every level, employees are encouraged to invent better ways expand the reach and value of digital currency through new channels, devices and products. 

We talked to some of our inventors on camera to learn more about how innovation and intellectual property connects to our past and, more importantly, to our future.

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Posted by: Gary Bender, Visa IP Strategy & Management on January 13, 2012 at 9:32 pm

Category: Benefits of Digital Currency, Technology & Innovation
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Jan 13, 2012

As U.S. Chip Adoption Advances, Visa Provides Guidance

We’ve received a lot of positive feedback since Visa announced a roadmap for the U.S. adoption of EMV chip cards and NFC-enabled mobile payment devices. There’s growing consensus in the industry that it makes a lot of sense to encourage investments in chip technology. That’s because it adds a layer of safety to transactions, through the use of dynamic authentication, as well as enhances international card acceptance. And it helps to build an acceptance infrastructure to support mobile payments.

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Posted by: Stephanie Ericksen, Head of Authentication Product Integration, Visa Inc. on January 13, 2012 at 9:00 am

Category: Security, Technology & Innovation
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Jan 12, 2012

It’s Time to Start Using Those Visa Gift Cards

Now that the presents have been opened and the holidays are behind us, those who unwrapped a Visa Gift card are beginning to log in online and speed through checkout lines as they purchase those perfect gifts.  Whether it’s used at any of the millions of brick and mortar locations that accept Visa Debit cards, online, or by phone – shoppers are experiencing the convenience and flexibility the Visa Gift card offers to shop where they want for what they want.

How will people use their Visa Gift cards?

According to the recent Visa Gift Giving Survey, people will spend their Visa Gift card in the following ways:

61%  Indulging in something they might not normally be able to buy/afford

58%  Buying “life essentials” such as groceries or paying bills

41%  Using it to help purchase gifts for other people

Follow these simple tips when using a Visa Gift card:

  • Activate and Read: The gift card is activated upon purchase, so the recipient can begin using the card immediately. Recipients should be sure to read the issuer’s terms and conditions of their Visa Gift card, which are included in the original packaging, or can be found on the issuer’s web site.
  • Use It: The card was given as a gift, and it’s important to use it early to enjoy the full benefits of the gift.  If the purchase price exceeds the value of the gift card, another form of payment can be provided in addition to the gift card.  Tip: Recipients can send a thank you note to the gift giver letting them know what was purchased with the card.
  • When Paying – Know the Balance and Choose “Credit:” Know the value remaining on the Visa Gift card before shopping, either by calling the card issuer or checking the balance online. When paying in person, card holders should select the “credit” option as the payment method when checking out.

For more tips and information on how to use a Visa Gift card – visit www.visa.com/giftcardguide.

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Posted by: Lucas Mast, Visa Corporate Relations on January 12, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Category: Debit, Prepaid
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Jan 5, 2012

Intuit Launches the GoPayment Prepaid Visa Card

We continue to see new ways prepaid can be a platform for innovation in payments.  A great example: Intuit’s recent launch of the GoPayment Prepaid Visa Card.   

Those who use Intuit’s GoPayment mobile acceptance app and reader can now link their GoPayment account to a Visa prepaid card, conveniently separating the funds collected through GoPayment from other finances. The card can then be used to make payments online or in-store, as well as to withdraw cash at ATMs anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

TechCrunch said the GoPayment Prepaid Visa Card “makes GoPayment especially friendly for fledgling entrepreneurs or businesses who want to accept payments but don’t have a business bank account.”

GoPayment users can choose where they’d like to accept payments, whether to an existing business or personal account, or to the GoPayment Prepaid Visa Card.

Products like this show how the flexibility of the Visa prepaid platform allows our prepaid partners to create tailored products to meet the evolving payments landscape.

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Posted by: Erika White, Visa Corporate Relations on January 5, 2012 at 1:56 pm

Category: Prepaid
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