Visa, Mastercard, American Express, CB: What Are the Differences?

In the complex arena of global financial transactions, a silent but fierce match is being played out between four major players: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and CB. But what are the secrets behind these ever-present symbols in our wallets? And what are the main differences? At first glance, it may seem that Visa and Mastercard are vying for the crown, but American Express, with its distinctive character, is an active contender in this competition. And let’s not forget CB, well established in France yet often underestimated. To help shed some clarity, we’re going to take you through the intricacies of the electronic payment industry.

The main distinction between American Express, Visa, and Mastercard lies in the fees charged to merchants. Because American Express charges a slightly higher commission, some merchants have long refused to accept American Express cards. This trend is changing, however, with more and more merchants worldwide accepting American Express cards.

This higher commission allows American Express to reward cardholders with Membership Rewards points and outstanding customer service. Indeed, American Express cardholders traditionally benefit from high-quality, rapid customer service in the event of a problem, as well as an excellent concierge service.

By comparison, CB is ten times more affordable than Visa and Mastercard for merchants. The French group enables French consumers to pay at local merchants using bank-to-bank transactions rather than the Visa or Mastercard transactions generally used for payments abroad. That’s why most cards are “co-branded,” displaying both the CB logo and that of Visa or Mastercard.

Visa was born in 1958 when Bank of America launched BenkAmericard, the first consumer credit card program in the United States. It was only a few years later, in 1976, that BenkAmericard became Visa. This name, which is pronounced the same in all languages, was intended to give the company a better foothold on the international market. Today, Visa operates in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.

The American Mastercard company was launched in 1966 by the Interbank Card Association (ICA), a group of banks aiming to compete with Bank of America. Under the leadership of this banking conglomerate, the association expanded its influence internationally in the 1970s. Its first alliances were formed in 1968 in Mexico, Japan, and with Eurocard in Europe.

Created in 1984, Groupement des Cartes Bancaires (CB Bank card Group, or simply CB) is an economic interest group that defines the operating procedures for bankcard payment systems, whether physical or virtual. In France, it is the banking market leader, with over 65% of everyday purchases paid for with a CB card. However, this percentage is falling a little more every year, to the benefit of its American competitors.

In a bid to reverse this trend, the group recently launched the “Payer avec CB, c’est payer Made in France” campaign to emphasize that it is the biggest French player on the market. But despite these major efforts, there are fewer and fewer cards “co-branded” with the CB logo and Mastercard or Visa. For example, BoursoBank, a Société Générale-owned neobank with over five million customers in France, works exclusively with Visa.

Ranked third worldwide after Visa and Mastercard, American Express, commonly known as Amex, is an internationally renowned financial company.

Founded in the United States in 1850, it has established itself as one of the leading companies specializing in financial services, particularly payment card distribution. Renowned for its prestige and reliability, American Express offers a wide range of credit cards for both individuals and businesses.

One of American Express’ key strengths lies in its ability to offer exclusive benefits to its cardholders. Such as the ability to earn Membership Rewards points, its excellent concierge services, and a comprehensive range of insurance products.

Thanks to its collaboration with partners such as Apple Pay, American Express is positioned at the forefront of technology, facilitating contactless transactions and offering convenient and secure payment solutions.

Each bank card company issues different types of card. Here’s an overview:

Bank card prices vary not only according to the issuer but also according to the type of card, in particular whether it’s a classic, high-end, or luxury.

The price difference between Visa and Mastercard is so close that it is nearly insignificant. The cost of the card depends on the issuing bank.

A CB card can only be purchased through a financial institution. As with Visa and Mastercard, rates depend on the issuing bank. As mentioned above, all CB cards are generally co-branded with Mastercard or Visa.

American Express cards are generally more expensive than Visa or Mastercard. The entry-level Green American Express card is available from 96 euros a month, while the classic Visa and Mastercard cards are available from 40 euros a year, or even free of charge.

The American Express Platinum card, the most prestigious bank card on the market, is offered at 660 euros a year, a much higher price than the luxury cards from Visa and Mastercard.

For most consumers, the priority is to have a card that works everywhere, both locally and internationally. Fortunately, Visa and Mastercard meet this criterion. They are widely accepted, whether in regional stores or when traveling abroad. These two companies provide unrivalled access to a global financial network. So whether you opt for Visa or Mastercard, they’re effective payment tools wherever you are in the world.

As the CB bankcard has been widely accepted in all French shops for many years, it remains the preferred means of payment for consumers and retailers in France.

American Express cards are not as widespread as Visa and Mastercard. However, unless you are shopping with a small retailer, it is rare to encounter problems when paying with an American Express card. As the popularity of American Express continues to grow, more and more merchants in France and around the world are accepting the high-end American Express cards.

American Express cards can be used to pay for purchases in France at supermarkets, petrol stations, furniture stores, boutiques and online. Almost all airlines, hotels, and travel agencies accept American Express cards. Even abroad, more and more merchants are accepting American Express card payments. In the USA, American Express cards are almost as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard.

Luxury cards, such as Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard, normally offer the same insurance coverage but with higher deductibles. Sometimes they also provide insurance coverage for purchases and personal effects, like the BoursoBank Metal Offer Visa card.

Like Visa and Mastercard, CB cards do not come with a specific range of insurance products. The insurance offered varies according to the issuing bank.

All American Express cards come with a plethora of insurance for travel and everyday life. Nevertheless, the American Express Platinum card, the Air France KLM American Express Platinum card, and the co-branded American Express and Air France card undeniably offer the best insurance on the market.

In France, the best Visa cards are Ultim BoursoBank, Visa Premier BforBank, Visa Infinite BforBank, Compte Idéal Ma French Bank and Hello Prime Hello Bank!

In France, the best Mastercard cards are CB Gold Mastercard Fortuneo Banque, World Elite CB Fortuneo Banque, Revolut Premium and N26 You.

In France, the best American Express cards are Gold American Express, Platinum American Express, Air France KLM American Express Silver, Air France KLM American Express Gold and Air France KLM American Express Platinum.

A detailed analysis of Visa and Mastercard cards highlights an important fact: the choice between these two providers is hard to define. What really sets them apart is the pricing policy and additional services offered by the issuing bank. The BoursoBank online bank offers free elite cards with no income requirements and no additional charges for payments in foreign currencies.

American Express, however, stands out from Visa, Mastercard, and CB thanks to its additional services. Its generous range of insurance, excellent concierge service, and the possibility of accumulating Membership Rewards points to redeem for hotel nights and award flights make the company one of the most exclusive on the market. Although these cards are generally more expensive than Visa and Mastercard, their benefits have a far greater monetary value than the maintenance fees.