PLUS
Encyclopedia
PLUS is an interbank network
that covers all VISA
credit, debit, and prepaid cards, as well as ATM cards issued by various banks worldwide. Currently, there are one million PLUS-linked ATMs in 170 countries worldwide.http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp
PLUS cards can be linked in the following ways: as a standalone network, linked with a local interbank network and/or linked with any Visa product displaying the Visa flag on the front (Visa, Visa Debit and Visa Electron
). Currently, there are 144 million proprietary PLUS cards, not including a number of cards which have PLUS as a secondary network.
PLUS is widely used as a local interbank network most common in the United States
where networks such as STAR
, NYCE
and Pulse
also compete. It is also used in Canada
, though it is significantly smaller than Interac
there, and in places such as India
and Indonesia
where there are many interbank networks. The main competitor of PLUS is Cirrus
, which is offered by Visa rival MasterCard
.
Interbank network
An interbank network, also known as an ATM consortium or ATM network, is a computer network that connects the ATMs of different banks and permits these ATMs to interact with the ATM cards of non-native banks....
that covers all VISA
VISA (credit card)
Visa Inc. is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered on 595 Market Street, Financial District in San Francisco, California, United States, although much of the company's staff is based in Foster City, California. It facilitates electronic funds transfers throughout...
credit, debit, and prepaid cards, as well as ATM cards issued by various banks worldwide. Currently, there are one million PLUS-linked ATMs in 170 countries worldwide.http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp
PLUS cards can be linked in the following ways: as a standalone network, linked with a local interbank network and/or linked with any Visa product displaying the Visa flag on the front (Visa, Visa Debit and Visa Electron
Visa Electron
Visa Electron is a debit card available across most of the world, with the exception of Canada, Australia, Ireland and the United States. The card was introduced by VISA in the 1980s and is a sister card to the Visa Debit card...
). Currently, there are 144 million proprietary PLUS cards, not including a number of cards which have PLUS as a secondary network.
PLUS is widely used as a local interbank network most common in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where networks such as STAR
STAR (interbank network)
STAR is an interbank network and EFTPOS network in the United States. It is the largest American interbank network, with 250,000 ATMs, 134 million cardholders and over 5,700 participating financial institutions. The network is owned and operated by STAR Networks, a subsidiary company of First Data...
, NYCE
NYCE
The New York Currency Exchange is an interbank network connecting the ATMs of various financial institutions in the United States and Canada. NYCE also serves as an EFTPOS network for NYCE-linked ATM cards....
and Pulse
Pulse (interbank network)
PULSE is an interbank electronic funds transfer network in the United States. It serves more than 4,400 U.S. financial institutions and includes more than 380,000 ATMs, as well as POS terminals nationwide...
also compete. It is also used in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, though it is significantly smaller than Interac
Interac
Interac Association is a Canadian organization linking enterprises that have proprietary networks so that they may communicate with each other for the purpose of exchanging electronic financial transactions. The Association was founded in 1984 as a cooperative venture between five financial...
there, and in places such as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
where there are many interbank networks. The main competitor of PLUS is Cirrus
Cirrus (interbank network)
Cirrus is a worldwide interbank network operated by MasterCard Worldwide, and was founded in 1986. It links MasterCard, Maestro, Diners Club credit, debit and prepaid cards to a network of over 1,000,000 ATMs in 93 countries....
, which is offered by Visa rival MasterCard
MasterCard
Mastercard Incorporated or MasterCard Worldwide is an American multinational financial services corporation with its headquarters in the MasterCard International Global Headquarters, Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States...
.