What Is Plastic Money?

A plastic money card is a thin card that contains identification information such as a signature or picture, and authorizes the card holder to charge purchases or services to the card holder’s account. Today, the information on the card is read by automated teller machines (ATMs), banks, and the internet.

It all started in the 1920s, when individual companies (such as oil companies and hotels) issued these “plastic money cards” for purchases made at their businesses. However, these cards could not be used outside of the company.

In the 1950s a “universal card” was introduced by Diners Club, INC.… Read the rest

Case Study: MasterCard’s Business Model

What is MasterCard?

But what does MasterCard exactly do? It provides credit, debit, and prepaid cards from over 25,000 financial institutions. However, MasterCard is primarily a credit card company and specializes in the innovation of these cards throughout the world. It is a also a payment solutions company and through its three tiered business model as franchisor, processor and adviser, the company has developed a new world for its card holders and merchants. The company provides marketing, approval, and transaction services for a variety of payment products in more than 210 countries and territories.

Regardless of the type of card, all of them act under the “four-party” payment system.… Read the rest

Current Situation of Credit Card Business

The previous (current) financial crisis has severe effects on the business of companies in the credit card business. For a long time, the credit card business has been regarded as one of the most profitable businesses in the financial services industry. MasterCard was one of the most successful companies with its business model differing in one important point from its competitors. Most of the companies in the credit card business issue their cards on their own (including market leader American Express), whereas MasterCard and its main competitor VISA operate through a franchise system which allows its partners (banks) to issue cards of MasterCard.… Read the rest

Case Study of Mastercard: Going Upscale

Check, cash, or credit card? How many times have you heard that question and replied “credit card” without even thinking about it? When you do think about it, however, credit cards are a relatively new phenomenon. Yet when it comes time to pay, it seems we’re more likely to use the credit card (and to have several of them) than checks or cash. Indeed, some writers have even suggested that, in the not so distant future, we will all operate with “plastic money” all the time.

MasterCard had its beginnings in 1966, when a group of banks joined together to form the Interbank Card Association (ICA).… Read the rest

Economic Exposure of Foreign Exchange Risk

Economic exposure is concerned with the present value of future operating cash flows to be generated by a company’s activities and how this present value, expressed in parent currency, changes following the foreign exchange rate movements. The concept of economic exposure of foreign exchange risk is most frequently applied to a company’s expected operating cash flows from foreign operations, but it can equally well be applied to a firm’s home territory operations and the extent to which the present value of those operations alters resultant upon changed exchange rates. For the purpose of convenience, the exposition that follows is based on a firm’s foreign operations.… Read the rest

Some Facts Regarding Credit Cards

Know the Credit Card Well Before Applying for One

Owning credit cards are quite handy. You need not bring cash but still able to buy anything you want since almost all establishments, including those selling online, accept all types of credit cards. In fact, even if you do not have money yet, you can already make any purchase that may be heavily needed. It therefore provides safety and an answer to emergency needs.

However, people who are making use of credit cards should have discipline and be responsible enough not to spend beyond their means or end up being burdened with tons of debt.… Read the rest

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