Mastercard is a global financial services company that operates one of the largest payment card networks in the world. Here are some key facts about Mastercard: - Mastercard was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, New York [[United States of America (USA)]]. It was originally known as Interbank Card Association before adopting the Mastercard brand name in 1979. - Mastercard is a publicly traded company and operates in more than 210 countries and territories globally. It is one of the largest payment processing networks alongside Visa. - The company's primary business is processing electronic payments between merchants, banks, and cardholders for credit, debit, and prepaid transactions using the Mastercard network. - Mastercard earns revenue by charging fees to merchants, banks, and other institutions that use its payment processing services. This includes things like interchange fees, assessment fees, and transaction processing fees. - In addition to its core payment network, Mastercard offers a range of other financial products and services including credit and debit cards, digital payments, analytics, and loyalty programs. - Mastercard is known for its ubiquitous brand and network acceptance at millions of merchants and ATMs worldwide. Its cards are issued by thousands of financial institutions globally. - The company invests heavily in technology, cybersecurity, and innovation to maintain its competitive position in the rapidly evolving digital payments landscape. - Mastercard has faced regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges over the years related to its business practices and fees, but remains one of the dominant players in the global payments industry.