VISA Releases Stellar Results
VISA Inc. released stellar results for its third quarter, reporting that net income leaped 73% to US$729M, up from US$422M a year ago. Due to the nature of Visa’s business (it makes its riches off transaction fees rather than lending), the company remained relatively isolated from an unattractive, default-ridden credit market.
Visa, as the world’s largest electronic payments network, also benefited from a consumer switch-away from cash and cheques towards debt, credit and charge cards. Visa’s share price jumped 0.64% yesterday to close at US$67.21.
Banks Charging For Overseas Credit Card Purchases
Be careful how you use your credit card when you travel abroad. Many banks are now charging customers a fee when they use their credit card for overseas purchases (which includes online transactions with non-U.S. merchants who don’t use a U.S. credit card processor).
Starting this month, Discover Financial Services began charging a new 2% fee for foreign transactions, while more credit-card customers at Bank of America will get hit with foreign-transaction fees next month (June 2009). Late last year, American Express raised its transaction fees to 2.7% from 2%.
For many years, banks have charged customers a fee for using their cards overseas IF the purchases were made in a foreign currency. Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc. charge a 1% fee for converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars – a fee that most banks pass along, along with their own markups which typically range from 1% to 2%.
What banks do not currently (as of May 12, 2009) charge foreign transaction fees? Call your own bank / credit card company and ask customer service directly, but two large banks that don’t currently charge this fee are Capital One and Charles Schwab. But for how long though? Keep a close eye on your credit card statements and communications.