Visa Cited as Most Trusted Brand in Reader's Digest Study

San Francisco, CA (OTS) - Visa has been selected "the most trusted
credit card brand" in international research conducted by Reader's
Digest magazine, polling subscribers spanning Europe, Canada and
Brazil.

Across Europe, the survey revealed that Visa is considered by
consumers to be the most trusted credit card brand in 17 of 18
countries, with an average of 54 percent of the votes. Visa emerged
as the most trusted credit card brand in both Canada and Brazil. Visa
earned 44 percent of the votes in its category in Brazil (nearly
twice that of the runner-up), and in Canada, Visa collected some 53
percent of votes, twice that of MasterCard.

"We are honored to be named the most trusted credit card brand in
these key markets," remarked John Elkins, head of Global Brand and
Marketing for Visa International. "This award reflects the efforts of
our member banks to provide the best possible payment solutions to
cardholders. We understand the award not only recognizes our efforts,
but ensures that we continue to maintain and enhance the standards of
our products and services in the future."

The European survey polled respondents in Austria, Belgium, the
Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Each country, with the
exception of Germany, which historically is not a payment card
oriented country, selected Visa as the most trusted credit card
brand. The study was not conducted in some major markets such as
United States, but may be expanded globally to include this and
others in future studies.

Across these regions, the research featured self-completion
questionnaires mailed to 228,000 households, and via telephone in
Canada. The study was conducted in 16 languages, and monitored a
selection of up to 40 product categories in each region.

Designed to identify the brands in each category that consumers
value and rely upon most, fieldwork took place in late 2002. Each of
the 30,000 respondent households was demographically representative
of each country. Brands were rated based upon quality, value, image
and understanding of customer needs, as well as the importance of
trust when making a purchase.

About Visa

Visa is the world's leading payment brand, generating US$2.4
trillion in annual card sales volume. Visa has unsurpassed acceptance
in more than 150 countries. The Visa organization plays a pivotal
role in developing innovative payment products and technologies to
benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions and their
cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments and is
pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal commerce- the
ability to conduct commerce anywhere, anytime, and any way. For more
information, visit http://www.Visa.com.

About the Survey -- Research Overview:

- 228,000 questionnaires mailed, 30,000 households responded
- Identified from subscriber database of 7 million homes
- All households demographically representative of population
in each country
- Research methods varied slightly from region to region

i.e.,

- Canada conducted telephone study across 1,000 homes
- Research featured self-completion questionnaires (Europe &
Brazil)
- Conducted in 16 languages -- 20 countries
- Monitoring a selection of up to 40 product categories in each
region
- Designed to identify the brands in each category consumers
value and rely upon most
- Brands were rated based upon quality, value, image and
understanding of customer needs

ots Original Text Service: Visa International Internet

Rückfragehinweis:
Michael T. Sherman
Visa International
Phone: +1 650-432-3923
mailto:[email protected]

Norbert Beatty
GCI Group
Phone: +1 212-537-8131
mailto:[email protected]

OTS-ORIGINALTEXT UNTER AUSSCHLIESSLICHER INHALTLICHER VERANTWORTUNG DES AUSSENDERS | EUN

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