Card scheme
Operates a card network and sets its rules and interchange — the layer above acquirers and issuers.
8 companies
- A three-party scheme that issues its own cards and acquires its own merchants — the most expensive network for Australian merchants, and no longer RBA-regulated.American ExpressCard scheme · Card issuer · AcquirerNew York, New York, USA
- The original charge card, now owned within Capital One. Australian issuance ended in 2024; cards are still accepted here on Discover rails.Diners ClubCard schemeRiverwoods, Illinois, USA
- US network now owned by Capital One. No Australian issuance — its relevance here is inbound-tourist acceptance, recently expanded by local acquirers.DiscoverCard schemeRiverwoods, Illinois, USA
- Australia's own domestic debit network and the cheapest of the three designated schemes for merchants — the network least-cost routing routes to.eftposCard schemeSydney, NSW, Australia
- Japan's card network. In Australia its cards are accepted through a partnership with American Express rather than on its own acquiring.JCBCard schemeMinato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Designated four-party card network, and the other international debit brand co-badged alongside eftpos on most Australian debit cards.MastercardCard scheme · Online payment gatewayPurchase, New York, USA
- China's state-owned card network, issued in Australia by Bank of China (Australia) and widely accepted through the major banks — but not RBA-designated.UnionPayCard schemeShanghai, China
- One of the three card networks designated for regulation by the RBA, and one of the two international debit networks co-badged on Australian dual-network debit cards.VisaCard scheme · Online payment gatewaySan Francisco, California, USA