MasterCard and Maestro’s cards are both bank cards that are issued by MasterCard Incorporation, which is one of the most popular brands of bank cards all across the globe.
They are parts of the same company. Both of these cards can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, or to make online transactions, because of which one gets confused between them.
Key Takeaways
- Maestro Card is a debit card brand offered by Mastercard, requiring the cardholder to have sufficient funds in their bank account for transactions.
- Mastercard is a global payment network that offers credit and debit cards, allowing cardholders to borrow funds for transactions up to a preset credit limit.
- Both Maestro Card and Mastercard facilitate electronic transactions. Still, Maestro is specifically a debit card brand under the Mastercard umbrella, while Mastercard provides a range of credit and debit card options.
Maestro Card vs MasterCard
Maestro Card is a debit and prepaid card that is possessed by MasterCard and was launched in 1991. When used, the amount is charged straight to the bank account. MasterCard is a debit, credit, or prepaid card that is commonly used globally in over 200 countries, but it is U.S. based.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Maestro Card | Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Type | A Maestro card is a debit card. | MasterCard can be either a debit card or a credit card, or even a prepaid card. |
| Transactions confirmation | A maestro PIN confirms the financial transactions of Maestro. | A signature confirms the financial transactions of a MasterCard. |
| Maximum limit | The current amount in the bank account is the maximum payment limit on a maestro card. | The maximum payment limit in the case of a MasterCard depends on many terms. |
| Rate of interest | Maestro card charges lower rates of interest as compared to MasterCard. | MasterCard charges high rates of interest in financial dealings. |
What is Maestro Card?
Maestro is merely a brand of prepaid and debit cards possessed by MasterCard. It was launched in 1991.
The amount is charged straight to the bank account and gets debited directly. The company issuing the debit card does not charge interest on that money.
The card issuer authorizes the payment, provided enough funds are in the account.
A few benefits of a Maestro card:
- One does not have to carry a considerable amount of currency.
- The bank statements are sent via email or mobile, which helps one to account for their monthly expenditure.
What is MasterCard?
MasterCard is a financial service company that is U.S based. It helps process payments between merchants and MasterCard issuer banks.
MasterCard is the most commonly used card globally. It is used in more than 200 countries and 36 million places.
A MasterCard can be either a debit, credit card, or prepaid card.
Depending on the credit history, monthly income, spending power, and other factors, a customer can apply for the type of credit card he wants.
The banks offer different types of credit cards, such as World MasterCard, Standard MasterCard, and Platinum MasterCard.
MasterCard debit cards are also popular because of the swift services they offer.
These cards are considered to be the best payment systems all over the world because of the attractive benefits they offer. For every transaction, they offer reward points.
One of the features of a MasterCard debit card is that it is accepted all across the globe.
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
MasterCard’s reward point system is intriguing. I didn’t know that they offered rewards for transactions.
Yeah, the reward points are an added bonus I wasn’t aware of.
The article does well in pointing out those extra benefits that some may not know about.
Nice to finally see a comprehensive comparison between Maestro and MasterCard. Thank you for sharing this!
Quite the interesting read on the nuances of Maestro and MasterCard. The information is well laid out.
The card comparison certainly provides a lot to think about when considering card options.
I appreciate how the article delves into the specifics of each type of card.
It’s interesting to see the benefits of both cards compared side by side. Helps in understanding which would be better for my needs.
Absolutely, seeing the advantages and limitations in one place is very helpful.
It’s quite a comprehensive guide to these cards. The explanation is easy to follow.
The global acceptance of MasterCard is really impressive. I never knew it was so widely used!
Very informative comparison between Maestro and MasterCard! The explanation of the features and differences is very clear and concise.
Yes, this information is really valuable to anyone who needs to choose between the two card options.
I didn’t realize that Maestro is a brand of prepaid and debit cards under MasterCard. It makes more sense now.
I always just thought of them as two separate cards, but it’s interesting to know the relationship between Maestro and MasterCard.
This article clarified a lot of things for me. The clear distinction between the cards is helpful.
This article is incredibly insightful. I had no idea about the different types of MasterCard or the distinct features of Maestro.
The benefits provided for both Maestro and MasterCard are well explained. Great read for someone looking to understand their options.
I appreciate how each card’s advantages are laid out clearly. It makes it easier to weigh the pros and cons.
The comparison table makes it so much easier to understand the differences between the two cards. Well presented!
Agreed, the table makes a complex topic easier to digest.