First Direct Bank are ditching the Visa debit card and switching to the Mastercard debit card system

Mabel2012

Are both cards accepted widely in the UK or is one more useful than the other. I have always used Visa debit and credit cards so know nothing about Mastercard. The views of Mastercard debit card users are very welcome,

colsten

I have yet to find any place, offline or online, that doesn’t accept Mastercard.

wiseonesomeofthetime

Both my main credit and debit cards are Mastercard.

No acceptance issue anywhere I have tried to use them in the UK.

blue.peter

I've only once found somewhere that accepted Visa but not Mastercard. That was a small business (a stamp dealer in a small town), and it was about 30 years ago.

It's not something to worry about: Visa and Mastercard are both pretty much universally accepted.

sausage_time

I'd say the bigger risk is a system meltdown - recall the Visa outage in 2018.  I always try have at least one Visa card, one Mastercard (plus Amex).

MSE_Helen_S

Sausage_time has a point - it can help to have one of each just in case.

Though UK banks issuing Visa cards seems a lot rarer these days than it used to be. 

Barclaycard still issue Visa cards if you're concerned and want the option

jbrassy

In the UK I think everywhere that accepts Visa will also accept Mastercard. If you're planning on using the card abroad, it can be an issue. I have been to places where Visa is widely accepted but Mastercard is not, although this is quite rare. As mentioned above, it can also be prudent to have one of each just in case.  

born_again

Most banks are switching to Mastercard. As they are being paid to mover over. Just like Visa did to get banks to move from Maestro....

Mastercard is just the same as Visa. 

This the change was something that the then CEO promised would happen in their 30 Birthday year. One of his 30 things in 30 years to do list... No wonder he did not last much longer.

Mabel2012

Thank you all for your replies you have reassured me and I now don't have to change bank to get a Visa debit card.

pbartlett

Not sure who the remaining Visa banks are - I know Barclays is and maybe NWide?

blue.peter

pbartlett said:

Not sure who the remaining Visa banks are - I know Barclays is and maybe NWide?

Yes, my Nationwide debit and credit cards are both Visas. So's my TSB debit card.

(I've no current knowledge of Barclays: I haven't had an account with them since 1990.)