Payment Brand
Also: Participating Payment Brand
PCIComplianceHubLast updated
One of the card networks that operates a payment system and sets the rules merchants and service providers must follow: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and JCB, the five founding members of the PCI Security Standards Council. The distinction matters in practice. The council writes and maintains PCI DSS but does not enforce it. Each payment brand runs its own compliance validation program, sets merchant and service provider levels, decides who must submit what, and levies fines through acquirers. Requirements and thresholds therefore differ between brands.