MasterCard International Incorporated, doing business as MasterCard Worldwide ("MasterCard") is a leading global payment solutions company that supports credit, debit and related payment programs of the nearly 25,000 financial institutions that are its customers. Among other things, MasterCard establishes and enforces rules and standards concerning membership in MasterCard and the use and acceptance of cards carrying any of the MasterCard brands.

If you are eligible for membership with MasterCard and wish to use its marks in any way, and you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply to become a Member and obtain licences for the relevant marks. The purpose of this guide is to assist you successfully through the Membership and Licensing process.

For existing Members, this guide provides instructions on how to obtain additional licences, change licensee status, name or area of use, sell or purchase a card portfolio or merge with another entity – all actions which may have a direct effect on existing Licence Agreements.

This Guide is intended to serve as a ready and convenient overview of how MasterCard administers common membership actions. For those financial institutions that already are members of MasterCard, this guide also provides a summary of fees MasterCard charges in connection with membership actions.

The content of this Guide is based upon information or sources believed to be reliable. MasterCard does not warrant the accuracy, currency or completeness of the content or any part thereof. MasterCard will not be liable for any error, omission or inaccuracy in the content of the Guide; nor will MasterCard be liable for any loss or damage arising from any person's access to or use of or reliance on such content. Each person that does access, use or rely on the content of this Guide does so at his or her sole risk.

Nothing set forth in this Guide is a MasterCard rule or requirement and the content does not necessarily reflect current rules, policies, fees, operating practices or procedures of MasterCard. In the event of any conflict between the information set forth in this Guide and any rule, policy, fee, operating practice or procedure of MasterCard, the rule, policy, fee, operating practice or procedure will control. Each person accessing the Guide agrees to use the information contained herein in accordance with the terms set forth in this section and further agrees that MasterCard has the exclusive right to interpret and enforce these terms of use.