Bank of Ireland foreign currency account: Features, Fees and how does it work
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Is Revolut debit card VISA or Mastercard?
If you’ve just opened an Irish Revolut account and ordered a card, you might be wondering whether you’ll get a Mastercard or Visa card.
In this guide, we’ll explain whether Revolut issues Visa or Mastercard in Ireland, how to check which one you have, and what the practical differences are. We’ll also introduce the Wise card, another option designed for spending abroad easily.
Visa vs Mastercard: What is the difference? 🤔
Visa and Mastercard are the two biggest global payment networks.² They are widely accepted across the world at millions of merchants and ATM’s, allowing you to spend in-store, online and withdraw cash.
In practice, there’s not a great amount of difference between the two. Neither one issues cards directly through their own banking devising, instead they work with partners like banks, credit unions and fintech companies, such as Revolut and Wise, for example. These partners then issue cards to individuals and businesses directly, or through another partnership, for example through an airline or retail store.
Is Revolut card Visa or Mastercard in Ireland?
In Ireland, Revolut cards can be Visa or Mastercard.¹ Whether or not you get a say in which one it is, depends on the type of card you’re ordering.
For physical cards, you aren’t able to choose whether you’ll get a Mastercard or Visa. Instead, the card brand is automatically assigned based on the availability at the time.
For virtual cards, you generally get to choose whether you want to order a virtual Visa card or virtual Mastercard. The main exception is the single-use cards, which are automatically assigned.
How can I tell if my card is Visa or Mastercard?
The easiest way to tell whether your Revolut card is Visa or Mastercard is to look for the logo on your physical card. If you’re using a virtual card, open the Revolut app and tap to view your card details.
| Read also: Wise card vs Revolut card |
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Get an international debit card with Wise
If you’re looking for another card option also designed for global use, the Wise debit card is definitely worth considering.
In Ireland, Wise issues Visa cards, which means you’ll benefit from Visa’s acceptance. With Wise, you can spend in over 150 countries, withdraw from ATMs, and manage more than 40 currencies directly from your Wise Account (connected to your card).
On top of that, you’ll always get the mid-market exchange rate (the same you normally see on Google) when you convert between currencies, with low, transparent fees.
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Visa or Mastercard: Which one is better?
For everyday use there’s very little difference between Visa and Mastercard. Both are accepted at millions of merchants worldwide, and both provide security features like fraud monitoring and zero liability for unauthorised transactions.
The truth is it’s rarely a case of Visa versus Mastercard, where one is better than the other. Instead, the deciding factor is usually the card issuer, like Revolut or Wise, and the perks, fees and features they decide to attach to the card.
Going back to the Revolut card, it doesn’t really matter whether you get Visa or Mastercard, the main thing is whether Revolut is right for you.
| Read more: Wise vs Revolut in Ireland |
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Sources used:
- Revolut - Can I choose between Mastercard and Visa?
- Investopedia - Visa vs Mastercard: What’s the Difference?
Sources last checked on date: 3 September 2025
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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