SAN FRANCISCO – Like MasterCard, Visa USA has posted strong growth in both the cash volume and number of transactions in both its credit and debit programs so far in 2005. According to the number one card brand, sales volume for both credit and debit together increased 17.5% to $302 billion in the second quarter of 2005 over the second quarter of 2004. For the year ending in the second quarter, sales volume is up 18.2 to $1,130 billion. Sales transactions for credit and debit together for the quarter rose 19.7% to 5.5 billion and rose 20.6% for the year ending on June 30. Signature debit saw its sales volume increase by 14.4% to $148 billion and 24.8% or to $137 billion for the year ending June 30. Meanwhile, MasterCard announced that it continues to grow rapidly, posting double digit growth in both growth dollar volume and gross purchase volume, indicating both that cardholders around the globe have been both purchasing more with MasterCard and using their MasterCards more often. However, the American market ranked near the bottom of growth for the card brand, with Latin America leading the pack and South Asia/ Middle East and Africa coming in a close second. "MasterCard's customer-centric approach enables us to bring value to our key stakeholders as a thoughtful and innovative partner focused on helping them build, manage and enhance the profitability of their payments businesses," said Alan Heuer, CEO of MasterCard. "MasterCard's results for the first half of this year are a testament to the global strength of the MasterCard brand and our ability to work with our member financial institutions to deliver the best payment solutions in the industry."