MasterCard Rules (PDF)

1.1 Types of Customers
Participation
1.1 Types of Customers
The Corporation has the following three types of Customers: Association,
Principal, and Affiliate.
1.1.1 Association
An Association is a Customer that participates directly in Activity but does
not directly issue or acquire without the express prior written consent of the
Corporation. An Association may Sponsor one or more Affiliates.
1.1.2 Principal
A Principal is a Customer that participates directly in Activity. A Principal may
Sponsor one or more Affiliates.
1.1.3 Affiliate
An Affiliate is a Customer that participates indirectly in Activity through the
Sponsorship of a Principal or Association. An Affiliate may not Sponsor any
other Customer.
NOTE
Additions to this Rule appear in Chapter 15, “United States Region Rules.”
1.2 Eligibility to be a Customer
The following are eligible to be a Customer of this Corporation.
1.2.1 Principal or Affiliate
Effective on or after 15 July 1993, any entity that is a financial institution
authorized to engage in financial transactions under the laws or government
regulations of the country (or any subdivision thereof) in which it is organized
or principally engaged in business may apply to be a Principal or an Affiliate of
the Corporation.
For purposes of this section, “financial transactions” means the making of
commercial or consumer loans, the extension of credit, the effecting of
transactions with payment services cards, or the taking of consumer or
commercial deposits.
©1969–2012 MasterCard. Proprietary. All rights reserved.
MasterCard Rules • 12 December 2012 1-1