10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-33977

VISA INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	26-0267673
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
P.O. Box 8999 San Francisco, California	94128-8999
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(650) 432-3200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  þ    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes  þ    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  þ	Accelerated filer   o	Smaller reporting company   o
Non-accelerated filer o	Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  o    No  þ

As of April 19, 2019 there were 1,738,987,989 shares of class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 245,513,385 shares of class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 11,565,095 shares of class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Visa Inc. outstanding.

VISA INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PART I.	Financial Information	3
Item 1.	Financial Statements (unaudited)	3
	Consolidated Balance Sheets—March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018	3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations—Three and Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	4
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income—Three and Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	5
	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity—Three and Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	6
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018	10
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	11
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	29
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	38
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	38
PART II.	Other Information	39
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	39
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	39
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	39
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	39
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	39
Item 5.	Other Information	39
Item 6.	Exhibits	40
	Signatures	41

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

	March 31, 2019			September 30, 2018
	(in millions, except par value data)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,648		$	8,162
Restricted cash equivalents—U.S. litigation escrow (Note 3 and Note 4)	899			1,491
Investment securities (Note 5)	3,876			3,547
Settlement receivable	1,574			1,582
Accounts receivable	1,404			1,208
Customer collateral (Note 3 and Note 7)	1,735			1,324
Current portion of client incentives	589			340
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	765			562
Total current assets	18,490			18,216
Investment securities (Note 5)	3,506			4,082
Client incentives	1,664			538
Property, equipment and technology, net	2,456			2,472
Goodwill	15,088			15,194
Intangible assets, net	26,966			27,558
Other assets	1,695			1,165
Total assets	$	69,865		$	69,225
Liabilities
Accounts payable	$	119		$	183
Settlement payable	2,081			2,168
Customer collateral (Note 7)	1,735			1,325
Accrued compensation and benefits	578			901
Client incentives	3,484			2,834
Accrued liabilities	1,207			1,160
Deferred purchase consideration	1,262			1,300
Accrued litigation (Note 13)	914			1,434
Total current liabilities	11,380			11,305
Long-term debt (Note 6)	16,630			16,630
Deferred tax liabilities	4,911			4,618
Other liabilities	2,669			2,666
Total liabilities	35,590			35,219
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 25 shares authorized and 5 shares issued and outstanding as follows:
Series A convertible participating preferred stock, none issued (the “class A equivalent preferred stock”) (Note 9)	—			—
Series B convertible participating preferred stock, 2 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018 (the “UK&I preferred stock”) (Note 9)	2,286			2,291
Series C convertible participating preferred stock, 3 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018 (the “Europe preferred stock”) (Note 9)	3,178			3,179
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 2,001,622 shares authorized, 1,741 and 1,768 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively (Note 9)	—			—
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 622 shares authorized, 245 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018 (Note 9)	—			—
Class C common stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,097 shares authorized, 12 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018 (Note 9)	—			—
Right to recover for covered losses (Note 4)	(163		)	(7		)
Additional paid-in capital	16,547			16,678
Accumulated income	12,513			11,318
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net:
Investment securities	1			(17		)
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans	(67		)	(61		)
Derivative instruments	96			60
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(116		)	565
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net	(86		)	547
Total equity	34,275			34,006
Total liabilities and equity	$	69,865		$	69,225

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions, except per share data)
Net revenues	$	5,494		$	5,073		$	11,000		$	9,935
Operating Expenses
Personnel	894			824			1,701			1,503
Marketing	241			261			517			484
Network and processing	171			169			344			329
Professional fees	101			108			192			200
Depreciation and amortization	160			153			319			298
General and administrative	264			222			540			458
Litigation provision (Note 13)	22			—			29			—
Total operating expenses	1,853			1,737			3,642			3,272
Operating income	3,641			3,336			7,358			6,663
Non-operating Income (Expense)
Interest expense, net	(140		)	(153		)	(285		)	(307		)
Investment income and other	176			34			234			100
Total non-operating income (expense)	36			(119		)	(51		)	(207		)
Income before income taxes	3,677			3,217			7,307			6,456
Income tax provision (Note 12)	700			612			1,353			1,329
Net income	$	2,977		$	2,605		$	5,954		$	5,127
Basic Earnings Per Share (Note 10)
Class A common stock	$	1.31		$	1.12		$	2.61		$	2.19
Class B common stock	$	2.13		$	1.84		$	4.25		$	3.61
Class C common stock	$	5.23		$	4.46		$	10.44		$	8.76
Basic Weighted-average Shares Outstanding (Note 10)
Class A common stock	1,748			1,798			1,754			1,805
Class B common stock	245			245			245			245
Class C common stock	12			12			12			13
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Note 10)
Class A common stock	$	1.31		$	1.11		$	2.61		$	2.19
Class B common stock	$	2.13		$	1.84		$	4.25		$	3.60
Class C common stock	$	5.23		$	4.46		$	10.42		$	8.74
Diluted Weighted-average Shares Outstanding (Note 10)
Class A common stock	2,279			2,337			2,285			2,345
Class B common stock	245			245			245			245
Class C common stock	12			12			12			13

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Net income	$	2,977		$	2,605		$	5,954		$	5,127
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Investment securities:
Net unrealized gain (loss)	7			41			15			50
Income tax effect	(2		)	(9		)	(4		)	(12		)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gain) loss realized in net income	—			—			—			(28		)
Income tax effect	—			—			—			10
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans:
Net unrealized actuarial gain (loss) and prior service credit (cost)	—			(2		)	(7		)	(2		)
Income tax effect	—			1			1			1
Derivative instruments:
Net unrealized gain (loss)	59			(41		)	97			(42		)
Income tax effect	(13		)	2			(23		)	(3		)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gain) loss realized in net income	(22		)	24			(47		)	35
Income tax effect	4			(3		)	9			(5		)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(394		)	512			(681		)	846
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(361		)	525			(640		)	850
Comprehensive income	$	2,616		$	3,130		$	5,314		$	5,977

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	Preferred Stock		Common Stock						Preferred Stock		Right to Recover for Covered Losses			Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Total Equity
	UK&I	Europe	Class A			Class B	Class C
	(in millions, except per share data)
Balance as of December 31, 2018	2	3	1,754			245	12		$	5,464	$	(92	)	$	16,540		$	11,908		$	275		$	34,095
Net income																	2,977						2,977
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax																				(361		)	(361		)
Comprehensive income																							2,616
Adoption of new accounting standards (Note 1)																	(8		)	—			(8		)
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)											(71		)										(71		)
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market			1				—	(1)															—
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares			—		(1)																		—
Share-based compensation, net of forfeitures (Note 11)														111									111
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes			—		(1)									(2		)							(2		)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans			—		(1)									41									41
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount of $0.25 per Class A share (Note 9)																	(569		)				(569		)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)			(14	)										(143		)	(1,795		)				(1,938		)
Balance as of March 31, 2019	2	3	1,741			245	12		$	5,464	$	(163	)	$	16,547		$	12,513		$	(86	)	$	34,275

⁽¹⁾  Increase or decrease is less than one million shares.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

6

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

	Six Months Ended March 31, 2019
	Preferred Stock		Common Stock					Preferred Stock			Right to Recover for Covered Losses			Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Total Equity
	UK&I	Europe	Class A		Class B	Class C
	(in millions, except per share data)
Balance as of September 30, 2018	2	3	1,768		245	12		$	5,470		$	(7	)	$	16,678		$	11,318		$	547		$	34,006
Net income																	5,954						5,954
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax																				(640		)	(640		)
Comprehensive income																							5,314
Adoption of new accounting standards (Note 1)																	385			7			392
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)											(162		)										(162		)
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment (Note 4 and Note 9)								(6		)	6												—
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market			1			—	(1)																—
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares			3																				—
Share-based compensation, net of forfeitures (Note 11)														211									211
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes			(1	)										(103		)							(103		)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans			1											89									89
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount of $0.25 per Class A share (Note 9)																	(1,141		)				(1,141		)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)			(31	)										(328		)	(4,003		)				(4,331		)
Balance as of March 31, 2019	2	3	1,741		245	12		$	5,464		$	(163	)	$	16,547		$	12,513		$	(86	)	$	34,275

⁽¹⁾  Decrease is less than one million shares.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

7

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Preferred Stock		Common Stock						Preferred Stock		Right to Recover for Covered Losses			Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Total Equity
	UK&I	Europe	Class A			Class B	Class C
	(in millions, except per share data)
Balance as of December 31, 2017	2	3	1,805			245	12		$	5,476	$	(5	)	$	16,761		$	9,966		$	1,203	$	33,401
Net income																	2,605					2,605
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax																				525		525
Comprehensive income																						3,130
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)											(1		)									(1		)
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market			1				—	(1)														—
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares			—		(1)																	—
Share-based compensation, net of forfeitures (Note 11)			—		(1)									85								85
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes			—		(1)									—								—
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans			1											50								50
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount of $0.210 per Class A share (Note 9)																	(490		)			(490		)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)			(17	)										(183		)	(1,889		)			(2,072		)
Balance as of March 31, 2018	2	3	1,790			245	12		$	5,476	$	(6	)	$	16,713		$	10,192		$	1,728	$	34,103

⁽¹⁾  Increase or decrease is less than one million shares.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

8

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

	Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Preferred Stock		Common Stock						Preferred Stock			Right to Recover for Covered Losses			Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Total Equity
	UK&I	Europe	Class A			Class B	Class C
	(in millions, except per share data)
Balance as of September 30, 2017	2	3	1,818			245	13		$	5,526		$	(52	)	$	16,900		$	9,508		$	878	$	32,760
Net income																		5,127					5,127
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax																					850		850
Comprehensive income																							5,977
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)												(4		)									(4		)
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment (Note 4 and Note 9)									(50		)	50											—
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market			2				(1	)															—
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares			2																				—
Share-based compensation, net of forfeitures (Note11)			—		(1)										153								153
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes			(1	)											(88		)						(88		)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans			2												103								103
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount of $0.195 per Class A share in the first quarter and $0.210 per Class A share in the second quarter (Note 9)																		(948		)			(948		)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)			(33	)											(355		)	(3,495		)			(3,850		)
Balance as of March 31, 2018	2	3	1,790			245	12		$	5,476		$	(6	)	$	16,713		$	10,192		$	1,728	$	34,103

⁽¹⁾  Decrease is less than one million shares.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

9

VISA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Operating Activities
Net income	$	5,954		$	5,127
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Client incentives (Note 2)	2,934			2,615
Share-based compensation (Note 11)	211			153
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment, technology and intangible assets	319			298
Deferred income taxes	256			(945		)
Right to recover for covered losses recorded in equity (Note 4)	(162		)	(4		)
Other	(106		)	(10		)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Settlement receivable	(23		)	(1,039		)
Accounts receivable	(203		)	(113		)
Client incentives	(3,142		)	(2,177		)
Other assets	(245		)	41
Accounts payable	(48		)	(26		)
Settlement payable	(38		)	986
Accrued and other liabilities	170			975
Accrued litigation (Note 13)	(519		)	(152		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,358			5,729
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, equipment and technology	(313		)	(354		)
Investment securities:
Purchases	(1,806		)	(2,342		)
Proceeds from maturities and sales	2,038			1,771
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			(196		)
Purchases of / contributions to other investments	(236		)	(16		)
Proceeds / distributions from other investments	10			—
Other investing activities	(89		)	—
Net cash used in investing activities	(396		)	(1,137		)
Financing Activities
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)	(4,331		)	(3,850		)
Repayments of long-term debt	—			(1,750		)
Dividends paid (Note 9)	(1,141		)	(948		)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans	89			103
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes	(103		)	(88		)
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,486		)	(6,533		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(171		)	206
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents	(695		)	(1,735		)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period (Note 3)	10,977			12,011
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at end of period (Note 3)	$	10,282		$	10,276
Supplemental Disclosure
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	$	1,381		$	1,197
Interest payments on debt (Note 6)	$	269		$	276
Accruals related to purchases of property, equipment and technology	$	51		$	21

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

10

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2019

(UNAUDITED)

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization. Visa Inc. (“Visa” or the “Company”) is a global payments technology company that enables fast, secure and reliable electronic payments across more than 200 countries and territories. Visa and its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, including Visa U.S.A. Inc. (“Visa U.S.A.”), Visa International Service Association (“Visa International”), Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited, Visa Europe Limited (“Visa Europe”), Visa Canada Corporation (“Visa Canada”), Visa Technology & Operations LLC and CyberSource Corporation, operate one of the world’s largest retail electronic payments networks — VisaNet — which facilitates authorization, clearing and settlement of payment transactions and enables the Company to provide its financial institution and merchant clients a wide range of products, platforms and value-added services. VisaNet also offers fraud protection for account holders and assured payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for account holders on Visa products. In most cases, account holder and merchant relationships belong to, and are managed by, Visa’s financial institution clients.

Consolidation and basis of presentation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Visa and its consolidated entities and are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company consolidates its majority-owned and controlled entities, including variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company’s investments in VIEs have not been material to its consolidated financial statements as of and for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirements for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the annual disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. Reference should be made to the Visa Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of goods or services to customers. This new revenue standard replaces all existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Subsequently, the FASB also issued a series of amendments to the new revenue standard. The new revenue standard changes the classification and timing of recognition of certain client incentives and marketing-related funds paid to customers, as well as revenues and expenses for market development funds and services provided to customers as an incentive. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method applied to the aggregate of all modifications for contracts not completed as of October 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after October 1, 2018 are presented under the new revenue standard. The comparative prior period amounts appearing on the financial statements have not been restated and continue to be reported under the prior revenue standard. See Note 2—Revenues for the impact of the new revenue standard on the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019.

11

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table summarizes the cumulative transition adjustments for the adoption of the new revenue standard recorded on the October 1, 2018 consolidated balance sheet to reflect the aggregate impact to all contracts not completed as of October 1, 2018:

	Fiscal Year 2018 Closing Balance Sheet		Cumulative Transition Adjustment for New Revenue Standard		Fiscal Year 2019 Opening Balance Sheet
	(in millions)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	$	340	$	199	$	539
Client incentives	538		614		1,152
Liabilities
Client incentives	2,834		241		3,075
Accrued liabilities	1,160		6		1,166
Deferred tax liabilities	4,618		108		4,726
Other liabilities	2,666		58		2,724
Equity
Accumulated income	11,318		400		11,718

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, which amends certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments, including the requirement to measure certain equity investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method for marketable equity securities and the prospective method for non-marketable equity securities. The Company has elected to use the measurement alternative for non-marketable equity securities, defined as cost adjusted for changes from observable transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, less impairment. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. Subsequently, the FASB also issued a series of amendments to this new lease standard that address the transition methods available and clarify the guidance for lessor costs and other aspects of the new lease standard. The Company will adopt the standard effective October 1, 2019 and expects to adopt using the modified retrospective transition method without restating comparative periods. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, which requires that entities recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, which requires that a statement of cash flows includes the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption impacted the presentation of transactions related to the U.S. litigation escrow account and customer collateral on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The prior period statement of cash flows have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the impact of this ASU, which had no impact on the Company’s balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of comprehensive income for any period.

12

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, which requires that the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost be presented in the same line item as other employee compensation costs, while the other components be presented separately as non-operating income (expense). In addition, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization, when applicable. Retrospective application is required for the change in income statement presentation while the change in capitalized benefit cost is required to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost is presented in personnel expenses while the other components are presented in other non-operating expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company did not apply the standard retrospectively for the change in income statement presentation as the impact would have been immaterial.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, which amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, which improves the financial reporting of hedging instruments to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. Visa early adopted the standard effective January 1, 2019, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Note 2—Revenues

Impact of the New Revenue Standard

The following tables summarize the impact of the new revenue standard on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019:

	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019							For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2019
	As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard		As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
	(in millions)
Net revenues	$	5,494	$	(39	)	$	5,455	$	11,000	$	(91	)	$	10,909
Operating Expenses
Marketing	241		(39		)	202		517		(69		)	448
Professional fees	101		(3		)	98		192		(6		)	186
General and administrative	264		(7		)	257		540		(10		)	530
Total operating expenses	1,853		(49		)	1,804		3,642		(85		)	3,557
Operating income	3,641		10			3,651		7,358		(6		)	7,352
Income before income taxes	3,677		10			3,687		7,307		(6		)	7,301
Income tax provision	700		2			702		1,353		1			1,354
Net income	2,977		8			2,985		5,954		(7		)	5,947

13

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

	March 31, 2019
	As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
	(in millions)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	$	589	$	(262	)	$	327
Client incentives	1,664		(725		)	939
Liabilities
Accounts payable	119		13			132
Client incentives	3,484		(401		)	3,083
Accrued liabilities	1,207		(8		)	1,199
Deferred tax liabilities	4,911		(105		)	4,806
Other liabilities	2,669		(79		)	2,590
Equity
Accumulated income	12,513		(407		)	12,106

Disaggregation of Revenues

The nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the Company’s revenues and cash flows and how they are affected by economic factors are most appropriately depicted through the Company’s revenue categories and geographical markets. The following tables disaggregate the Company’s net revenues by revenue category and by geography for the three and six months endedMarch 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service revenues	$	2,417		$	2,253		$	4,759		$	4,399
Data processing revenues	2,432			2,127			4,902			4,274
International transaction revenues	1,796			1,752			3,647			3,418
Other revenues	327			230			626			459
Client incentives	(1,478		)	(1,289		)	(2,934		)	(2,615		)
Net revenues	$	5,494		$	5,073		$	11,000		$	9,935

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in millions)
U.S.	$	2,479	$	2,297	$	4,987	$	4,562
International	3,015		2,776		6,013		5,373
Net revenues	$	5,494	$	5,073	$	11,000	$	9,935

Revenue recognition. The Company's net revenues are comprised principally of the following categories: service revenues, data processing revenues, international transaction revenues, and other revenues, reduced by costs incurred under client incentives arrangements. As a payment network service provider, the Company’s obligation to the customer is to stand ready to provide continuous access to our payment network over the contractual term. Consideration is variable based primarily upon the amount and type of transactions and payments volume on Visa’s products. The Company recognizes revenues, net of sales and other similar taxes, as the payment network services are performed. Fixed fees for payment network services are generally recognized ratably over the related service period. The Company has elected the optional exemption to not disclose the remaining performance obligations related to payment network services.

14

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Service revenues consist of revenues earned for services provided in support of client usage of Visa products. Current quarter service revenues are primarily assessed using a calculation of current pricing applied to the prior quarter's payments volume. The Company also earns revenues from assessments designed to support ongoing acceptance and volume growth initiatives, which are recognized in the same period the related volume is transacted.

Data processing revenues consist of revenues earned for authorization, clearing, settlement, network access and other maintenance and support services that facilitate transaction and information processing among the Company's clients globally. Data processing revenues are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are performed.

International transaction revenues are earned for cross-border transaction processing and currency conversion activities. Cross-border transactions arise when the country of origin of the issuer is different from that of the merchant. International transaction revenues are primarily generated by cross-border payments and cash volume.

Other revenues consist mainly of license fees for use of the Visa brand, fees for account holder services, licensing and certification and other activities related to the Company's acquired entities. Other revenues also include optional services or product enhancements, such as extended account holder protection and concierge services. Other revenues are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are performed.

Client incentives. The Company enters into long-term contracts with financial institution clients, merchants and strategic partners for various programs designed to increase revenues recognized by growing payments volume, increasing Visa product acceptance, winning merchant routing transactions over to Visa's network and driving innovation. These incentives are primarily accounted for as reductions to revenues or as operating expenses if the payment is in exchange for a distinct good or service provided by the customer. The Company generally capitalizes upfront and fixed incentive payments under these agreements and amortizes the amounts as a reduction to revenues ratably over the contractual term. Incentives that are earned by the customer based on performance targets are recorded as reductions to revenues based on management's estimate of each client's future performance. These accruals are regularly reviewed and estimates of performance are adjusted, as appropriate, based on changes in performance expectations, actual client performance, amendments to existing contracts or the execution of new contracts.

Note 3—Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include cash and certain highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are primarily recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their generally short maturities. The Company defines restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents as cash and cash equivalents that cannot be withdrawn or used for general operating activities.

The Company reconciles cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents reported in the consolidated balance sheets that aggregate to the beginning and ending balances shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows as follows:

	March 31,				September 30,
	2019		2018		2018		2017
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,648	$	8,142	$	8,162	$	9,874
Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents:
U.S. litigation escrow	899		884		1,491		1,031
Customer collateral	1,735		1,250		1,324		1,106
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents	$	10,282	$	10,276	$	10,977	$	12,011

15

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Note 4—U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans

U.S. Retrospective Responsibility Plan

Under the terms of the U.S. retrospective responsibility plan, the Company maintains an escrow account from which settlements of, or judgments in, certain litigation referred to as the “U.S. covered litigation” are paid. The escrow funds are held in money market investments along with interest income earned, less applicable taxes, and are classified as restricted cash equivalents on the consolidated balance sheets. The balance of the escrow account was $899 million at March 31, 2019 and $1.5 billionat September 30, 2018. The Company paid $600 million from the litigation escrow account during the three months ended March 31, 2019. See Note 13—Legal Matters.

The accrual related to the U.S. covered litigation could be either higher or lower than the litigation escrow account balance. The Company did not record an additional accrual for the U.S. covered litigation during the six months ended March 31, 2019. See Note 13—Legal Matters.

Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plan

Visa Inc., Visa International and Visa Europe are parties to certain existing and potential litigation relating to the setting of multilateral interchange fee rates in the Visa Europe territory (the “VE territory covered litigation”). Under the terms of the Europe retrospective responsibility plan, the Company is entitled to recover certain losses resulting from VE territory covered litigation (the “VE territory covered losses”) through a periodic adjustment to the class A common stock conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock. VE territory covered losses are recorded in “right to recover for covered losses” within equity before the corresponding adjustment to the applicable conversion rate is effected. Adjustments to the conversion rate may be executed once in any six-month period unless a single, individual loss greater than €20 million is incurred, in which case, the six-month limitation does not apply. When the adjustment to the conversion rate is made, the amount previously recorded in “right to recover for covered losses” as contra-equity is then recorded against the book value of the preferred stock within stockholders’ equity.

During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recovered $6 million of VE territory covered losses through adjustments to the class A common stock conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock. The conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock were reduced from 12.955 and 13.888, respectively, as of September 30, 2018 to 12.939 and 13.886, respectively, as of March 31, 2019.

The following table sets forth the activities related to VE territory covered losses in preferred stock and “right to recover for covered losses” within equity during the six months ended March 31, 2019. VE territory covered losses incurred reflect settlements with merchants and additional legal costs. See Note 13—Legal Matters.

	Preferred Stock						Right to Recover for Covered Losses
	UK&I			Europe
	(in millions)
Balance as of September 30, 2018	$	2,291		$	3,179		$	(7	)
VE territory covered losses incurred	—			—			(162		)
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment	(5		)	(1		)	6
Balance as of March 31, 2019	$	2,286		$	3,178		$	(163	)

16

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table⁽¹⁾ sets forth the as-converted value of the preferred stock available to recover VE territory covered losses compared to the book value of preferred shares recorded in stockholders’ equity within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018:

	March 31, 2019						September 30, 2018
	As-Converted Value of Preferred Stock(2)			Book Value of Preferred Stock			As-Converted Value of Preferred Stock(3)			Book Value of Preferred Stock
	(in millions)
UK&I preferred stock	$	5,013		$	2,286		$	4,823		$	2,291
Europe preferred stock	6,847			3,178			6,580			3,179
Total	11,860			5,464			11,403			5,470
Less: right to recover for covered losses	(163		)	(163		)	(7		)	(7		)
Total recovery for covered losses available	$	11,697		$	5,301		$	11,396		$	5,463

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. As-converted and book values are based on unrounded numbers.

⁽²⁾  The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of March 31, 2019; (b) 12.939 and 13.886, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of March 31, 2019, respectively; and (c) $156.19, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of March 31, 2019.

⁽³⁾  The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of September 30, 2018; (b) 12.955 and 13.888, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of September 30, 2018, respectively; and (c) $150.09, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of September 30, 2018.

Note 5—Fair Value Measurements and Investments

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

	Fair Value Measurements Using Inputs Considered as
	Level 1				Level 2
	March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018		March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	6,089	$	6,252
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					$	200	$	1,048
Investment securities:
Marketable equity securities	157		113
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					5,482		5,008
U.S. Treasury securities	1,743		2,508
Other current and non-current assets:
Derivative instruments					166		78
Total	$	7,989	$	8,873	$	5,848	$	6,134
Liabilities
Accrued and other liabilities:
Derivative instruments					$	44	$	22
Total	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	22

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

Level 1 assets. Money market funds, publicly-traded equity securities and U.S. Treasury securities are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, as fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets.

17

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Level 2 assets and liabilities. The fair value of U.S. government-sponsored debt securities, as provided by third-party pricing vendors, is based on quoted prices in active markets for similar, not identical, assets. The pricing data obtained from outside sources is reviewed internally for reasonableness, compared against benchmark quotes from independent pricing sources, then confirmed or revised accordingly. Derivative instruments are valued using inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. There were no substantive changes to the valuation techniques and related inputs used to measure fair value during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

Marketable equity securities. Marketable equity securities are publicly traded and measured at fair value within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, as fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets. On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 which changed the Company’s accounting for marketable equity securities. Beginning on October 1, 2018, unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value of marketable equity securities are recognized in non-operating income (expense).

U.S. government-sponsored debt securities and U.S. Treasury securities. The Company considers U.S. government-sponsored debt securities and U.S. Treasury securities to be available-for-sale and held $7.2 billion and $7.5 billion of these investment securities as of March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. All of the Company’s long-term available-for-sale investment securities are due within one to five years.

Derivative instruments. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company entered into interest rate and cross-currency swap agreements on a portion of the Company’s outstanding 3.15% Senior Notes due December 2025. The Company designated the interest rate swap as a fair value hedge and the cross-currency swap as a net investment hedge. Gains and losses related to changes in fair value hedges are recognized in non-operating income (expense) along with a corresponding loss or gain related to the change in value of the underlying hedged item in the same line in the consolidated statement of operations. The effective portions of net investment hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income. Amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing of net investment hedges are recognized in non-operating income (expense). Cash flows associated with derivatives designated as a fair value hedge may be included in operating, investing or financing activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows, depending on the classification of the items being hedged. Cash flows associated with financial instruments designated as net investment hedges are classified as an investing activity. There were no swap agreements outstanding as of September 30, 2018.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis

Non-marketable equity securities. The Company’s non-marketable equity securities are investments in privately held companies without readily determinable market values. These investments are classified as Level 3 due to the absence of quoted market prices, the inherent lack of liquidity and the fact that inputs used to measure fair value are unobservable and require management’s judgment. On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 which changed the Company’s accounting for non-marketable equity securities. Beginning on October 1, 2018, the Company’s policy is to adjust the carrying value of its non-marketable equity securities to fair value when transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer are observable in the market. All gains and losses on non-marketable equity securities, realized and unrealized, are recognized in non-operating income (expense).

Non-marketable equity securities totaled $438 million and $137 million at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively, and are classified in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, $66 million of upward adjustments and no downward adjustments were made to the carrying value of non-marketable equity securities. During the six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no significant impairments of non-marketable equity securities.

Non-financial assets and liabilities. Long-lived assets such as goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, finite-lived intangible assets and property, equipment and technology are considered non-financial assets. The Company does not have any non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Finite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships, trade names and reseller relationships, all of which were obtained through acquisitions.

If the Company were required to perform a quantitative assessment for impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, the fair values would generally be estimated using an income approach. As the assumptions employed to measure these assets on a non-recurring basis are based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The

18

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Company completed its annual impairment review of its indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill as of February 1, 2019, and concluded that there was no impairment. No recent events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment existed at March 31, 2019.

Gains and Losses on Marketable and Non-marketable Equity Securities

The Company recognized net realized gains of $15 millionfor both the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 on its equity securities sold during the periods. The Company recognized net unrealized gains of $79 million and $59 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, respectively, on equity securities held as of the end of the periods.

Other Fair Value Disclosures

Long-term debt. Debt instruments are measured at amortized cost on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the debt instruments, as provided by third-party pricing vendors, is based on quoted prices in active markets for similar, not identical, assets. The pricing data obtained from outside sources is reviewed internally for reasonableness, compared against benchmark quotes from independent pricing sources, then confirmed or revised accordingly. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, these instruments would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value and estimated fair value of long-term debt was $16.6 billion and $17.3 billion, respectively, as of March 31, 2019. The carrying value and estimated fair value of long-term debt were both $16.6 billion as of September 30, 2018.

Other financial instruments not measured at fair value. The following financial instruments are not measured at fair value on the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019, but disclosure of their fair values is required: time deposits recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets, settlement receivable and payable and customer collateral. The estimated fair value of such instruments at March 31, 2019 approximates their carrying value due to their generally short maturities. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, these financial instruments would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Note 6—Debt

The Company had outstanding debt as follows:

	March 31, 2019			September 30, 2018			Effective Interest Rate
	(in millions, except percentages)
2.20% Senior Notes due December 2020	$	3,000		$	3,000		2.30	%
2.15% Senior Notes due September 2022	1,000			1,000			2.30	%
2.80% Senior Notes due December 2022	2,250			2,250			2.89	%
3.15% Senior Notes due December 2025	4,000			4,000			3.26	%
2.75% Senior Notes due September 2027	750			750			2.91	%
4.15% Senior Notes due December 2035	1,500			1,500			4.23	%
4.30% Senior Notes due December 2045	3,500			3,500			4.37	%
3.65% Senior Notes due September 2047	750			750			3.73	%
Total senior notes	16,750			16,750
Unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs	(114		)	(120		)
Hedge accounting fair value adjustments	(6		)	—
Total long-term debt	$	16,630		$	16,630

The Company recognized interest expense for its senior notes of $119 million and $137 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and$245 million and $275 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Interest expense for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 includes adjustments related to the Company’s hedging program. Effective interest rates disclosed in the table above do not reflect hedge accounting adjustments.

19

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Note 7—Settlement Guarantee Management

The Company indemnifies its clients for settlement losses suffered due to failure of any other client to fund its settlement obligations in accordance with the Visa operating rules. This indemnification creates settlement risk for the Company due to the difference in timing between the date of a payment transaction and the date of subsequent settlement.

Historically, the Company has experienced minimal losses as a result of its settlement risk guarantee. However, the Company’s future obligations, which could be material under its guarantees, are not determinable as they are dependent upon future events.

The Company’s settlement exposure is limited to the amount of unsettled Visa payment transactions at any point in time, which vary significantly day to day. The Company’s maximum settlement exposure was $92.0 billion and the average daily settlement exposure was $55.3 billion during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

The Company maintains and regularly reviews global settlement risk policies and procedures to manage settlement exposure, which may require clients to post collateral if certain credit standards are not met. At March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Company held collateral as follows:

	March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018
	(in millions)
Cash equivalents	$	1,735	$	1,708
Pledged securities at market value	307		192
Letters of credit	1,337		1,382
Guarantees	574		860
Total	$	3,953	$	4,142

Note 8—Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company sponsors various qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans that provide for retirement and medical benefits for all eligible employees residing in the United States. The Company also sponsors other pension benefit plans that provide benefits for internationally-based employees at certain non-U.S. locations. The components of net periodic benefit cost presented below include the U.S. pension plans and the non-U.S. pension plans, comprising only the Visa Europe plans. Disclosures relating to other U.S. postretirement benefit plans and other non-U.S. pension benefit plans are not included as they are immaterial, individually and in aggregate.

	Pension Benefits
	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	1		$	1
Interest cost	8			8			4			3
Expected return on plan assets	(18		)	(18		)	(5		)	(5		)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	(10	)	$	(10	)	$	—		$	(1	)

20

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

	Pension Benefits
	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Six Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	2		$	2
Interest cost	16			16			7			6
Expected return on plan assets	(36		)	(35		)	(9		)	(10		)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	(20	)	$	(19	)	$	—		$	(2	)

Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity

As-converted class A common stock. The following table⁽¹⁾ presents number of shares of each series and class and the number of shares of class A common stock on an as-converted basis:

	March 31, 2019					September 30, 2018
	Shares Outstanding	Conversion Rate Into  Class A Common Stock		As-converted Class A Common Stock(2)		Shares Outstanding	Conversion Rate Into Class A Common Stock		As-converted Class A Common Stock(2)
	(in millions, except conversion rates)
UK&I preferred stock	2	12.9390		32	(3)	2	12.9550		32	(3)
Europe preferred stock	3	13.8860		44	(3)	3	13.8880		44	(3)
Class A common stock(4)	1,741	—		1,741		1,768	—		1,768
Class B common stock	245	1.6298	(5)	400		245	1.6298	(5)	400
Class C common stock	12	4.0000		46		12	4.0000		47
Total				2,263					2,291

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding.

⁽²⁾  As-converted class A common stock is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽³⁾  The reduction in equivalent number of shares of class A common stock was less than one million shares during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

⁽⁴⁾  Class A common stock shares outstanding reflect repurchases settled on or before March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018.

⁽⁵⁾  The class B to class A common stock conversion rate is presented on a rounded basis. Conversion calculations for dividend payments are based on a conversion rate rounded to the tenth decimal.

Reduction in as-converted shares. Under the terms of the Europe retrospective responsibility plan, the Company is entitled to recover VE territory covered losses through periodic adjustments to the class A common stock conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock. The recovery has the same economic effect on earnings per share as repurchasing the Company’s class A common stock, because it reduces the UK&I and Europe preferred stock conversion rates and consequently, reduces the as-converted class A common stock share count.

21

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table presents effective price per share and recovery of VE territory covered losses through conversion rate adjustments:

	Six Months Ended March 31, 2019				Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2018
	Preferred Stock
	UK&I		Europe		UK&I		Europe
	(in millions, except per share data)
Effective price per share(1)	$	137.19	$	137.19	$	113.05	$	112.92
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment	$	5	$	1	$	35	$	21

⁽¹⁾  Effective price per share for the quarter is calculated using the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s class A common stock over a pricing period in accordance with the Company’s current certificates of designations for its series B and C convertible participating preferred stock. Effective price per share for the fiscal year is calculated using the weighted-average effective prices of the respective adjustments made during the year.

Common stock repurchases. The following table⁽¹⁾ presents share repurchases in the open market for the following periods:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in millions, except per share data)
Shares repurchased in the open market(2)	14		17		31		33
Average repurchase price per share(3)	$	144.94	$	120.26	$	141.08	$	115.41
Total cost	$	1,938	$	2,072	$	4,331	$	3,850

⁽¹⁾   Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Shares repurchased in the open market reflect repurchases settled during the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. These amounts include repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before September 30, 2018 and 2017 for six months, respectively, and December 31, 2018 and 2017 for three months, respectively. Also, these amounts exclude repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

⁽²⁾  All shares repurchased in the open market have been retired and constitute authorized but unissued shares.

⁽³⁾  Average repurchase price per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

In January 2019, the Company’s board of directors authorized an additional $8.5 billion share repurchase program. As of March 31, 2019, the Company’s January 2019 share repurchase program had remaining authorized funds of $8.4 billion for share repurchase. All share repurchase programs authorized prior to January 2019 have been completed.

Dividends. On April 16, 2019, the Company’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and C common stock and UK&I and Europe preferred stock on an as-converted basis). The cash dividend will be paid on June 4, 2019, to all holders of record as of May 17, 2019. The Company declared and paid $569 million and $490 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $1.1 billion and $948 million during the six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, in dividends to holders of the Company’s common and preferred stocks.

Note 10—Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to each class of shares by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and participating securities during the period. Net income is allocated to each class of common stock and participating securities based on its proportional ownership on an as-converted basis. The weighted-average number of shares outstanding of each class of common stock reflects changes in ownership over the periods presented. See Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity.

22

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, participating securities and, if dilutive, potential class A common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive class A common stock equivalents may consist of: (1) shares of class A common stock issuable upon the conversion of UK&I and Europe preferred stock and class B and C common stock based on the conversion rates in effect through the period, and (2) incremental shares of class A common stock calculated by applying the treasury stock method to the assumed exercise of employee stock options, the assumed purchase of stock under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the assumed vesting of unearned performance shares.

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2019:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	2,287	1,748	$	1.31	$	2,977	2,279	(3)	$	1.31
Class B common stock	523		245	$	2.13	$	523	245		$	2.13
Class C common stock	61		12	$	5.23	$	61	12		$	5.23
Participating securities(4)	106		Not presented	Not presented		$	106	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	2,977

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2019:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	4,577	1,754	$	2.61	$	5,954	2,285	(3)	$	2.61
Class B common stock	1,044		245	$	4.25	$	1,043	245		$	4.25
Class C common stock	122		12	$	10.44	$	122	12		$	10.42
Participating securities(4)	211		Not presented	Not presented		$	211	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	5,954

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	2,007	1,798	$	1.12	$	2,605	2,337	(3)	$	1.11
Class B common stock	452		245	$	1.84	$	451	245		$	1.84
Class C common stock	55		12	$	4.46	$	55	12		$	4.46
Participating securities(4)	91		Not presented	Not presented		$	91	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	2,605

23

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2018:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	3,952	1,805	$	2.19	$	5,127	2,345	(3)	$	2.19
Class B common stock	886		245	$	3.61	$	885	245		$	3.60
Class C common stock	110		13	$	8.76	$	109	13		$	8.74
Participating securities(4)	179		Not presented	Not presented		$	178	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	5,127

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Earnings per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽²⁾  Net income is allocated based on proportional ownership on an as-converted basis. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class B common stock used in the income allocation was 400 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 405 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class C common stock used in the income allocation was 47 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 49 million and 50 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The weighted-average number of shares of preferred stock included within participating securities was 32 million of as-converted UK&I preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, and 44 million of as-converted Europe preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

⁽³⁾  Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are calculated on an as-converted basis and include incremental common stock equivalents, as calculated under the treasury stock method. The computation includes approximately 3 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 4 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been dilutive. The computation excludes 1 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 2 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

⁽⁴⁾  Participating securities include preferred stock outstanding and unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, such as the Company’s UK&I and Europe preferred stock, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and earned performance-based shares. Participating securities’ income is allocated based on the weighted-average number of shares of as-converted stock.

Note 11—Share-based Compensation

The Company granted the following equity awards to employees and non-employee directors under the 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, or the EIP, during the six months ended March 31, 2019:

	Granted	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Non-qualified stock options	1,109,645	$	25.89	$	134.76
Restricted stock units (“RSUs”)	2,616,550	$	135.19
Performance-based shares(1)	540,538	$	153.42

⁽¹⁾   Represents the maximum number of performance-based shares which could be earned.

The Company’s non-qualified stock options and RSUs are equity awards with service-only conditions and are accordingly expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The Company’s performance-based shares are equity awards with service, market and performance conditions that are accounted for using the graded-vesting method. The Company recorded share-based compensation cost related to the EIP of $106 million and $201 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, respectively, and $82 million and $146 millionfor the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, net of estimated forfeitures, which are adjusted as appropriate.

24

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Note 12—Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 19% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 19% and 21% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2019 differs from the effective tax rate in the same prior-year period primarily due to the effects of U.S. tax reform legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), enacted on December 22, 2017, as discussed below:

• The Tax Act reduced the statutory federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. In fiscal 2018, the Company’s statutory federal corporate rate was a blended rate of 24.5%. Federal tax expense for the six months ended March 31, 2019 was determined at a 21% tax rate compared to the 24.5% tax rate in the prior-year period;

• The Tax Act enacted a new deduction for foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) and a new tax on global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”). Both FDII and GILTI became effective for the Company on October 1, 2018; and

• The absence of the following items recorded during the six months ended March 31, 2018:

▪ an $80 million benefit due to a non-recurring audit settlement during the three months ended March 31, 2018;

▪ a $1.1 billion non-recurring, non-cash benefit from the remeasurement of deferred tax balances recorded in the three months ended December 31, 2017, in connection with the reduction in U.S. federal tax rate enacted by the Tax Act; and

▪ a $1.1 billion one-time transition tax expense on certain untaxed foreign earnings recorded in the three months ended December 31, 2017, in connection with the requirement enacted by the Tax Act.

The Company previously recorded provisional amounts for the transition tax and the tax effects of various other tax provisions enacted by the Tax Act. As permitted by ASU 2018-05, the Company completed the determination of the accounting impacts of the transition tax and the tax effects of these various tax provisions in the three months ended December 31, 2018. The adjustments to the provisional amounts were not material. In addition, the Company adopted the accounting policy of accounting for taxes on GILTI in the period that it is subject to such tax.

During the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits increased by $108 million and $146 million, respectively. The Company's unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably impact the effective tax rate increased by $44 million and $83 million, respectively. The change in unrecognized tax benefits is primarily related to various tax positions across several jurisdictions. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no significant changes in interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

The Company’s tax filings are subject to examination by the U.S. federal, state and foreign taxing authorities. The timing and outcome of the final resolutions of the various ongoing income tax examinations are highly uncertain. It is not reasonably possible to estimate the increase or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

Note 13—Legal Matters

The Company is party to various legal and regulatory proceedings. Some of these proceedings involve complex claims that are subject to substantial uncertainties and unascertainable damages. Accordingly, except as disclosed, the Company has not established reserves or ranges of possible loss related to these proceedings, as at this time in the proceedings, the matters do not relate to a probable loss and/or the amount or range of losses are not reasonably estimable. Although the Company believes that it has strong defenses for the litigation and regulatory proceedings described below, it could, in the future, incur judgments or fines or enter into settlements of claims that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. From time to time, the Company may engage in settlement discussions or mediations with respect to one or more of its outstanding litigation matters, either on its own behalf or collectively with other parties.

25

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The litigation accrual is an estimate and is based on management’s understanding of its litigation profile, the specifics of each case, advice of counsel to the extent appropriate and management’s best estimate of incurred loss as of the balance sheet date.

The following table summarizes the activity related to accrued litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,434		$	982
Provision for uncovered legal matters	35			—
Provision for covered legal matters	159			1
Payments for legal matters	(714		)	(153		)
Balance at end of period	$	914		$	830

Accrual Summary—U.S. Covered Litigation

Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A. and Visa International are parties to certain legal proceedings that are covered by the U.S. retrospective responsibility plan, which the Company refers to as the U.S. covered litigation. See further discussion below under U.S. Covered Litigation and Note 4—U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans. An accrual for the U.S. covered litigation and a charge to the litigation provision are recorded when a loss is deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable. In making this determination, the Company evaluates available information, including but not limited to actions taken by the litigation committee. The total accrual related to the U.S. covered litigation could be either higher or lower than the escrow account balance.

The following table summarizes the activity related to U.S. covered litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,428		$	978
Payments for U.S. covered litigation	(600		)	(150		)
Balance at end of period	$	828		$	828

Accrual Summary—VE Territory Covered Litigation

Visa Inc., Visa International and Visa Europe are parties to certain legal proceedings that are covered by the Europe retrospective responsibility plan. Unlike the U.S. retrospective responsibility plan, the Europe retrospective responsibility plan does not have an escrow account that is used to fund settlements or judgments. The Company is entitled to recover VE territory covered losses through periodic adjustments to the conversion rates applicable to the UK&I preferred stock and Europe preferred stock. An accrual for the VE territory covered losses and a reduction to stockholders’ equity will be recorded when the loss is deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable. See further discussion below under VE Territory Covered Litigation and Note 4—U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans.

26

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table summarizes the activity related to VE territory covered litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	—		$	1
Accrual for VE territory covered litigation	159			1
Payments for VE territory covered litigation	(98		)	(2		)
Balance at end of period	$	61		$	—

U.S. Covered Litigation

Interchange Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) – Putative Class Actions

On December 6, 2018, the district court held a hearing on the Damages Class plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval of the Amended Settlement Agreement, and on January 24, 2019, the district court granted preliminary approval.

Settlement discussions with plaintiffs purporting to act on behalf of the putative Injunctive Relief Class are ongoing. On January 16, 2019, the bank defendants moved to dismiss the claims brought against them by the Injunctive Relief Class, on the grounds that plaintiffs lack standing and fail to state a claim against the bank defendants.

VE Territory Covered Litigation

UK Merchant Litigation

Since July 2013, in excess of 450 Merchants (the capitalized term “Merchant,” when used in this section, means a merchant together with subsidiary/affiliate companies that are party to the same claim) have commenced proceedings against Visa Europe, Visa Inc. and Visa International relating to interchange rates in Europe, and in some cases relating to fees charged by Visa and certain Visa rules. As of the filing date, Visa Europe, Visa Inc. and Visa International have settled the claims asserted by over 100 Merchants, leaving more than 350 Merchants with outstanding claims. In addition, over 30 additional Merchants have threatened to commence similar proceedings. Standstill agreements have been entered into with respect to some of those threatened Merchant claims, several of which have been settled.

On November 29, 2018, Visa was granted permission to appeal aspects of the Court of Appeal’s judgment to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, including the question of whether Visa’s UK interchange restricted competition.

Other Litigation

European Commission Proceedings

Inter-regional Interchange Investigation. On December 4, 2018, the European Commission (EC) announced formal public consultation (known as “market testing”) of commitments proposed by Visa pursuant to Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 in order for the EC to conclude its investigation. Subject to market testing, the EC intends to adopt a decision declaring the commitments to be binding on Visa and concluding that there are no longer grounds for action by the EC and without any finding of infringement of the law by Visa. If accepted by the EC, the proposed commitments require Visa to cap its inter-regional multilateral interchange rates at 1.50% credit and 1.15% debit for “Card-Not-Present” transactions and 0.30% credit and 0.20% debit for “Card Present” transactions on consumer debit and credit cards issued outside of the European Economic Area when used at merchants located inside of the European Economic Area. The commitments would last for a period of five years following implementation. No fine will be imposed against Visa, and the commitments are proposed without prejudice to Visa’s position that its conduct did not infringe any law. The EC’s market testing was completed in January 2019, and the EC is expected to decide whether to formally adopt the proposed commitments in the first half of calendar year 2019.

27

VISA INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Canadian Merchant Litigation

Wal-Mart Canada and/or Home Depot of Canada Inc. have filed notices of appeal of the British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Alberta decisions approving the settlements.

EMV Chip Liability Shift

Plaintiffs filed a renewed motion for class certification on July 16, 2018, following an earlier denial of the motion without prejudice. Plaintiffs’ renewed motion was terminated without prejudice to reinstatement on October 17, 2018, but was subsequently reinstated and is currently pending.

Kroger

The litigation was stayed until February 2, 2019. Visa and Kroger have reached an agreement in principle to resolve this lawsuit.

Nuts for Candy

On October 18, 2018, the court stayed the Nuts for Candy case pending the district court’s decision on preliminary approval of the Amended Settlement Agreement discussed above under Interchange Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) – Putative Class Actions, and pending final approval of that agreement if preliminary approval is granted. Preliminary approval was granted on January 24, 2019, which extended the stay in the Nuts for Candy case pending final approval of the Amended Settlement Agreement.

Ohio Attorney General Civil Investigative Demand

On January 8, 2019, the State of Ohio Office of the Attorney General informed Visa that the investigation has been terminated.

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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This management’s discussion and analysis provides a review of the results of operations, financial condition and the liquidity and capital resources of Visa Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Visa,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) on a historical basis and outlines the factors that have affected recent earnings, as well as those factors that may affect future earnings. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to, among other things, our future operations, prospects, developments, strategies and growth of our business; anticipated expansion of our products in certain countries; industry developments; expectations regarding litigation matters, investigations and proceedings; timing and amount of stock repurchases; sufficiency of sources of liquidity and funding; effectiveness of our risk management programs; and expectations regarding the impact of recent accounting pronouncements on our consolidated financial statements. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “projects,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “continue” and other similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. We describe risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any of these forward-looking statements in our SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended September 30, 2018 and our subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

29

Overview

Visa is a global payments technology company that enables fast, secure and reliable electronic payments across more than 200 countries and territories. We facilitate global commerce through the transfer of value and information among a global network of consumers, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, strategic partners and government entities. Our advanced transaction processing network, VisaNet, enables authorization, clearing and settlement of payment transactions and allows us to provide our financial institution and merchant clients a wide range of products, platforms and value-added services.

Financial overview. Ourfinancial results for the six months ended March 31, 2018 reflected the impact of certain significant items that we believe were not indicative of our operating performance in these or future periods, as they were either non-recurring or had no cash impact. There were no comparable adjustments recorded for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2018. Our as-reported U.S. GAAP and adjusted non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for these periods were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				2019 vs. 2018		Six Months Ended March 31,				2019 vs. 2018
(in millions, except percentages and per share data)	2019		2018		% Change(1)		2019		2018		% Change(1)
Net income, as reported	$	2,977	$	2,605	14	%	$	5,954	$	5,127	16	%
Diluted earnings per share, as reported	$	1.31	$	1.11	17	%	$	2.61	$	2.19	19	%
Net income, as adjusted(2)	$	2,977	$	2,605	14	%	$	5,954	$	5,141	16	%
Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted(2)	$	1.31	$	1.11	17	%	$	2.61	$	2.19	19	%

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽²⁾  For a full reconciliation of our adjusted financial results, see tables in Adjusted financial results below.

Highlights for the first half of fiscal 2019. Our business is affected by overall economic conditions and consumer spending. Our business performance during the six months ended March 31, 2019 reflects continued global consumer spending growth amidst uneven global economic conditions. We recorded net revenues of $5.5 billion and $11.0 billion for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, respectively, an increase of 8% and 11%, respectively, over the prior-year comparable periods, reflecting continued growth in nominal payments volume and processed transactions. The effect of exchange rate movements in the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, as partially mitigated by our hedging program, resulted in approximately negative one-and-a-half percentage point and negative one percentage point impact to our net revenues growth, respectively.

Total operating expenses were $1.9 billion and $3.6 billion for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, respectively, an increase of 7% and 11% over the prior-year comparable period. The increase in the period was primarily due to higher personnel, marketing and general and administrative expenses, as we continue to invest to support our business growth.

Adjusted financial results. Our financial results for the six months ended March 31, 2018 reflected the impact of certain significant items that we believe were not indicative of our ongoing operating performance in these or future periods, as they were either non-recurring or had no cash impact. As such, we believe the presentation of adjusted financial results excluding the following items provides a clearer understanding of our operating performance for the periods presented. There were no comparable adjustments recorded for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2018.

• Remeasurement of deferred tax balances. During the six months ended March 31, 2018, in connection with the Tax Act’s reduction of the corporate income tax rate, we remeasured our net deferred tax liabilities as of the enactment date, resulting in the recognition of a non-recurring, non-cash income tax benefit of $1.1 billion. See Note 12—Income Taxes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

• Transition tax on foreign earnings. During the six months ended March 31, 2018, in connection with the Tax Act’s requirement that we include certain untaxed foreign earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries in our fiscal 2018 taxable income, we recorded a one-time transition tax estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion. See Note 12—Income Taxes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

30

Adjusted financial results are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be relied upon as substitutes for measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The following table reconciles our as-reported financial measures, calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, to our respective non-GAAP adjusted financial measures for the six months ended March 31, 2018. There were no comparable adjustments recorded for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2018.

	Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
(in millions, except per share data)	Income Tax Provision			Net Income			Diluted Earnings Per Share(1)
As reported	$	1,329		$	5,127		$	2.19
Remeasurement of deferred tax balances	1,133			(1,133		)	(0.48		)
Transition tax on foreign earnings	(1,147		)	1,147			0.49
As adjusted	$	1,315		$	5,141		$	2.19

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Diluted earnings per share and its respective total are calculated based on unrounded numbers.

Common stock repurchases. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we repurchased 14 million shares of our class A common stock in the open market using $1.9 billion of cash on hand. In January 2019, our board of directors authorized an additional $8.5 billion share repurchase program. As of March 31, 2019, we had remaining authorized funds of $8.4 billion for share repurchase. See Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Payments volume and transaction counts. Payments volume is the primary driver for our service revenues, and the number of processed transactions is the primary driver for our data processing revenues. During the three months ended December 31, 2018, we updated our definition of payments volume to now include all disbursement volume related to Visa Direct, in addition to the funding volume previously included. All prior periods presented have been adjusted accordingly. Please refer to the Operational Performance Data section of Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2019 for more details on the impact from this update in payments volume definition.

Nominal payments volume in the United States posted low double-digit growth for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018⁽¹⁾, driven mainly by consumer debit and commercial. Nominal international payments volume growth was negatively impacted by movements in the U.S. dollar exchange rates. On a constant-dollar basis, which excludes the impact of exchange rate movements, our international payments volume growth rate for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018 was 11%. Growth in processed transactions reflects the ongoing worldwide shift to electronic payments.

31

The following table⁽²⁾ presents nominal payments and cash volume:

	United States						International						Visa Inc.
	Three Months Ended December 31,(1)						Three Months Ended December 31,(1)						Three Months Ended December 31,(1)
	2018		2017		% Change		2018		2017		% Change		2018		2017		% Change
	(in billions, except percentages)
Nominal payments volume
Consumer credit	$	399	$	374	7	%	$	639	$	620	3	%	$	1,038	$	994	4	%
Consumer debit(3)	422		374		13	%	480		452		6	%	902		826		9	%
Commercial(4)	158		139		14	%	99		92		7	%	257		231		11	%
Total nominal payments volume	$	979	$	886	10	%	$	1,218	$	1,164	5	%	$	2,197	$	2,051	7	%
Cash volume	142		137		3	%	587		626		(6	)%	729		764		(5	)%
Total nominal volume(5)	$	1,121	$	1,024	10	%	$	1,805	$	1,791	1	%	$	2,926	$	2,814	4	%
	United States						International						Visa Inc.
	Six Months Ended December 31,(1)						Six Months Ended December 31,(1)						Six Months Ended December 31,(1)
	2018		2017		% Change		2018		2017		% Change		2018		2017		% Change
	(in billions, except percentages)
Nominal payments volume
Consumer credit	$	781	$	722	8	%	$	1,256	$	1,212	4	%	$	2,037	$	1,934	5	%
Consumer debit(3)	830		731		14	%	939		879		7	%	1,769		1,610		10	%
Commercial(4)	313		274		14	%	191		178		7	%	504		452		12	%
Total nominal payments volume	$	1,924	$	1,726	11	%	$	2,386	$	2,269	5	%	$	4,310	$	3,996	8	%
Cash volume	286		279		3	%	1,165		1,242		(6	)%	1,451		1,521		(5	)%
Total nominal volume(5)	$	2,210	$	2,005	10	%	$	3,551	$	3,511	1	%	$	5,761	$	5,516	4	%

The following table⁽²⁾ presents nominal and constant payments and cash volume growth:

	International				Visa Inc.				International				Visa Inc.
	Three Months Ended December 31, 2018 vs. 2017(1)				Three Months Ended December 31, 2018 vs. 2017(1)				Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 vs. 2017(1)				Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 vs. 2017(1)
	Nominal		Constant(6)		Nominal		Constant(6)		Nominal		Constant(6)		Nominal		Constant(6)
Payments volume growth
Consumer credit growth	3	%	9	%	4	%	8	%	4	%	10	%	5	%	9	%
Consumer debit growth(3)	6	%	12	%	9	%	13	%	7	%	12	%	10	%	13	%
Commercial growth(4)	7	%	14	%	11	%	14	%	7	%	15	%	12	%	14	%
Total payments volume growth	5	%	11	%	7	%	11	%	5	%	11	%	8	%	11	%
Cash volume growth	(6	)%	2	%	(5	)%	2	%	(6	)%	2	%	(5	)%	2	%
Total volume growth	1	%	8	%	4	%	8	%	1	%	8	%	4	%	9	%

⁽¹⁾  Service revenues in a given quarter are assessed based on nominal payments volume in the prior quarter. Therefore, service revenues reported for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were based on nominal payments volume reported by our financial institution clients for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

⁽²⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes and totals are calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽³⁾  Includes consumer prepaid volume and Interlink volume.

⁽⁴⁾  Includes large, middle and small business credit and debit, as well as commercial prepaid volume.

⁽⁵⁾  Total nominal volume is the sum of total nominal payments volume and cash volume. Total nominal payments volume is the total monetary value of transactions for goods and services that are purchased on cards and other form factors carrying the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and V PAY brands. Cash volume generally consists of cash access transactions, balance access transactions, balance transfers and convenience checks. Total nominal volume is provided by our financial institution clients, subject to review by Visa. On occasion, previously presented volume information may be updated. Prior-period updates, other than the change to the payments volume definition, are not material.

⁽⁶⁾  Growth on a constant-dollar basis excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations against the U.S. dollar.

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The following table⁽¹⁾ provides the number of transactions involving cards and other form factors carrying the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink, V PAY and PLUS cards processed on Visa’s networks during the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019	2018	% Change		2019	2018	% Change
	(in millions, except percentages)
Visa processed transactions	32,544	29,321	11	%	66,476	59,829	11	%

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage change is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

Results of Operations

Net Revenues

The following table sets forth our net revenues earned in the U.S. and internationally:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				2019 vs. 2018				Six Months Ended March 31,				2019 vs. 2018
	2019		2018		$ Change		% Change(1)		2019		2018		$ Change		% Change(1)
	(in millions, except percentages)
U.S.	$	2,479	$	2,297	$	182	8	%	$	4,987	$	4,562	$	425	9	%
International	3,015		2,776		239		9	%	6,013		5,373		640		12	%
Net revenues	$	5,494	$	5,073	$	421	8	%	$	11,000	$	9,935	$	1,065	11	%

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are calculated based on unrounded numbers.

The increase in net revenues reflects the continued growth in nominal payments volume and processed transactions.

Our net revenues are impacted by the overall strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar as payments volume and related revenues denominated in local currencies are converted to U.S. dollars. The effect of exchange rate movements in the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, as partially mitigated by our hedging program, resulted in approximately negative one-and-a-half percentage point and negative one percentage point impact to our net revenues growth, respectively.

The following table sets forth the components of our net revenues:

	Three Months Ended March 31,						2019 vs. 2018					Six Months Ended March 31,						2019 vs. 2018
	2019			2018			$ Change			% Change(1)		2019			2018			$ Change			% Change(1)
	(in millions, except percentages)
Service revenues	$	2,417		$	2,253		$	164		7	%	$	4,759		$	4,399		$	360		8	%
Data processing revenues	2,432			2,127			305			14	%	4,902			4,274			628			15	%
International transaction revenues	1,796			1,752			44			3	%	3,647			3,418			229			7	%
Other revenues	327			230			97			42	%	626			459			167			36	%
Client incentives	(1,478		)	(1,289		)	(189		)	15	%	(2,934		)	(2,615		)	(319		)	12	%
Net revenues	$	5,494		$	5,073		$	421		8	%	$	11,000		$	9,935		$	1,065		11	%

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are calculated based on unrounded numbers.

• Service revenues increased primarily due to 7% and 8% growth in nominal payments volume during the three and six-month comparable periods, respectively.

• Data processing revenues increased mainly due to overall growth in processed transactions of 11% during the three and six-month comparable periods as well as select pricing modifications effective after the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

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• International transaction revenues increased during the three and six-month comparable periods primarily due to select pricing modifications effective after the second quarter of fiscal 2018 as well as changes in the mix of our international transaction revenues. International transaction revenues also reflected a 2% decline and 1% growth in nominal cross-border volumes during the three and six-month comparable periods, respectively.

• Other revenues increased during the three and six-month comparable periods primarily due to changes in the classification and timing of recognition of revenue as a result of the adoption of the new revenue standard as well as an increase in revenues from license fees and optional services.

• Client incentives increased during the three and six-month comparable periods mainly due to incentives recognized on long-term customer contracts that were initiated or renewed after the second quarter of fiscal 2018 and overall growth in global payments volume. Client incentives also increased due to changes in classification and timing of recognition as a result of the adoption of the new revenue standard. The amount of client incentives we record in future periods will vary based on changes in performance expectations, actual client performance, amendments to existing contracts or execution of new contracts.

Operating Expenses

The following table sets forth components of our total operating expenses:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				2019 vs. 2018					Six Months Ended March 31,				2019 vs. 2018
	2019		2018		$ Change			% Change(1)		2019		2018		$ Change			% Change(1)
	(in millions, except percentages)
Personnel	$	894	$	824	$	70		8	%	$	1,701	$	1,503	$	198		13	%
Marketing	241		261		(20		)	(8	)%	517		484		33			7	%
Network and processing	171		169		2			1	%	344		329		15			5	%
Professional fees	101		108		(7		)	(7	)%	192		200		(8		)	(4	)%
Depreciation and amortization	160		153		7			4	%	319		298		21			7	%
General and administrative	264		222		42			19	%	540		458		82			18	%
Litigation provision	22		—		22			NM		29		—		29			NM
Total operating expenses	$	1,853	$	1,737	$	116		7	%	$	3,642	$	3,272	$	370		11	%

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are calculated based on unrounded numbers.

• Personnel expenses increased primarily due to an increase in headcount reflecting our strategy to invest for future growth.

• Marketing expenses in 2018 included spend for the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, which did not recur in 2019. This decrease in 2019 was partially offset in the three-month comparable period and was more than offset in the six-month comparable period by changes in the classification and timing of recognition of certain marketing expenses as a result of the adoption of the new revenue standard.

• General and administrativeexpenses increased mainly due to higher product enhancement costs in support of our business growth, changes in the classification and timing of recognition of certain general and administrative expenses as a result of the adoption of the new revenue standard and higher indirect taxes.

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Non-operating Income (Expense)

The following table sets forth the components of our non-operating income (expense).

	Three Months Ended March 31,						2019 vs. 2018				Six Months Ended March 31,						2019 vs. 2018
	2019			2018			$ Change		% Change(1)		2019			2018			$ Change		% Change(1)
	(in millions, except percentages)
Interest expense, net	$	(140	)	$	(153	)	$	13	(9	)%	$	(285	)	$	(307	)	$	22	(7	)%
Investment income and other	176			34			142		410	%	234			100			134		133	%
Total non-operating income (expense)	$	36		$	(119	)	$	155	(130	)%	$	(51	)	$	(207	)	$	156	(75	)%

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are calculated based on unrounded numbers.

• Interest expense decreased in the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 primarily as a result of entering into derivative instruments in fiscal 2019 that lowered the cost of borrowing on a portion of our outstanding debt.

• Investment income and other increased in the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 primarily due to gains on our equity investments as well as higher interest income on our cash and investments.

Effective Income Tax Rate

The effective income tax rate was 19% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 19% and 21% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2019 differs from the effective tax rate in the same prior-year period primarily due to the effects of the Tax Act enacted on December 22, 2017, as discussed below:

• The Tax Act reduced the statutory federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. In fiscal 2018, our statutory federal corporate rate was a blended rate of 24.5%. Federal tax expense for the six months ended March 31, 2019 was determined at a 21% tax rate compared to the 24.5% tax rate in the prior-year period;

• The Tax Act enacted a new deduction for foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) and a new tax on global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”). Both FDII and GILTI became effective for us on October 1, 2018; and

• The absence of the following items recorded during the six months ended March 31, 2018:

▪ an $80 million benefit due to a non-recurring audit settlement during the three months ended March 31, 2018;

▪ a $1.1 billion non-recurring, non-cash benefit from the remeasurement of deferred tax balances recorded in the three months ended December 31, 2017, in connection with the reduction in U.S. federal tax rate enacted by the Tax Act; and

▪ a $1.1 billion one-time transition tax expense on certain untaxed foreign earnings recorded in the three months ended December 31, 2017, in connection with the requirement enacted by the Tax Act.

We previously recorded provisional amounts for the transition tax and the tax effects of various other tax provisions enacted by the Tax Act. As permitted by ASU 2018-05, we completed the determination of the accounting impacts of the transition tax and the tax effects of these various tax provisions in the three months ended December 31, 2018. The adjustments to the provisional amounts were not material. In addition, we adopted the accounting policy of accounting for taxes on GILTI in the period that it is subject to such tax.

35

Adjusted effective income tax rate. Our financial results for the six months ended March 31, 2018 reflect the impact of certain significant items that we believe were not indicative of our operating performance during the period, as they were either non-recurring or had no cash impact. As such, we have presented our adjusted effective income tax rate for the period in the table below, which we believe provides a clearer understanding of our operating performance for the reported period. There were no comparable adjustments recorded for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 or the three months ended March 31, 2018. See Overview—Adjusted financial results within this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for descriptions of the adjustments in the tables below.

	Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Income Before Income Taxes		Income Tax Provision			Effective Income Tax Rate(1)
	(in millions, except percentages)
As reported	$	6,456	$	1,329		20.6	%
Remeasurement of deferred tax balances	—		1,133
Transition tax on foreign earnings	—		(1,147		)
As adjusted	$	6,456	$	1,315		20.4	%

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Effective income tax rate is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow Data

The following table summarizes our cash flow activity for the periods presented:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Total cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	5,358		$	5,729
Investing activities	(396		)	(1,137		)
Financing activities	(5,486		)	(6,533		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(171		)	206
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents	$	(695	)	$	(1,735	)

Operating activities. Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended March 31, 2019 was lower than the prior-year comparable period primarily due to higher payments from the litigation escrow account in the current year and the first installment payment of the transition tax in connection with the Tax Act, partially offset by continued growth in our underlying business.

Investing activities. Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2019 was lower than the prior-year comparable period as prior-year purchases of investment securities reflected additional investment of net proceeds received from fixed-rate senior notes issued in September 2017.

Financing activities. Cash used in financing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2019was lower than the prior-year comparable period primarily due to the repayment of the Senior Notes due 2017 in the prior year. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in the repurchases of our class A common stock and higher dividends paid in the current year. See Note 9—Stockholders’ Equityto our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

36

Sources of Liquidity

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash flow from operations, our investment portfolio and access to various equity and borrowing arrangements. Funds from operations are maintained in cash and cash equivalents and short-term or long-term available-for-sale investment securities based upon our funding requirements, access to liquidity from these holdings, and the returns that these holdings provide. Based on our current cash flow forecasts of our short-term and long-term liquidity needs, we believe that our projected sources of liquidity will be sufficient to meet our projected liquidity needs for more than the next 12 months. We will continue to assess our liquidity position and potential sources of supplemental liquidity in view of our operating performance, current economic and capital market conditions and other relevant circumstances.

Credit Ratings

During the six months ended March 31, 2019, our credit ratings by Standard and Poor’s were upgraded to the following as compared to September 30, 2018:

	Standard and Poor’s
	March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018
Debt type	Rating	Outlook	Rating	Outlook
Short-term unsecured debt	A-1+	Stable	A-1	Positive
Long-term unsecured debt	AA-	Stable	A+	Positive

Various factors affect our credit ratings, including changes in our operating performance, the economic environment, conditions in the electronic payment industry, our financial position and changes in our business strategy. We do not currently foresee any reasonable circumstances under which our credit ratings would be significantly downgraded. If a significant downgrade were to occur, it could adversely impact, among other things, our future borrowing costs and access to capital markets.

Uses of Liquidity

There has been no significant change to our primary uses of liquidity since September 30, 2018, except as discussed below.

Common stock repurchases. During the six months ended March 31, 2019, we repurchased 31 million shares of our class A common stock using $4.3 billion of cash on hand. In January 2019, our board of directors authorized an additional $8.5 billion share repurchase program. As of March 31, 2019, we had remaining authorized funds of $8.4 billion for share repurchase. All share repurchase programs authorized prior to January 2019 have been completed. See Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Dividends. During the six months ended March 31, 2019, we declared and paid $1.1 billion in dividends to holders of our common and preferred stock. On April 16, 2019, our board of directors declared a cash dividend in the amount of $0.25 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and C common stock and UK&I and Europe preferred stock on an as-converted basis), which will be paid on June 4, 2019, to all holders of record as of May 17, 2019. See Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity to our unaudited consolidated financial statements. We expect to continue paying quarterly dividends in cash, subject to approval by the board of directors. All three series of preferred stock and class B and C common stock will share ratably on an as-converted basis in such future dividends.

Deferred purchase consideration.On June 21, 2016, we acquired 100% of the share capital of Visa Europe. In connection with the purchase, we will pay an additional €1.0 billion, plus 4% compound annual interest, on the third anniversary of the closing of Visa Europe acquisition.

Derivative Financial Instruments

In March 2019, we entered into interest rate and cross-currency swap agreements on a portion of our outstanding 3.15% Senior Notes due December 2025 that allows us to manage our interest rate exposure through a combination of fixed and floating rates and reduce our overall cost of borrowing on our debt. Together these swap agreements effectively convert a portion of our U.S. dollar denominated fixed-rate payments into euro denominated floating-rate payments. See Note 5—Fair Value Measurements and Investments to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

37

Fair Value Measurements—Financial Instruments

As of March 31, 2019, our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis included $13.8 billion of assets and $44 million of liabilities. See Note 5—Fair Value Measurements and Investments to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There has been no significant change to our market risks since September 30, 2018, except as discussed below.

In March 2019, we entered into interest rate and cross-currency swap agreements on a portion of our outstanding senior notes that allows us to manage our interest rate exposure through a combination of fixed and floating rates and reduce our overall cost of borrowing. Together these swap agreements effectively convert a portion of our U.S. dollar denominated fixed-rate payments into euro denominated floating-rate payments. By entering into interest rate swaps, we have assumed risks associated with market interest rate fluctuations. See Note 5—Fair Value Measurements and Investments to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures. Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of Visa Inc. at the end of the period covered by this report and, based on such evaluation, have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of Visa Inc. were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of such date.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Company implemented a new client incentives accounting system along with enhancements and modifications to existing internal controls and procedures to comply with the new revenue standard. There have been no other changes in the internal control over financial reporting of Visa Inc. that occurred during the fiscal period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

38

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings.

Refer to Note 13—Legal Matters to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for a description of the Company’s current material legal proceedings.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.

For a discussion of the Company’s risk factors, see the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on November 16, 2018.

ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The table below sets forth our purchases of common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2019:

Period	Total Number  of Shares Purchased	Average Price  Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1),(2)	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(1),(2)
January 1-31, 2019	3,695,067	$	135.30	3,695,067	$	9,810,395,582
February 1-28, 2019	3,985,003	$	143.38	3,985,003	$	9,238,959,974
March 1-31, 2019	6,335,657	$	152.57	6,335,657	$	8,272,205,975
Total	14,015,727	$	145.40	14,015,727

⁽¹⁾  The figures in the table reflect transactions according to the trade dates. For purposes of our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q, the impact of these repurchases is recorded according to settlement dates.

⁽²⁾  Our board of directors from time to time authorizes the repurchase of shares of our common stock up to a certain monetary limit. In January 2019, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for $8.5 billion. These authorizations have no expiration date. All share repurchase programs authorized prior to January 2019 have been completed.

ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. Other Information.

None.

39

ITEM 6. Exhibits.

EXHIBIT INDEX

		Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit Number	Description of Documents	Schedule/ Form	File Number	Exhibit	Filing Date
31.1+	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2+	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1+	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2+	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS+	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH+	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL+	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF+	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB+	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE+	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

+ Filed or furnished herewith.

40

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

		VISA INC.
Date:	April 26, 2019	By:	/s/ Alfred F. Kelly, Jr.
		Name:	Alfred F. Kelly, Jr.
		Title:	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Date:	April 26, 2019	By:	/s/ Vasant M. Prabhu
		Name:	Vasant M. Prabhu
		Title:	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Date:	April 26, 2019	By:	/s/ James H. Hoffmeister
		Name:	James H. Hoffmeister
		Title:	Global Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

41

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO

EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Alfred F. Kelly, Jr., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Visa Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	April 26, 2019	/s/ Alfred F. Kelly, Jr.
		Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO

EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Vasant M. Prabhu, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Visa Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	April 26, 2019	/s/ Vasant M. Prabhu
		Vasant M. Prabhu Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Visa Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Alfred F. Kelly, Jr., do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

• the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

• the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	April 26, 2019	/s/ Alfred F. Kelly, Jr.
		Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Visa Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Vasant M. Prabhu, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

• the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

• the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	April 26, 2019	/s/ Vasant M. Prabhu
		Vasant M. Prabhu Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

XML

Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 19, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	VISA INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001403161
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Class A common stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,738,987,989
Class B common stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		245,513,385
Class C common stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,565,095

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 7,648	$ 8,162
Restricted cash equivalents—U.S. litigation escrow (Note 3 and Note 4)		899	1,491
Investment securities (Note 5)		3,876	3,547
Settlement receivable		1,574	1,582
Accounts receivable		1,404	1,208
Customer collateral (Note 3 and Note 7)		1,735	1,324
Current portion of client incentives		589	340
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		765	562
Total current assets		18,490	18,216
Investment securities (Note 5)		3,506	4,082
Client incentives		1,664	538
Property, equipment and technology, net		2,456	2,472
Goodwill		15,088	15,194
Intangible assets, net		26,966	27,558
Other assets		1,695	1,165
Total assets		69,865	69,225
Liabilities
Accounts payable		119	183
Settlement payable		2,081	2,168
Customer collateral (Note 7)		1,735	1,325
Accrued compensation and benefits		578	901
Client incentives		3,484	2,834
Accrued liabilities		1,207	1,160
Deferred purchase consideration		1,262	1,300
Accrued litigation (Note 13)		914	1,434
Total current liabilities		11,380	11,305
Long-term debt (Note 6)		16,630	16,630
Deferred tax liabilities		4,911	4,618
Other liabilities		2,669	2,666
Total liabilities		35,590	35,219
Equity
Preferred stock	[1]	5,464	5,470
Right to recover for covered losses (Note 4)	[1]	(163)	(7)
Additional paid-in capital		16,547	16,678
Accumulated income		12,513	11,318
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net:
Investment securities		1	(17)
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans		(67)	(61)
Derivative instruments		96	60
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(116)	565
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net		(86)	547
Total equity		34,275	34,006
Total liabilities and equity		69,865	69,225
Series A Preferred Stock
Equity
Preferred stock		0	0
U.K.& I preferred stock
Equity
Preferred stock	[1]	2,286	2,291
Europe preferred stock
Equity
Preferred stock	[1]	3,178	3,179
Class A common stock
Equity
Common stock		0	0
Class B common stock
Equity
Common stock		0	0
Class C common stock
Equity
Common stock		$ 0	$ 0

[1] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. As-converted and book values are based on unrounded numbers.

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Millions		Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value		$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Preferred stock, shares authorized		25	25
Preferred stock, shares issued		5	5
Preferred stock, shares outstanding		5	5
Series A Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, shares issued		0	0
U.K.& I preferred stock
Preferred stock, shares issued		2	2
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	[1]	2	2
Europe preferred stock
Preferred stock, shares issued		3	3
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	[1]	3	3
Class A common stock
Common stock, par value		$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Common stock, shares authorized		2,001,622	2,001,622
Common stock, shares issued		1,741	1,768
Common stock, shares outstanding	[1],[2]	1,741	1,768
Class B common stock
Common stock, par value		$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Common stock, shares authorized		622	622
Common stock, shares issued		245	245
Common stock, shares outstanding	[1]	245	245
Class C common stock
Common stock, par value		$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Common stock, shares authorized		1,097	1,097
Common stock, shares issued		12	12
Common stock, shares outstanding	[1]	12	12

[1] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding.

[2] Class A common stock shares outstanding reflect repurchases settled on or before March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenues
Net revenues		$ 5,494	$ 5,073	$ 11,000	$ 9,935
Operating Expenses
Personnel		894	824	1,701	1,503
Marketing		241	261	517	484
Network and processing		171	169	344	329
Professional fees		101	108	192	200
Depreciation and amortization		160	153	319	298
General and administrative		264	222	540	458
Litigation provision (Note 13)		22	0	29	0
Total operating expenses		1,853	1,737	3,642	3,272
Operating income		3,641	3,336	7,358	6,663
Non-operating Income (Expense)
Interest expense, net		(140)	(153)	(285)	(307)
Investment income and other		176	34	234	100
Total non-operating income (expense)		36	(119)	(51)	(207)
Income before income taxes		3,677	3,217	7,307	6,456
Income tax provision (Note 12)		700	612	1,353	1,329
Net income		$ 2,977	$ 2,605	$ 5,954	$ 5,127
Class A common stock
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 1.31	$ 1.12	$ 2.61	$ 2.19
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)		1,748	1,798	1,754	1,805
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 1.31	$ 1.11	$ 2.61	$ 2.19
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)	[2]	2,279	2,337	2,285	2,345
Class B common stock
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 2.13	$ 1.84	$ 4.25	$ 3.61
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)		245	245	245	245
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 2.13	$ 1.84	$ 4.25	$ 3.60
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)		245	245	245	245
Class C common stock
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 5.23	$ 4.46	$ 10.44	$ 8.76
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)		12	12	12	13
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 5.23	$ 4.46	$ 10.42	$ 8.74
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)		12	12	12	13

[1] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Earnings per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

[2] Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are calculated on an as-converted basis and include incremental common stock equivalents, as calculated under the treasury stock method. The computation includes approximately 3 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 4 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been dilutive. The computation excludes 1 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 2 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 2,977	$ 2,605	$ 5,954	$ 5,127
Investment securities:
Net unrealized gain (loss)	7	41	15	50
Income tax effect	(2)	(9)	(4)	(12)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gain) loss realized in net income	0	0	0	(28)
Income tax effect	0	0	0	10
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans:
Net unrealized actuarial gain (loss) and prior service credit (cost)	0	(2)	(7)	(2)
Income tax effect	0	1	1	1
Derivative instruments:
Net unrealized gain (loss)	59	(41)	97	(42)
Income tax effect	(13)	2	(23)	(3)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gain) loss realized in net income	(22)	24	(47)	35
Income tax effect	4	(3)	9	(5)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(394)	512	(681)	846
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(361)	525	(640)	850
Comprehensive income	$ 2,616	$ 3,130	$ 5,314	$ 5,977

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		Total	U.K.& I preferred stock	Europe preferred stock	Class A common stock	[3]	Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock U.K.& I preferred stock	Preferred Stock Europe preferred stock	Common Stock Class A common stock	Common Stock Class B common stock	Common Stock Class C common stock		Right to Recover for Covered Losses	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017								2	3	1,818	245	13
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2017		$ 32,760					$ 5,526							$ (52)	$ 16,900	$ 9,508	$ 878
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		5,127
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		850															850
Comprehensive income		5,977
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)		(4)												(4)
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment (Note 4 and Note 9)		0					(50)							50
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market (in shares)										2		(1)
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares (in shares)										2
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited	[1]									0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition		153													153
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes (in shares)										(1)
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes		(88)													(88)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans (in shares)										2
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans		103													103
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount per Class A share		(948)														(948)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9) (in shares)					(33)	[2]				(33)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)		(3,850)			$ (3,850)										(355)	(3,495)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018								2	3	1,790	245	12
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018		34,103					5,476							(6)	16,713	10,192	1,728
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017								2	3	1,818	245	13
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2017		32,760					5,526							(52)	16,900	9,508	878
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment (Note 4 and Note 9)			$ 35	$ 21
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018								2	3	1,768	245	12
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018		34,006					5,470							(7)	16,678	11,318	547
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017								2	3	1,805	245	12
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017		33,401					5,476							(5)	16,761	9,966	1,203
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		2,605
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		525															525
Comprehensive income		3,130
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)		(1)												(1)
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market (in shares)										1		0	[4]
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares (in shares)	[4]									0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited	[4]									0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition		85													85
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes (in shares)	[4]									0
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes		0													0
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans (in shares)										1
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans		50													50
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount per Class A share		(490)														(490)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9) (in shares)					(17)	[2]				(17)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)		(2,072)			$ (2,072)										(183)	(1,889)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018								2	3	1,790	245	12
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018		34,103					5,476							(6)	16,713	10,192	1,728
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018								2	3	1,768	245	12
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2018		34,006					5,470							(7)	16,678	11,318	547
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		5,954
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(640)															(640)
Comprehensive income		5,314
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification		392														385	7
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)		(162)	0	0										(162)
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment (Note 4 and Note 9)		0	$ 5	$ 1			(6)							6
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market (in shares)										1		0	[5]
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares (in shares)										3
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition		211													211
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes (in shares)										(1)
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes		(103)													(103)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans (in shares)										1
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans		89													89
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount per Class A share		(1,141)														(1,141)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9) (in shares)					(31)	[2]				(31)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)		(4,331)			$ (4,331)										(328)	(4,003)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019								2	3	1,741	245	12
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019		34,275					5,464							(163)	16,547	12,513	(86)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018								2	3	1,754	245	12
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018		34,095					5,464							(92)	16,540	11,908	275
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		2,977
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(361)															(361)
Comprehensive income		2,616
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification		(8)														(8)	0
VE territory covered losses incurred (Note 4)		(71)												(71)
Conversion of class C common stock upon sales into public market (in shares)										1		0	[6]
Vesting of restricted stock and performance-based shares (in shares)	[6]									0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition		111													111
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes (in shares)	[6]									0
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes		(2)													(2)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans (in shares)	[6]									0
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans		41													41
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount per Class A share		(569)														(569)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9) (in shares)					(14)	[2]				(14)
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)		(1,938)			$ (1,938)										(143)	(1,795)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019								2	3	1,741	245	12
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 34,275					$ 5,464							$ (163)	$ 16,547	$ 12,513	$ (86)

[1] Decrease is less than one million shares.

[2] All shares repurchased in the open market have been retired and constitute authorized but unissued shares.

[3] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Shares repurchased in the open market reflect repurchases settled during the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. These amounts include repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before September 30, 2018 and 2017 for six months, respectively, and December 31, 2018 and 2017 for three months, respectively. Also, these amounts exclude repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[4] Increase or decrease is less than one million shares.

[5] Decrease is less than one million shares.

[6] Increase or decrease is less than one million shares.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2019
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) [Abstract]
Cash dividends declared and paid, quarterly, per Class A share	$ 0.25	$ 0.210	$ 0.195	$ 0.25

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 5,954	$ 5,127
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Client incentives (Note 2)	2,934	2,615
Share-based compensation (Note 11)	211	153
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment, technology and intangible assets	319	298
Deferred income taxes	256	(945)
Right to recover for covered losses recorded in equity (Note 4)	(162)	(4)
Other	(106)	(10)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Settlement receivable	(23)	(1,039)
Accounts receivable	(203)	(113)
Client incentives	(3,142)	(2,177)
Other assets	(245)	41
Accounts payable	(48)	(26)
Settlement payable	(38)	986
Accrued and other liabilities	170	975
Accrued litigation (Note 13)	(519)	(152)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,358	5,729
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, equipment and technology	(313)	(354)
Investment securities:
Purchases	1,806	2,342
Proceeds from maturities and sales	2,038	1,771
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(196)
Purchases of / contributions to other investments	(236)	(16)
Proceeds / distributions from other investments	10	0
Other investing activities	(89)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(396)	(1,137)
Financing Activities
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 9)	(4,331)	(3,850)
Repayments of long-term debt	0	(1,750)
Dividends paid (Note 9)	(1,141)	(948)
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans	89	103
Restricted stock and performance-based shares settled in cash for taxes	(103)	(88)
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,486)	(6,533)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(171)	206
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents	(695)	(1,735)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period (Note 3)	10,977	12,011
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at end of period (Note 3)	10,282	10,276
Supplemental Disclosure
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	1,381	1,197
Interest payments on debt (Note 6)	269	276
Accruals related to purchases of property, equipment and technology	$ 51	$ 21

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization. Visa Inc. (“Visa” or the “Company”) is a global payments technology company that enables fast, secure and reliable electronic payments across more than 200 countries and territories. Visa and its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, including Visa U.S.A. Inc. (“Visa U.S.A.”), Visa International Service Association (“Visa International”), Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited, Visa Europe Limited (“Visa Europe”), Visa Canada Corporation (“Visa Canada”), Visa Technology & Operations LLC and CyberSource Corporation, operate one of the world’s largest retail electronic payments networks — VisaNet — which facilitates authorization, clearing and settlement of payment transactions and enables the Company to provide its financial institution and merchant clients a wide range of products, platforms and value-added services. VisaNet also offers fraud protection for account holders and assured payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for account holders on Visa products. In most cases, account holder and merchant relationships belong to, and are managed by, Visa’s financial institution clients.

Consolidation and basis of presentation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Visa and its consolidated entities and are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company consolidates its majority-owned and controlled entities, including variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company’s investments in VIEs have not been material to its consolidated financial statements as of and for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirements for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the annual disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. Reference should be made to the Visa Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of goods or services to customers. This new revenue standard replaces all existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Subsequently, the FASB also issued a series of amendments to the new revenue standard. The new revenue standard changes the classification and timing of recognition of certain client incentives and marketing-related funds paid to customers, as well as revenues and expenses for market development funds and services provided to customers as an incentive. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method applied to the aggregate of all modifications for contracts not completed as of October 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after October 1, 2018 are presented under the new revenue standard. The comparative prior period amounts appearing on the financial statements have not been restated and continue to be reported under the prior revenue standard. See Note 2—Revenues for the impact of the new revenue standard on the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019.

The following table summarizes the cumulative transition adjustments for the adoption of the new revenue standard recorded on the October 1, 2018 consolidated balance sheet to reflect the aggregate impact to all contracts not completed as of October 1, 2018:

	Fiscal Year 2018 Closing Balance Sheet		Cumulative Transition Adjustment for New Revenue Standard		Fiscal Year 2019 Opening Balance Sheet
	(in millions)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	$	340	$	199	$	539
Client incentives	538		614		1,152
Liabilities
Client incentives	2,834		241		3,075
Accrued liabilities	1,160		6		1,166
Deferred tax liabilities	4,618		108		4,726
Other liabilities	2,666		58		2,724
Equity
Accumulated income	11,318		400		11,718

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, which amends certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments, including the requirement to measure certain equity investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method for marketable equity securities and the prospective method for non-marketable equity securities. The Company has elected to use the measurement alternative for non-marketable equity securities, defined as cost adjusted for changes from observable transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, less impairment. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. Subsequently, the FASB also issued a series of amendments to this new lease standard that address the transition methods available and clarify the guidance for lessor costs and other aspects of the new lease standard. The Company will adopt the standard effective October 1, 2019 and expects to adopt using the modified retrospective transition method without restating comparative periods. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, which requires that entities recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, which requires that a statement of cash flows includes the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption impacted the presentation of transactions related to the U.S. litigation escrow account and customer collateral on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The prior period statement of cash flows have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the impact of this ASU, which had no impact on the Company’s balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of comprehensive income for any period.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, which requires that the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost be presented in the same line item as other employee compensation costs, while the other components be presented separately as non-operating income (expense). In addition, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization, when applicable. Retrospective application is required for the change in income statement presentation while the change in capitalized benefit cost is required to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost is presented in personnel expenses while the other components are presented in other non-operating expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company did not apply the standard retrospectively for the change in income statement presentation as the impact would have been immaterial.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, which amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, which improves the financial reporting of hedging instruments to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. Visa early adopted the standard effective January 1, 2019, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

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Revenues

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenues

Note 2—Revenues

Impact of the New Revenue Standard

The following tables summarize the impact of the new revenue standard on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019:

	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019							For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2019
	As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard		As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
	(in millions)
Net revenues	$	5,494	$	(39	)	$	5,455	$	11,000	$	(91	)	$	10,909
Operating Expenses
Marketing	241		(39		)	202		517		(69		)	448
Professional fees	101		(3		)	98		192		(6		)	186
General and administrative	264		(7		)	257		540		(10		)	530
Total operating expenses	1,853		(49		)	1,804		3,642		(85		)	3,557
Operating income	3,641		10			3,651		7,358		(6		)	7,352
Income before income taxes	3,677		10			3,687		7,307		(6		)	7,301
Income tax provision	700		2			702		1,353		1			1,354
Net income	2,977		8			2,985		5,954		(7		)	5,947

	March 31, 2019
	As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
	(in millions)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	$	589	$	(262	)	$	327
Client incentives	1,664		(725		)	939
Liabilities
Accounts payable	119		13			132
Client incentives	3,484		(401		)	3,083
Accrued liabilities	1,207		(8		)	1,199
Deferred tax liabilities	4,911		(105		)	4,806
Other liabilities	2,669		(79		)	2,590
Equity
Accumulated income	12,513		(407		)	12,106

Disaggregation of Revenues

The nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the Company’s revenues and cash flows and how they are affected by economic factors are most appropriately depicted through the Company’s revenue categories and geographical markets. The following tables disaggregate the Company’s net revenues by revenue category and by geography for the three and six months endedMarch 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service revenues	$	2,417		$	2,253		$	4,759		$	4,399
Data processing revenues	2,432			2,127			4,902			4,274
International transaction revenues	1,796			1,752			3,647			3,418
Other revenues	327			230			626			459
Client incentives	(1,478		)	(1,289		)	(2,934		)	(2,615		)
Net revenues	$	5,494		$	5,073		$	11,000		$	9,935

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in millions)
U.S.	$	2,479	$	2,297	$	4,987	$	4,562
International	3,015		2,776		6,013		5,373
Net revenues	$	5,494	$	5,073	$	11,000	$	9,935

Revenue recognition. The Company's net revenues are comprised principally of the following categories: service revenues, data processing revenues, international transaction revenues, and other revenues, reduced by costs incurred under client incentives arrangements. As a payment network service provider, the Company’s obligation to the customer is to stand ready to provide continuous access to our payment network over the contractual term. Consideration is variable based primarily upon the amount and type of transactions and payments volume on Visa’s products. The Company recognizes revenues, net of sales and other similar taxes, as the payment network services are performed. Fixed fees for payment network services are generally recognized ratably over the related service period. The Company has elected the optional exemption to not disclose the remaining performance obligations related to payment network services.

Service revenues consist of revenues earned for services provided in support of client usage of Visa products. Current quarter service revenues are primarily assessed using a calculation of current pricing applied to the prior quarter's payments volume. The Company also earns revenues from assessments designed to support ongoing acceptance and volume growth initiatives, which are recognized in the same period the related volume is transacted.

Data processing revenues consist of revenues earned for authorization, clearing, settlement, network access and other maintenance and support services that facilitate transaction and information processing among the Company's clients globally. Data processing revenues are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are performed.

International transaction revenues are earned for cross-border transaction processing and currency conversion activities. Cross-border transactions arise when the country of origin of the issuer is different from that of the merchant. International transaction revenues are primarily generated by cross-border payments and cash volume.

Other revenues consist mainly of license fees for use of the Visa brand, fees for account holder services, licensing and certification and other activities related to the Company's acquired entities. Other revenues also include optional services or product enhancements, such as extended account holder protection and concierge services. Other revenues are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are performed.

Client incentives. The Company enters into long-term contracts with financial institution clients, merchants and strategic partners for various programs designed to increase revenues recognized by growing payments volume, increasing Visa product acceptance, winning merchant routing transactions over to Visa's network and driving innovation. These incentives are primarily accounted for as reductions to revenues or as operating expenses if the payment is in exchange for a distinct good or service provided by the customer. The Company generally capitalizes upfront and fixed incentive payments under these agreements and amortizes the amounts as a reduction to revenues ratably over the contractual term. Incentives that are earned by the customer based on performance targets are recorded as reductions to revenues based on management's estimate of each client's future performance. These accruals are regularly reviewed and estimates of performance are adjusted, as appropriate, based on changes in performance expectations, actual client performance, amendments to existing contracts or the execution of new contracts.

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Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalent

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents

Note 3—Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include cash and certain highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are primarily recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their generally short maturities. The Company defines restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents as cash and cash equivalents that cannot be withdrawn or used for general operating activities.

The Company reconciles cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents reported in the consolidated balance sheets that aggregate to the beginning and ending balances shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows as follows:

	March 31,				September 30,
	2019		2018		2018		2017
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,648	$	8,142	$	8,162	$	9,874
Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents:
U.S. litigation escrow	899		884		1,491		1,031
Customer collateral	1,735		1,250		1,324		1,106
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents	$	10,282	$	10,276	$	10,977	$	12,011

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U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Retrospective Responsibility Plan [Abstract]

U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans

Note 4—U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans

U.S. Retrospective Responsibility Plan

Under the terms of the U.S. retrospective responsibility plan, the Company maintains an escrow account from which settlements of, or judgments in, certain litigation referred to as the “U.S. covered litigation” are paid. The escrow funds are held in money market investments along with interest income earned, less applicable taxes, and are classified as restricted cash equivalents on the consolidated balance sheets. The balance of the escrow account was $899 million at March 31, 2019 and $1.5 billionat September 30, 2018. The Company paid $600 million from the litigation escrow account during the three months ended March 31, 2019. See Note 13—Legal Matters.

The accrual related to the U.S. covered litigation could be either higher or lower than the litigation escrow account balance. The Company did not record an additional accrual for the U.S. covered litigation during the six months ended March 31, 2019. See Note 13—Legal Matters.

Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plan

Visa Inc., Visa International and Visa Europe are parties to certain existing and potential litigation relating to the setting of multilateral interchange fee rates in the Visa Europe territory (the “VE territory covered litigation”). Under the terms of the Europe retrospective responsibility plan, the Company is entitled to recover certain losses resulting from VE territory covered litigation (the “VE territory covered losses”) through a periodic adjustment to the class A common stock conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock. VE territory covered losses are recorded in “right to recover for covered losses” within equity before the corresponding adjustment to the applicable conversion rate is effected. Adjustments to the conversion rate may be executed once in any six-month period unless a single, individual loss greater than €20 million is incurred, in which case, the six-month limitation does not apply. When the adjustment to the conversion rate is made, the amount previously recorded in “right to recover for covered losses” as contra-equity is then recorded against the book value of the preferred stock within stockholders’ equity.

During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recovered $6 million of VE territory covered losses through adjustments to the class A common stock conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock. The conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock were reduced from 12.955 and 13.888, respectively, as of September 30, 2018 to 12.939 and 13.886, respectively, as of March 31, 2019.

The following table sets forth the activities related to VE territory covered losses in preferred stock and “right to recover for covered losses” within equity during the six months ended March 31, 2019. VE territory covered losses incurred reflect settlements with merchants and additional legal costs. See Note 13—Legal Matters.

	Preferred Stock						Right to Recover for Covered Losses
	UK&I			Europe
	(in millions)
Balance as of September 30, 2018	$	2,291		$	3,179		$	(7	)
VE territory covered losses incurred	—			—			(162		)
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment	(5		)	(1		)	6
Balance as of March 31, 2019	$	2,286		$	3,178		$	(163	)

The following table⁽¹⁾ sets forth the as-converted value of the preferred stock available to recover VE territory covered losses compared to the book value of preferred shares recorded in stockholders’ equity within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018:

	March 31, 2019						September 30, 2018
	As-Converted Value of Preferred Stock(2)			Book Value of Preferred Stock			As-Converted Value of Preferred Stock(3)			Book Value of Preferred Stock
	(in millions)
UK&I preferred stock	$	5,013		$	2,286		$	4,823		$	2,291
Europe preferred stock	6,847			3,178			6,580			3,179
Total	11,860			5,464			11,403			5,470
Less: right to recover for covered losses	(163		)	(163		)	(7		)	(7		)
Total recovery for covered losses available	$	11,697		$	5,301		$	11,396		$	5,463

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. As-converted and book values are based on unrounded numbers.

⁽²⁾  The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of March 31, 2019; (b) 12.939 and 13.886, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of March 31, 2019, respectively; and (c) $156.19, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of March 31, 2019.

⁽³⁾  The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of September 30, 2018; (b) 12.955 and 13.888, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of September 30, 2018, respectively; and (c) $150.09, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of September 30, 2018.

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Fair Value Measurements and Investments

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements and Investments

Note 5—Fair Value Measurements and Investments

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

	Fair Value Measurements Using Inputs Considered as
	Level 1				Level 2
	March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018		March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	6,089	$	6,252
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					$	200	$	1,048
Investment securities:
Marketable equity securities	157		113
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					5,482		5,008
U.S. Treasury securities	1,743		2,508
Other current and non-current assets:
Derivative instruments					166		78
Total	$	7,989	$	8,873	$	5,848	$	6,134
Liabilities
Accrued and other liabilities:
Derivative instruments					$	44	$	22
Total	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	22

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

Level 1 assets. Money market funds, publicly-traded equity securities and U.S. Treasury securities are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, as fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets.

Level 2 assets and liabilities. The fair value of U.S. government-sponsored debt securities, as provided by third-party pricing vendors, is based on quoted prices in active markets for similar, not identical, assets. The pricing data obtained from outside sources is reviewed internally for reasonableness, compared against benchmark quotes from independent pricing sources, then confirmed or revised accordingly. Derivative instruments are valued using inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. There were no substantive changes to the valuation techniques and related inputs used to measure fair value during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

Marketable equity securities. Marketable equity securities are publicly traded and measured at fair value within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, as fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets. On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 which changed the Company’s accounting for marketable equity securities. Beginning on October 1, 2018, unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value of marketable equity securities are recognized in non-operating income (expense).

U.S. government-sponsored debt securities and U.S. Treasury securities. The Company considers U.S. government-sponsored debt securities and U.S. Treasury securities to be available-for-sale and held $7.2 billion and $7.5 billion of these investment securities as of March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. All of the Company’s long-term available-for-sale investment securities are due within one to five years.

Derivative instruments. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company entered into interest rate and cross-currency swap agreements on a portion of the Company’s outstanding 3.15% Senior Notes due December 2025. The Company designated the interest rate swap as a fair value hedge and the cross-currency swap as a net investment hedge. Gains and losses related to changes in fair value hedges are recognized in non-operating income (expense) along with a corresponding loss or gain related to the change in value of the underlying hedged item in the same line in the consolidated statement of operations. The effective portions of net investment hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income. Amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing of net investment hedges are recognized in non-operating income (expense). Cash flows associated with derivatives designated as a fair value hedge may be included in operating, investing or financing activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows, depending on the classification of the items being hedged. Cash flows associated with financial instruments designated as net investment hedges are classified as an investing activity. There were no swap agreements outstanding as of September 30, 2018.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis

Non-marketable equity securities. The Company’s non-marketable equity securities are investments in privately held companies without readily determinable market values. These investments are classified as Level 3 due to the absence of quoted market prices, the inherent lack of liquidity and the fact that inputs used to measure fair value are unobservable and require management’s judgment. On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 which changed the Company’s accounting for non-marketable equity securities. Beginning on October 1, 2018, the Company’s policy is to adjust the carrying value of its non-marketable equity securities to fair value when transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer are observable in the market. All gains and losses on non-marketable equity securities, realized and unrealized, are recognized in non-operating income (expense).

Non-marketable equity securities totaled $438 million and $137 million at March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively, and are classified in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, $66 million of upward adjustments and no downward adjustments were made to the carrying value of non-marketable equity securities. During the six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no significant impairments of non-marketable equity securities.

Non-financial assets and liabilities. Long-lived assets such as goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, finite-lived intangible assets and property, equipment and technology are considered non-financial assets. The Company does not have any non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Finite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships, trade names and reseller relationships, all of which were obtained through acquisitions.

If the Company were required to perform a quantitative assessment for impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, the fair values would generally be estimated using an income approach. As the assumptions employed to measure these assets on a non-recurring basis are based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company completed its annual impairment review of its indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill as of February 1, 2019, and concluded that there was no impairment. No recent events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment existed at March 31, 2019.

Gains and Losses on Marketable and Non-marketable Equity Securities

The Company recognized net realized gains of $15 millionfor both the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 on its equity securities sold during the periods. The Company recognized net unrealized gains of $79 million and $59 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, respectively, on equity securities held as of the end of the periods.

Other Fair Value Disclosures

Long-term debt. Debt instruments are measured at amortized cost on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the debt instruments, as provided by third-party pricing vendors, is based on quoted prices in active markets for similar, not identical, assets. The pricing data obtained from outside sources is reviewed internally for reasonableness, compared against benchmark quotes from independent pricing sources, then confirmed or revised accordingly. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, these instruments would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value and estimated fair value of long-term debt was $16.6 billion and $17.3 billion, respectively, as of March 31, 2019. The carrying value and estimated fair value of long-term debt were both $16.6 billion as of September 30, 2018.

Other financial instruments not measured at fair value. The following financial instruments are not measured at fair value on the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019, but disclosure of their fair values is required: time deposits recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets, settlement receivable and payable and customer collateral. The estimated fair value of such instruments at March 31, 2019 approximates their carrying value due to their generally short maturities. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, these financial instruments would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

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Debt

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Note 6—Debt

The Company had outstanding debt as follows:

	March 31, 2019			September 30, 2018			Effective Interest Rate
	(in millions, except percentages)
2.20% Senior Notes due December 2020	$	3,000		$	3,000		2.30	%
2.15% Senior Notes due September 2022	1,000			1,000			2.30	%
2.80% Senior Notes due December 2022	2,250			2,250			2.89	%
3.15% Senior Notes due December 2025	4,000			4,000			3.26	%
2.75% Senior Notes due September 2027	750			750			2.91	%
4.15% Senior Notes due December 2035	1,500			1,500			4.23	%
4.30% Senior Notes due December 2045	3,500			3,500			4.37	%
3.65% Senior Notes due September 2047	750			750			3.73	%
Total senior notes	16,750			16,750
Unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs	(114		)	(120		)
Hedge accounting fair value adjustments	(6		)	—
Total long-term debt	$	16,630		$	16,630

The Company recognized interest expense for its senior notes of $119 million and $137 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and$245 million and $275 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Interest expense for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 includes adjustments related to the Company’s hedging program. Effective interest rates disclosed in the table above do not reflect hedge accounting adjustments.

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Settlement Guarantee Management

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Settlement Guarantee Management [Abstract]

Settlement Guarantee Management

Note 7—Settlement Guarantee Management

The Company indemnifies its clients for settlement losses suffered due to failure of any other client to fund its settlement obligations in accordance with the Visa operating rules. This indemnification creates settlement risk for the Company due to the difference in timing between the date of a payment transaction and the date of subsequent settlement.

Historically, the Company has experienced minimal losses as a result of its settlement risk guarantee. However, the Company’s future obligations, which could be material under its guarantees, are not determinable as they are dependent upon future events.

The Company’s settlement exposure is limited to the amount of unsettled Visa payment transactions at any point in time, which vary significantly day to day. The Company’s maximum settlement exposure was $92.0 billion and the average daily settlement exposure was $55.3 billion during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

The Company maintains and regularly reviews global settlement risk policies and procedures to manage settlement exposure, which may require clients to post collateral if certain credit standards are not met. At March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Company held collateral as follows:

	March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018
	(in millions)
Cash equivalents	$	1,735	$	1,708
Pledged securities at market value	307		192
Letters of credit	1,337		1,382
Guarantees	574		860
Total	$	3,953	$	4,142

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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Note 8—Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company sponsors various qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans that provide for retirement and medical benefits for all eligible employees residing in the United States. The Company also sponsors other pension benefit plans that provide benefits for internationally-based employees at certain non-U.S. locations. The components of net periodic benefit cost presented below include the U.S. pension plans and the non-U.S. pension plans, comprising only the Visa Europe plans. Disclosures relating to other U.S. postretirement benefit plans and other non-U.S. pension benefit plans are not included as they are immaterial, individually and in aggregate.

	Pension Benefits
	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	1		$	1
Interest cost	8			8			4			3
Expected return on plan assets	(18		)	(18		)	(5		)	(5		)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	(10	)	$	(10	)	$	—		$	(1	)

	Pension Benefits
	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Six Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	2		$	2
Interest cost	16			16			7			6
Expected return on plan assets	(36		)	(35		)	(9		)	(10		)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	(20	)	$	(19	)	$	—		$	(2	)

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Stockholders' Equity

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity

As-converted class A common stock. The following table⁽¹⁾ presents number of shares of each series and class and the number of shares of class A common stock on an as-converted basis:

	March 31, 2019					September 30, 2018
	Shares Outstanding	Conversion Rate Into  Class A Common Stock		As-converted Class A Common Stock(2)		Shares Outstanding	Conversion Rate Into Class A Common Stock		As-converted Class A Common Stock(2)
	(in millions, except conversion rates)
UK&I preferred stock	2	12.9390		32	(3)	2	12.9550		32	(3)
Europe preferred stock	3	13.8860		44	(3)	3	13.8880		44	(3)
Class A common stock(4)	1,741	—		1,741		1,768	—		1,768
Class B common stock	245	1.6298	(5)	400		245	1.6298	(5)	400
Class C common stock	12	4.0000		46		12	4.0000		47
Total				2,263					2,291

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding.

⁽²⁾  As-converted class A common stock is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽³⁾  The reduction in equivalent number of shares of class A common stock was less than one million shares during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

⁽⁴⁾  Class A common stock shares outstanding reflect repurchases settled on or before March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018.

⁽⁵⁾  The class B to class A common stock conversion rate is presented on a rounded basis. Conversion calculations for dividend payments are based on a conversion rate rounded to the tenth decimal.

Reduction in as-converted shares. Under the terms of the Europe retrospective responsibility plan, the Company is entitled to recover VE territory covered losses through periodic adjustments to the class A common stock conversion rates applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock. The recovery has the same economic effect on earnings per share as repurchasing the Company’s class A common stock, because it reduces the UK&I and Europe preferred stock conversion rates and consequently, reduces the as-converted class A common stock share count.

The following table presents effective price per share and recovery of VE territory covered losses through conversion rate adjustments:

	Six Months Ended March 31, 2019				Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2018
	Preferred Stock
	UK&I		Europe		UK&I		Europe
	(in millions, except per share data)
Effective price per share(1)	$	137.19	$	137.19	$	113.05	$	112.92
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment	$	5	$	1	$	35	$	21

⁽¹⁾  Effective price per share for the quarter is calculated using the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s class A common stock over a pricing period in accordance with the Company’s current certificates of designations for its series B and C convertible participating preferred stock. Effective price per share for the fiscal year is calculated using the weighted-average effective prices of the respective adjustments made during the year.

Common stock repurchases. The following table⁽¹⁾ presents share repurchases in the open market for the following periods:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in millions, except per share data)
Shares repurchased in the open market(2)	14		17		31		33
Average repurchase price per share(3)	$	144.94	$	120.26	$	141.08	$	115.41
Total cost	$	1,938	$	2,072	$	4,331	$	3,850

⁽¹⁾   Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Shares repurchased in the open market reflect repurchases settled during the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. These amounts include repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before September 30, 2018 and 2017 for six months, respectively, and December 31, 2018 and 2017 for three months, respectively. Also, these amounts exclude repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

⁽²⁾  All shares repurchased in the open market have been retired and constitute authorized but unissued shares.

⁽³⁾  Average repurchase price per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

In January 2019, the Company’s board of directors authorized an additional $8.5 billion share repurchase program. As of March 31, 2019, the Company’s January 2019 share repurchase program had remaining authorized funds of $8.4 billion for share repurchase. All share repurchase programs authorized prior to January 2019 have been completed.

Dividends. On April 16, 2019, the Company’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and C common stock and UK&I and Europe preferred stock on an as-converted basis). The cash dividend will be paid on June 4, 2019, to all holders of record as of May 17, 2019. The Company declared and paid $569 million and $490 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $1.1 billion and $948 million during the six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, in dividends to holders of the Company’s common and preferred stocks.

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Earnings Per Share

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

Note 10—Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to each class of shares by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and participating securities during the period. Net income is allocated to each class of common stock and participating securities based on its proportional ownership on an as-converted basis. The weighted-average number of shares outstanding of each class of common stock reflects changes in ownership over the periods presented. See Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity.

Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, participating securities and, if dilutive, potential class A common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive class A common stock equivalents may consist of: (1) shares of class A common stock issuable upon the conversion of UK&I and Europe preferred stock and class B and C common stock based on the conversion rates in effect through the period, and (2) incremental shares of class A common stock calculated by applying the treasury stock method to the assumed exercise of employee stock options, the assumed purchase of stock under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the assumed vesting of unearned performance shares.

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2019:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	2,287	1,748	$	1.31	$	2,977	2,279	(3)	$	1.31
Class B common stock	523		245	$	2.13	$	523	245		$	2.13
Class C common stock	61		12	$	5.23	$	61	12		$	5.23
Participating securities(4)	106		Not presented	Not presented		$	106	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	2,977

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2019:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	4,577	1,754	$	2.61	$	5,954	2,285	(3)	$	2.61
Class B common stock	1,044		245	$	4.25	$	1,043	245		$	4.25
Class C common stock	122		12	$	10.44	$	122	12		$	10.42
Participating securities(4)	211		Not presented	Not presented		$	211	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	5,954

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	2,007	1,798	$	1.12	$	2,605	2,337	(3)	$	1.11
Class B common stock	452		245	$	1.84	$	451	245		$	1.84
Class C common stock	55		12	$	4.46	$	55	12		$	4.46
Participating securities(4)	91		Not presented	Not presented		$	91	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	2,605

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2018:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	3,952	1,805	$	2.19	$	5,127	2,345	(3)	$	2.19
Class B common stock	886		245	$	3.61	$	885	245		$	3.60
Class C common stock	110		13	$	8.76	$	109	13		$	8.74
Participating securities(4)	179		Not presented	Not presented		$	178	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	5,127

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Earnings per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽²⁾  Net income is allocated based on proportional ownership on an as-converted basis. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class B common stock used in the income allocation was 400 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 405 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class C common stock used in the income allocation was 47 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 49 million and 50 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The weighted-average number of shares of preferred stock included within participating securities was 32 million of as-converted UK&I preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, and 44 million of as-converted Europe preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

⁽³⁾  Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are calculated on an as-converted basis and include incremental common stock equivalents, as calculated under the treasury stock method. The computation includes approximately 3 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 4 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been dilutive. The computation excludes 1 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 2 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

⁽⁴⁾  Participating securities include preferred stock outstanding and unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, such as the Company’s UK&I and Europe preferred stock, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and earned performance-based shares. Participating securities’ income is allocated based on the weighted-average number of shares of as-converted stock.

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Share-based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Share-based Compensation

Note 11—Share-based Compensation

The Company granted the following equity awards to employees and non-employee directors under the 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, or the EIP, during the six months ended March 31, 2019:

	Granted	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Non-qualified stock options	1,109,645	$	25.89	$	134.76
Restricted stock units (“RSUs”)	2,616,550	$	135.19
Performance-based shares(1)	540,538	$	153.42

⁽¹⁾   Represents the maximum number of performance-based shares which could be earned.

The Company’s non-qualified stock options and RSUs are equity awards with service-only conditions and are accordingly expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The Company’s performance-based shares are equity awards with service, market and performance conditions that are accounted for using the graded-vesting method. The Company recorded share-based compensation cost related to the EIP of $106 million and $201 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, respectively, and $82 million and $146 millionfor the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, net of estimated forfeitures, which are adjusted as appropriate.

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Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 12—Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 19% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 19% and 21% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2019 differs from the effective tax rate in the same prior-year period primarily due to the effects of U.S. tax reform legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), enacted on December 22, 2017, as discussed below:

• The Tax Act reduced the statutory federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. In fiscal 2018, the Company’s statutory federal corporate rate was a blended rate of 24.5%. Federal tax expense for the six months ended March 31, 2019 was determined at a 21% tax rate compared to the 24.5% tax rate in the prior-year period;

• The Tax Act enacted a new deduction for foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) and a new tax on global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”). Both FDII and GILTI became effective for the Company on October 1, 2018; and

• The absence of the following items recorded during the six months ended March 31, 2018:

▪ an $80 million benefit due to a non-recurring audit settlement during the three months ended March 31, 2018;

▪ a $1.1 billion non-recurring, non-cash benefit from the remeasurement of deferred tax balances recorded in the three months ended December 31, 2017, in connection with the reduction in U.S. federal tax rate enacted by the Tax Act; and

▪ a $1.1 billion one-time transition tax expense on certain untaxed foreign earnings recorded in the three months ended December 31, 2017, in connection with the requirement enacted by the Tax Act.

The Company previously recorded provisional amounts for the transition tax and the tax effects of various other tax provisions enacted by the Tax Act. As permitted by ASU 2018-05, the Company completed the determination of the accounting impacts of the transition tax and the tax effects of these various tax provisions in the three months ended December 31, 2018. The adjustments to the provisional amounts were not material. In addition, the Company adopted the accounting policy of accounting for taxes on GILTI in the period that it is subject to such tax.

During the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits increased by $108 million and $146 million, respectively. The Company's unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably impact the effective tax rate increased by $44 million and $83 million, respectively. The change in unrecognized tax benefits is primarily related to various tax positions across several jurisdictions. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no significant changes in interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

The Company’s tax filings are subject to examination by the U.S. federal, state and foreign taxing authorities. The timing and outcome of the final resolutions of the various ongoing income tax examinations are highly uncertain. It is not reasonably possible to estimate the increase or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

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Legal Matters

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Legal Matters [Abstract]

Legal Matters

Note 13—Legal Matters

The Company is party to various legal and regulatory proceedings. Some of these proceedings involve complex claims that are subject to substantial uncertainties and unascertainable damages. Accordingly, except as disclosed, the Company has not established reserves or ranges of possible loss related to these proceedings, as at this time in the proceedings, the matters do not relate to a probable loss and/or the amount or range of losses are not reasonably estimable. Although the Company believes that it has strong defenses for the litigation and regulatory proceedings described below, it could, in the future, incur judgments or fines or enter into settlements of claims that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. From time to time, the Company may engage in settlement discussions or mediations with respect to one or more of its outstanding litigation matters, either on its own behalf or collectively with other parties.

The litigation accrual is an estimate and is based on management’s understanding of its litigation profile, the specifics of each case, advice of counsel to the extent appropriate and management’s best estimate of incurred loss as of the balance sheet date.

The following table summarizes the activity related to accrued litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,434		$	982
Provision for uncovered legal matters	35			—
Provision for covered legal matters	159			1
Payments for legal matters	(714		)	(153		)
Balance at end of period	$	914		$	830

Accrual Summary—U.S. Covered Litigation

Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A. and Visa International are parties to certain legal proceedings that are covered by the U.S. retrospective responsibility plan, which the Company refers to as the U.S. covered litigation. See further discussion below under U.S. Covered Litigation and Note 4—U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans. An accrual for the U.S. covered litigation and a charge to the litigation provision are recorded when a loss is deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable. In making this determination, the Company evaluates available information, including but not limited to actions taken by the litigation committee. The total accrual related to the U.S. covered litigation could be either higher or lower than the escrow account balance.

The following table summarizes the activity related to U.S. covered litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,428		$	978
Payments for U.S. covered litigation	(600		)	(150		)
Balance at end of period	$	828		$	828

Accrual Summary—VE Territory Covered Litigation

Visa Inc., Visa International and Visa Europe are parties to certain legal proceedings that are covered by the Europe retrospective responsibility plan. Unlike the U.S. retrospective responsibility plan, the Europe retrospective responsibility plan does not have an escrow account that is used to fund settlements or judgments. The Company is entitled to recover VE territory covered losses through periodic adjustments to the conversion rates applicable to the UK&I preferred stock and Europe preferred stock. An accrual for the VE territory covered losses and a reduction to stockholders’ equity will be recorded when the loss is deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable. See further discussion below under VE Territory Covered Litigation and Note 4—U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans.

The following table summarizes the activity related to VE territory covered litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	—		$	1
Accrual for VE territory covered litigation	159			1
Payments for VE territory covered litigation	(98		)	(2		)
Balance at end of period	$	61		$	—

U.S. Covered Litigation

Interchange Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) – Putative Class Actions

On December 6, 2018, the district court held a hearing on the Damages Class plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval of the Amended Settlement Agreement, and on January 24, 2019, the district court granted preliminary approval.

Settlement discussions with plaintiffs purporting to act on behalf of the putative Injunctive Relief Class are ongoing. On January 16, 2019, the bank defendants moved to dismiss the claims brought against them by the Injunctive Relief Class, on the grounds that plaintiffs lack standing and fail to state a claim against the bank defendants.

VE Territory Covered Litigation

UK Merchant Litigation

Since July 2013, in excess of 450 Merchants (the capitalized term “Merchant,” when used in this section, means a merchant together with subsidiary/affiliate companies that are party to the same claim) have commenced proceedings against Visa Europe, Visa Inc. and Visa International relating to interchange rates in Europe, and in some cases relating to fees charged by Visa and certain Visa rules. As of the filing date, Visa Europe, Visa Inc. and Visa International have settled the claims asserted by over 100 Merchants, leaving more than 350 Merchants with outstanding claims. In addition, over 30 additional Merchants have threatened to commence similar proceedings. Standstill agreements have been entered into with respect to some of those threatened Merchant claims, several of which have been settled.

On November 29, 2018, Visa was granted permission to appeal aspects of the Court of Appeal’s judgment to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, including the question of whether Visa’s UK interchange restricted competition.

Other Litigation

European Commission Proceedings

Inter-regional Interchange Investigation. On December 4, 2018, the European Commission (EC) announced formal public consultation (known as “market testing”) of commitments proposed by Visa pursuant to Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 in order for the EC to conclude its investigation. Subject to market testing, the EC intends to adopt a decision declaring the commitments to be binding on Visa and concluding that there are no longer grounds for action by the EC and without any finding of infringement of the law by Visa. If accepted by the EC, the proposed commitments require Visa to cap its inter-regional multilateral interchange rates at 1.50% credit and 1.15% debit for “Card-Not-Present” transactions and 0.30% credit and 0.20% debit for “Card Present” transactions on consumer debit and credit cards issued outside of the European Economic Area when used at merchants located inside of the European Economic Area. The commitments would last for a period of five years following implementation. No fine will be imposed against Visa, and the commitments are proposed without prejudice to Visa’s position that its conduct did not infringe any law. The EC’s market testing was completed in January 2019, and the EC is expected to decide whether to formally adopt the proposed commitments in the first half of calendar year 2019.

Canadian Merchant Litigation

Wal-Mart Canada and/or Home Depot of Canada Inc. have filed notices of appeal of the British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Alberta decisions approving the settlements.

EMV Chip Liability Shift

Plaintiffs filed a renewed motion for class certification on July 16, 2018, following an earlier denial of the motion without prejudice. Plaintiffs’ renewed motion was terminated without prejudice to reinstatement on October 17, 2018, but was subsequently reinstated and is currently pending.

Kroger

The litigation was stayed until February 2, 2019. Visa and Kroger have reached an agreement in principle to resolve this lawsuit.

Nuts for Candy

On October 18, 2018, the court stayed the Nuts for Candy case pending the district court’s decision on preliminary approval of the Amended Settlement Agreement discussed above under Interchange Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) – Putative Class Actions, and pending final approval of that agreement if preliminary approval is granted. Preliminary approval was granted on January 24, 2019, which extended the stay in the Nuts for Candy case pending final approval of the Amended Settlement Agreement.

Ohio Attorney General Civil Investigative Demand

On January 8, 2019, the State of Ohio Office of the Attorney General informed Visa that the investigation has been terminated.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation and basis of presentation

Consolidation and basis of presentation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Visa and its consolidated entities and are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company consolidates its majority-owned and controlled entities, including variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company’s investments in VIEs have not been material to its consolidated financial statements as of and for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirements for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the annual disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. Reference should be made to the Visa Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of goods or services to customers. This new revenue standard replaces all existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Subsequently, the FASB also issued a series of amendments to the new revenue standard. The new revenue standard changes the classification and timing of recognition of certain client incentives and marketing-related funds paid to customers, as well as revenues and expenses for market development funds and services provided to customers as an incentive. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method applied to the aggregate of all modifications for contracts not completed as of October 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after October 1, 2018 are presented under the new revenue standard. The comparative prior period amounts appearing on the financial statements have not been restated and continue to be reported under the prior revenue standard. See Note 2—Revenues for the impact of the new revenue standard on the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019.

The following table summarizes the cumulative transition adjustments for the adoption of the new revenue standard recorded on the October 1, 2018 consolidated balance sheet to reflect the aggregate impact to all contracts not completed as of October 1, 2018:

	Fiscal Year 2018 Closing Balance Sheet		Cumulative Transition Adjustment for New Revenue Standard		Fiscal Year 2019 Opening Balance Sheet
	(in millions)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	$	340	$	199	$	539
Client incentives	538		614		1,152
Liabilities
Client incentives	2,834		241		3,075
Accrued liabilities	1,160		6		1,166
Deferred tax liabilities	4,618		108		4,726
Other liabilities	2,666		58		2,724
Equity
Accumulated income	11,318		400		11,718

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, which amends certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments, including the requirement to measure certain equity investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method for marketable equity securities and the prospective method for non-marketable equity securities. The Company has elected to use the measurement alternative for non-marketable equity securities, defined as cost adjusted for changes from observable transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, less impairment. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. Subsequently, the FASB also issued a series of amendments to this new lease standard that address the transition methods available and clarify the guidance for lessor costs and other aspects of the new lease standard. The Company will adopt the standard effective October 1, 2019 and expects to adopt using the modified retrospective transition method without restating comparative periods. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, which requires that entities recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, which requires that a statement of cash flows includes the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption impacted the presentation of transactions related to the U.S. litigation escrow account and customer collateral on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The prior period statement of cash flows have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the impact of this ASU, which had no impact on the Company’s balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of comprehensive income for any period.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, which requires that the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost be presented in the same line item as other employee compensation costs, while the other components be presented separately as non-operating income (expense). In addition, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization, when applicable. Retrospective application is required for the change in income statement presentation while the change in capitalized benefit cost is required to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost is presented in personnel expenses while the other components are presented in other non-operating expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company did not apply the standard retrospectively for the change in income statement presentation as the impact would have been immaterial.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, which amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, which improves the financial reporting of hedging instruments to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. Visa early adopted the standard effective January 1, 2019, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The Company adopted the standard effective October 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 which changed the Company’s accounting for marketable equity securities. Beginning on October 1, 2018, unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value of marketable equity securities are recognized in non-operating income (expense).

Derivatives Policy

Gains and losses related to changes in fair value hedges are recognized in non-operating income (expense) along with a corresponding loss or gain related to the change in value of the underlying hedged item in the same line in the consolidated statement of operations. The effective portions of net investment hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income. Amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing of net investment hedges are recognized in non-operating income (expense). Cash flows associated with derivatives designated as a fair value hedge may be included in operating, investing or financing activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows, depending on the classification of the items being hedged. Cash flows associated with financial instruments designated as net investment hedges are classified as an investing activity.

Investment Policy

the Company’s policy is to adjust the carrying value of its non-marketable equity securities to fair value when transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer are observable in the market. All gains and losses on non-marketable equity securities, realized and unrealized, are recognized in non-operating income (expense).

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Effect from Adoption of New Revenue Standard

The following table summarizes the cumulative transition adjustments for the adoption of the new revenue standard recorded on the October 1, 2018 consolidated balance sheet to reflect the aggregate impact to all contracts not completed as of October 1, 2018:

	Fiscal Year 2018 Closing Balance Sheet		Cumulative Transition Adjustment for New Revenue Standard		Fiscal Year 2019 Opening Balance Sheet
	(in millions)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	$	340	$	199	$	539
Client incentives	538		614		1,152
Liabilities
Client incentives	2,834		241		3,075
Accrued liabilities	1,160		6		1,166
Deferred tax liabilities	4,618		108		4,726
Other liabilities	2,666		58		2,724
Equity
Accumulated income	11,318		400		11,718

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Revenues (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Impact of Adoption of New Revenue Standard

The following tables summarize the impact of the new revenue standard on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019:

	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019							For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2019
	As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard		As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
	(in millions)
Net revenues	$	5,494	$	(39	)	$	5,455	$	11,000	$	(91	)	$	10,909
Operating Expenses
Marketing	241		(39		)	202		517		(69		)	448
Professional fees	101		(3		)	98		192		(6		)	186
General and administrative	264		(7		)	257		540		(10		)	530
Total operating expenses	1,853		(49		)	1,804		3,642		(85		)	3,557
Operating income	3,641		10			3,651		7,358		(6		)	7,352
Income before income taxes	3,677		10			3,687		7,307		(6		)	7,301
Income tax provision	700		2			702		1,353		1			1,354
Net income	2,977		8			2,985		5,954		(7		)	5,947

	March 31, 2019
	As Reported		Impact of the New Revenue Standard			Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
	(in millions)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	$	589	$	(262	)	$	327
Client incentives	1,664		(725		)	939
Liabilities
Accounts payable	119		13			132
Client incentives	3,484		(401		)	3,083
Accrued liabilities	1,207		(8		)	1,199
Deferred tax liabilities	4,911		(105		)	4,806
Other liabilities	2,669		(79		)	2,590
Equity
Accumulated income	12,513		(407		)	12,106

Disaggregation of Revenue

Disaggregation of Revenues

The nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the Company’s revenues and cash flows and how they are affected by economic factors are most appropriately depicted through the Company’s revenue categories and geographical markets. The following tables disaggregate the Company’s net revenues by revenue category and by geography for the three and six months endedMarch 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service revenues	$	2,417		$	2,253		$	4,759		$	4,399
Data processing revenues	2,432			2,127			4,902			4,274
International transaction revenues	1,796			1,752			3,647			3,418
Other revenues	327			230			626			459
Client incentives	(1,478		)	(1,289		)	(2,934		)	(2,615		)
Net revenues	$	5,494		$	5,073		$	11,000		$	9,935

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in millions)
U.S.	$	2,479	$	2,297	$	4,987	$	4,562
International	3,015		2,776		6,013		5,373
Net revenues	$	5,494	$	5,073	$	11,000	$	9,935

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Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalent (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company reconciles cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents reported in the consolidated balance sheets that aggregate to the beginning and ending balances shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows as follows:

	March 31,				September 30,
	2019		2018		2018		2017
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,648	$	8,142	$	8,162	$	9,874
Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents:
U.S. litigation escrow	899		884		1,491		1,031
Customer collateral	1,735		1,250		1,324		1,106
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents	$	10,282	$	10,276	$	10,977	$	12,011

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U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Retrospective Responsibility Plan [Abstract]

Schedule of Activities Related to Territory Covered Losses and Right to Recover for Covered Losses

The following table sets forth the activities related to VE territory covered losses in preferred stock and “right to recover for covered losses” within equity during the six months ended March 31, 2019. VE territory covered losses incurred reflect settlements with merchants and additional legal costs. See Note 13—Legal Matters.

	Preferred Stock						Right to Recover for Covered Losses
	UK&I			Europe
	(in millions)
Balance as of September 30, 2018	$	2,291		$	3,179		$	(7	)
VE territory covered losses incurred	—			—			(162		)
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment	(5		)	(1		)	6
Balance as of March 31, 2019	$	2,286		$	3,178		$	(163	)

Schedule of As-converted and Book Value of Preferred Stock Available to Recover Europe Covered Losses

The following table⁽¹⁾ sets forth the as-converted value of the preferred stock available to recover VE territory covered losses compared to the book value of preferred shares recorded in stockholders’ equity within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018:

	March 31, 2019						September 30, 2018
	As-Converted Value of Preferred Stock(2)			Book Value of Preferred Stock			As-Converted Value of Preferred Stock(3)			Book Value of Preferred Stock
	(in millions)
UK&I preferred stock	$	5,013		$	2,286		$	4,823		$	2,291
Europe preferred stock	6,847			3,178			6,580			3,179
Total	11,860			5,464			11,403			5,470
Less: right to recover for covered losses	(163		)	(163		)	(7		)	(7		)
Total recovery for covered losses available	$	11,697		$	5,301		$	11,396		$	5,463

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. As-converted and book values are based on unrounded numbers.

⁽²⁾  The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of March 31, 2019; (b) 12.939 and 13.886, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of March 31, 2019, respectively; and (c) $156.19, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of March 31, 2019.

⁽³⁾  The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of September 30, 2018; (b) 12.955 and 13.888, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of September 30, 2018, respectively; and (c) $150.09, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of September 30, 2018.

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Fair Value Measurements and Investments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

	Fair Value Measurements Using Inputs Considered as
	Level 1				Level 2
	March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018		March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	6,089	$	6,252
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					$	200	$	1,048
Investment securities:
Marketable equity securities	157		113
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					5,482		5,008
U.S. Treasury securities	1,743		2,508
Other current and non-current assets:
Derivative instruments					166		78
Total	$	7,989	$	8,873	$	5,848	$	6,134
Liabilities
Accrued and other liabilities:
Derivative instruments					$	44	$	22
Total	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	22

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Debt (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Debt

The Company had outstanding debt as follows:

	March 31, 2019			September 30, 2018			Effective Interest Rate
	(in millions, except percentages)
2.20% Senior Notes due December 2020	$	3,000		$	3,000		2.30	%
2.15% Senior Notes due September 2022	1,000			1,000			2.30	%
2.80% Senior Notes due December 2022	2,250			2,250			2.89	%
3.15% Senior Notes due December 2025	4,000			4,000			3.26	%
2.75% Senior Notes due September 2027	750			750			2.91	%
4.15% Senior Notes due December 2035	1,500			1,500			4.23	%
4.30% Senior Notes due December 2045	3,500			3,500			4.37	%
3.65% Senior Notes due September 2047	750			750			3.73	%
Total senior notes	16,750			16,750
Unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs	(114		)	(120		)
Hedge accounting fair value adjustments	(6		)	—
Total long-term debt	$	16,630		$	16,630

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Settlement Guarantee Management (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Settlement Guarantee Management [Abstract]

Schedule of Customer Collateral

The Company maintains and regularly reviews global settlement risk policies and procedures to manage settlement exposure, which may require clients to post collateral if certain credit standards are not met. At March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Company held collateral as follows:

	March 31, 2019		September 30, 2018
	(in millions)
Cash equivalents	$	1,735	$	1,708
Pledged securities at market value	307		192
Letters of credit	1,337		1,382
Guarantees	574		860
Total	$	3,953	$	4,142

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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Schedule of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

	Pension Benefits
	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	1		$	1
Interest cost	8			8			4			3
Expected return on plan assets	(18		)	(18		)	(5		)	(5		)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	(10	)	$	(10	)	$	—		$	(1	)

	Pension Benefits
	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	Six Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	2		$	2
Interest cost	16			16			7			6
Expected return on plan assets	(36		)	(35		)	(9		)	(10		)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	(20	)	$	(19	)	$	—		$	(2	)

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Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock by Class

As-converted class A common stock. The following table⁽¹⁾ presents number of shares of each series and class and the number of shares of class A common stock on an as-converted basis:

	March 31, 2019					September 30, 2018
	Shares Outstanding	Conversion Rate Into  Class A Common Stock		As-converted Class A Common Stock(2)		Shares Outstanding	Conversion Rate Into Class A Common Stock		As-converted Class A Common Stock(2)
	(in millions, except conversion rates)
UK&I preferred stock	2	12.9390		32	(3)	2	12.9550		32	(3)
Europe preferred stock	3	13.8860		44	(3)	3	13.8880		44	(3)
Class A common stock(4)	1,741	—		1,741		1,768	—		1,768
Class B common stock	245	1.6298	(5)	400		245	1.6298	(5)	400
Class C common stock	12	4.0000		46		12	4.0000		47
Total				2,263					2,291

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding.

⁽²⁾  As-converted class A common stock is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽³⁾  The reduction in equivalent number of shares of class A common stock was less than one million shares during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

⁽⁴⁾  Class A common stock shares outstanding reflect repurchases settled on or before March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018.

⁽⁵⁾  The class B to class A common stock conversion rate is presented on a rounded basis. Conversion calculations for dividend payments are based on a conversion rate rounded to the tenth decimal.

Effect of VE Territory Covered Losses Recovery on the Company Repurchasing its Common Stock

The following table presents effective price per share and recovery of VE territory covered losses through conversion rate adjustments:

	Six Months Ended March 31, 2019				Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2018
	Preferred Stock
	UK&I		Europe		UK&I		Europe
	(in millions, except per share data)
Effective price per share(1)	$	137.19	$	137.19	$	113.05	$	112.92
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment	$	5	$	1	$	35	$	21

⁽¹⁾  Effective price per share for the quarter is calculated using the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s class A common stock over a pricing period in accordance with the Company’s current certificates of designations for its series B and C convertible participating preferred stock. Effective price per share for the fiscal year is calculated using the weighted-average effective prices of the respective adjustments made during the year.

Share Repurchase Program Disclosure

Common stock repurchases. The following table⁽¹⁾ presents share repurchases in the open market for the following periods:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
	(in millions, except per share data)
Shares repurchased in the open market(2)	14		17		31		33
Average repurchase price per share(3)	$	144.94	$	120.26	$	141.08	$	115.41
Total cost	$	1,938	$	2,072	$	4,331	$	3,850

⁽¹⁾   Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Shares repurchased in the open market reflect repurchases settled during the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. These amounts include repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before September 30, 2018 and 2017 for six months, respectively, and December 31, 2018 and 2017 for three months, respectively. Also, these amounts exclude repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

⁽²⁾  All shares repurchased in the open market have been retired and constitute authorized but unissued shares.

⁽³⁾  Average repurchase price per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

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Earnings Per Share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2019:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	2,287	1,748	$	1.31	$	2,977	2,279	(3)	$	1.31
Class B common stock	523		245	$	2.13	$	523	245		$	2.13
Class C common stock	61		12	$	5.23	$	61	12		$	5.23
Participating securities(4)	106		Not presented	Not presented		$	106	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	2,977

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2019:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	4,577	1,754	$	2.61	$	5,954	2,285	(3)	$	2.61
Class B common stock	1,044		245	$	4.25	$	1,043	245		$	4.25
Class C common stock	122		12	$	10.44	$	122	12		$	10.42
Participating securities(4)	211		Not presented	Not presented		$	211	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	5,954

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	2,007	1,798	$	1.12	$	2,605	2,337	(3)	$	1.11
Class B common stock	452		245	$	1.84	$	451	245		$	1.84
Class C common stock	55		12	$	4.46	$	55	12		$	4.46
Participating securities(4)	91		Not presented	Not presented		$	91	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	2,605

The following table⁽¹⁾ presents earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2018:

	Basic Earnings Per Share					Diluted Earnings Per Share
	(in millions, except per share data)
	Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)	Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)		Income Allocation (A)(2)		Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding (B)		Earnings per Share = (A)/(B)
Class A common stock	$	3,952	1,805	$	2.19	$	5,127	2,345	(3)	$	2.19
Class B common stock	886		245	$	3.61	$	885	245		$	3.60
Class C common stock	110		13	$	8.76	$	109	13		$	8.74
Participating securities(4)	179		Not presented	Not presented		$	178	Not presented		Not presented
Net income	$	5,127

⁽¹⁾  Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Earnings per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

⁽²⁾  Net income is allocated based on proportional ownership on an as-converted basis. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class B common stock used in the income allocation was 400 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 405 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class C common stock used in the income allocation was 47 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 49 million and 50 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The weighted-average number of shares of preferred stock included within participating securities was 32 million of as-converted UK&I preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, and 44 million of as-converted Europe preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

⁽³⁾  Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are calculated on an as-converted basis and include incremental common stock equivalents, as calculated under the treasury stock method. The computation includes approximately 3 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 4 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been dilutive. The computation excludes 1 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 2 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

⁽⁴⁾  Participating securities include preferred stock outstanding and unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, such as the Company’s UK&I and Europe preferred stock, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and earned performance-based shares. Participating securities’ income is allocated based on the weighted-average number of shares of as-converted stock.

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Share-based Compensation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award

The Company granted the following equity awards to employees and non-employee directors under the 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, or the EIP, during the six months ended March 31, 2019:

	Granted	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Non-qualified stock options	1,109,645	$	25.89	$	134.76
Restricted stock units (“RSUs”)	2,616,550	$	135.19
Performance-based shares(1)	540,538	$	153.42

⁽¹⁾   Represents the maximum number of performance-based shares which could be earned.

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Legal Matters (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Loss Contingencies [Line Items]

Schedule of Loss Contingencies by Contingency

The following table summarizes the activity related to accrued litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,434		$	982
Provision for uncovered legal matters	35			—
Provision for covered legal matters	159			1
Payments for legal matters	(714		)	(153		)
Balance at end of period	$	914		$	830

U.S. Covered Litigation

Loss Contingencies [Line Items]

Schedule of Loss Contingencies by Contingency

The following table summarizes the activity related to U.S. covered litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,428		$	978
Payments for U.S. covered litigation	(600		)	(150		)
Balance at end of period	$	828		$	828

VE Territory Covered Litigation

Loss Contingencies [Line Items]

Schedule of Loss Contingencies by Contingency

The following table summarizes the activity related to VE territory covered litigation:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	—		$	1
Accrual for VE territory covered litigation	159			1
Payments for VE territory covered litigation	(98		)	(2		)
Balance at end of period	$	61		$	—

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	Mar. 31, 2019 country
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of countries in which entity operates (more than)	200

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Adoption of 606) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Oct. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Current portion of client incentives	$ 589		$ 340
Client incentives	1,664		538
Client incentives	3,484		2,834
Accrued liabilities	1,207		1,160
Deferred tax liabilities	4,911		4,618
Other liabilities	2,669		2,666
Accumulated income	12,513		$ 11,318
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Current portion of client incentives		$ 539
Client incentives		1,152
Client incentives		3,075
Accrued liabilities		1,166
Deferred tax liabilities		4,726
Other liabilities		2,724
Accumulated income		11,718
Impact of the New Revenue Standard | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Current portion of client incentives	(262)	199
Client incentives	(725)	614
Client incentives	(401)	241
Accrued liabilities	(8)	6
Deferred tax liabilities	(105)	108
Other liabilities	(79)	58
Accumulated income	(407)	$ 400
Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Current portion of client incentives	327
Client incentives	939
Client incentives	3,083
Accrued liabilities	1,199
Deferred tax liabilities	4,806
Other liabilities	2,590
Accumulated income	$ 12,106

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Revenues Adoption of New Revenue Standard (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Oct. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 5,494	$ 5,073	$ 11,000	$ 9,935
Operating Expenses
Marketing	241	261	517	484
Professional fees	101	108	192	200
General and administrative	264	222	540	458
Total operating expenses	1,853	1,737	3,642	3,272
Operating income	3,641	3,336	7,358	6,663
Income before income taxes	3,677	3,217	7,307	6,456
Income tax provision	700	612	1,353	1,329
Net income	2,977	$ 2,605	5,954	$ 5,127
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	589		589			$ 340
Client incentives	1,664		1,664			538
Liabilities
Accounts payable	119		119			183
Client incentives	3,484		3,484			2,834
Accrued liabilities	1,207		1,207			1,160
Deferred tax liabilities	4,911		4,911			4,618
Other liabilities	2,669		2,669			2,666
Equity
Accumulated income	12,513		12,513			$ 11,318
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets
Current portion of client incentives					$ 539
Client incentives					1,152
Liabilities
Client incentives					3,075
Accrued liabilities					1,166
Deferred tax liabilities					4,726
Other liabilities					2,724
Equity
Accumulated income					11,718
Impact of the New Revenue Standard | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net revenues	(39)		(91)
Operating Expenses
Marketing	(39)		(69)
Professional fees	(3)		(6)
General and administrative	(7)		(10)
Total operating expenses	(49)		(85)
Operating income	10		(6)
Income before income taxes	10		(6)
Income tax provision	2		1
Net income	8		(7)
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	(262)		(262)		199
Client incentives	(725)		(725)		614
Liabilities
Accounts payable	13		13
Client incentives	(401)		(401)		241
Accrued liabilities	(8)		(8)		6
Deferred tax liabilities	(105)		(105)		108
Other liabilities	(79)		(79)		58
Equity
Accumulated income	(407)		(407)		$ 400
Results Under Prior Revenue Standard
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net revenues	5,455		10,909
Operating Expenses
Marketing	202		448
Professional fees	98		186
General and administrative	257		530
Total operating expenses	1,804		3,557
Operating income	3,651		7,352
Income before income taxes	3,687		7,301
Income tax provision	702		1,354
Net income	2,985		5,947
Assets
Current portion of client incentives	327		327
Client incentives	939		939
Liabilities
Accounts payable	132		132
Client incentives	3,083		3,083
Accrued liabilities	1,199		1,199
Deferred tax liabilities	4,806		4,806
Other liabilities	2,590		2,590
Equity
Accumulated income	$ 12,106		$ 12,106

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Revenues Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 5,494	$ 5,073	$ 11,000	$ 9,935
U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	2,479	2,297	4,987	4,562
International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	3,015	2,776	6,013	5,373
Service revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	2,417	2,253	4,759	4,399
Data processing revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	2,432	2,127	4,902	4,274
International transaction revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	1,796	1,752	3,647	3,418
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	327	230	626	459
Client incentives
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ (1,478)	$ (1,289)	$ (2,934)	$ (2,615)

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Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalent (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,648	$ 8,162	$ 8,142	$ 9,874
U.S. litigation escrow	899	1,491	884	1,031
Customer collateral	1,735	1,324	1,250	1,106
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 10,282	$ 10,977	$ 10,276	$ 12,011

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U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
U.S. litigation escrow	$ 899	$ 1,491	$ 884	$ 1,031
Deposits To Litigation Escrow Account	$ 600

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U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans - Preferred Stock Rollforward (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Class of Stock [Line Items]
VE territory covered loss, maximum amount of loss to allow adjustment of conversion rate during six-month period | €		€ 20
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					$ 0	$ 0
Preferred Stock and Right to Recover for Covered Losses [Roll Forward]
Preferred stock, beginning	[1]				5,470
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					0	0
Preferred stock, ending	[1]		$ 5,464		5,464		$ 5,470
Right to recover for covered losses, beginning	[1]				7
VE territory covered losses incurred			71	$ 1	162	4
Right to recover for covered losses, ending	[1]		$ 163		163		7
U.K.& I preferred stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					$ (5)		$ (35)
Preferred stock, conversion ratio		12.9390	12.9390		12.9390		12.9550
Preferred Stock and Right to Recover for Covered Losses [Roll Forward]
Preferred stock, beginning	[1]				$ 2,291
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					(5)		$ (35)
Preferred stock, ending	[1]		$ 2,286		2,286		2,291
VE territory covered losses incurred					0
Europe preferred stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					$ (1)		$ (21)
Preferred stock, conversion ratio		13.8860	13.8860		13.8860		13.8880
Preferred Stock and Right to Recover for Covered Losses [Roll Forward]
Preferred stock, beginning	[1]				$ 3,179
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					(1)		$ (21)
Preferred stock, ending	[1]		$ 3,178		3,178		$ 3,179
VE territory covered losses incurred					0
Right to Recover for Covered Losses
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					(6)	(50)
Preferred Stock and Right to Recover for Covered Losses [Roll Forward]
Recovery through conversion rate adjustment					(6)	(50)
VE territory covered losses incurred			$ 71	$ 1	$ 162	$ 4

[1] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. As-converted and book values are based on unrounded numbers.

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U.S. and Europe Retrospective Responsibility Plans - Preferred Stock (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares		Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery Through Conversion Rate Adjustment		$ 0		$ 0
As-converted value of preferred stock	[1]	11,860	[2]		$ 11,403	[3]
Book Value of Preferred stock	[1]	5,464			5,470
Right to recover for covered losses	[1]	(163)			(7)
Total recovery for covered losses available, as converted	[1]	11,697			11,396
Total recovery for covered losses available, book value	[1]	$ 5,301			$ 5,463
Share Price | $ / shares		$ 156.19			$ 150.09
U.K.& I preferred stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery Through Conversion Rate Adjustment		$ (5)			$ (35)
As-converted value of preferred stock	[1]	5,013	[2]		4,823	[3]
Book Value of Preferred stock	[1]	$ 2,286			$ 2,291
Preferred stock, shares outstanding | shares	[4]	2			2
Preferred stock, conversion ratio		12.9390			12.9550
Europe preferred stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery Through Conversion Rate Adjustment		$ (1)			$ (21)
As-converted value of preferred stock	[1]	6,847	[2]		6,580	[3]
Book Value of Preferred stock	[1]	$ 3,178			$ 3,179
Preferred stock, shares outstanding | shares	[4]	3			3
Preferred stock, conversion ratio		13.8860			13.8880
Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery Through Conversion Rate Adjustment		$ 6		$ 50

[1] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. As-converted and book values are based on unrounded numbers.

[2] The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of March 31, 2019; (b) 12.939 and 13.886, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of March 31, 2019, respectively; and (c) $156.19, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of March 31, 2019.

[3] The as-converted value of preferred stock is calculated as the product of: (a) 2 million and 3 million shares of the UK&I and Europe preferred stock outstanding, respectively, as of September 30, 2018; (b) 12.955 and 13.888, the class A common stock conversion rate applicable to the UK&I and Europe preferred stock as of September 30, 2018, respectively; and (c) $150.09, Visa’s class A common stock closing stock price as of September 30, 2018.

[4] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding.

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Assets
Investment securities, available-for-sale:	$ 7,200	$ 7,500
Liabilities
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Assets
Total	7,989	8,873
Liabilities
Total	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Assets
Total	5,848	6,134
Liabilities
Total	44	22
Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents: | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Money market funds
Assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents:	6,089	6,252
Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents: | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. government-sponsored debt securities
Assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents:	200	1,048
Investment securities: | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Marketable equity securities
Assets
Marketable equity securities	157	113
Investment securities: | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | U.S. Treasury securities
Assets
Investment securities, available-for-sale:	1,743	2,508
Investment securities: | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. government-sponsored debt securities
Assets
Investment securities, available-for-sale:	5,482	5,008
Other current and non-current assets: | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Derivative instruments
Assets
Derivative Asset	166	78
Derivative instruments | Accrued and other liabilities: | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Liabilities
Accrued Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 44	$ 22

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Fair Value Measurements and Investments - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	$ 7,200,000,000	$ 7,200,000,000	$ 7,500,000,000
Non-marketable equity investments	438,000,000	438,000,000	137,000,000
Equity Securities without Readily Determinable Fair Value, Upward Price Adjustment, Annual Amount	66,000,000	66,000,000
Equity Securities without Readily Determinable Fair Value, Downward Price Adjustment, Annual Amount	0	0
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Cost Method Investments, and Other Investments	15,000,000	15,000,000
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Unrealized Gain (Loss)	79,000,000	59,000,000
Long-term Debt	16,630,000,000	$ 16,630,000,000	16,630,000,000
Minimum
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale investment securities, stated maturities		1 year
Maximum
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale investment securities, stated maturities		5 years
Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	16,600,000,000	$ 16,600,000,000	16,600,000,000
Estimated Fair Value | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 17,300,000,000	$ 17,300,000,000	$ 16,600,000,000

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Debt - Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 16,630	$ 16,630
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium) and Debt Issuance Costs, Net	(114)	(120)
Hedged Liability, Fair Value Hedge, Cumulative Increase (Decrease)	(6)	0
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	16,750	16,750
Long-term Debt	16,600	16,600
Senior Notes | 2020 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 3,000	3,000
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	2.30%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.20%
Senior Notes | September 2022 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 1,000	1,000
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	2.30%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.15%
Senior Notes | December 2022 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 2,250	2,250
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	2.89%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.80%
Senior Notes | 2025 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 4,000	4,000
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	3.26%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.15%
Senior Notes | 2027 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 750	750
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	2.91%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.75%
Senior Notes | 2035 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 1,500	1,500
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	4.23%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.15%
Senior Notes | 2045 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 3,500	3,500
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	4.37%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.30%
Senior Notes | 2047 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount, noncurrent	$ 750	$ 750
Effective Interest Rate (percent)	3.73%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.65%

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Debt - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 119	$ 137	$ 245	$ 275

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Settlement Guarantee Management Settlement Guarantee Management - Additional Information (Details) $ in Billions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Settlement Guarantee Management [Abstract]
Maximum Settlement Exposure	$ 92.0
Average Daily Settlement Exposure	$ 55.3

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Collateral (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Settlement Guarantee Management [Abstract]
Cash equivalents	$ 1,735	$ 1,708
Pledged securities at market value	307	192
Letters of credit	1,337	1,382
Guarantees	574	860
Total	$ 3,953	$ 4,142

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Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) - Pension Benefits - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
U.S.
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Interest cost	8	8	16	16
Expected return on plan assets	(18)	(18)	(36)	(35)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	(10)	(10)	(20)	(19)
Non-U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	1	1	2	2
Interest cost	4	3	7	6
Expected return on plan assets	(5)	(5)	(9)	(10)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$ 0	$ (1)	$ 0	$ (2)

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Stockholders' Equity - Number of Shares of Class A Common Shares Outstanding on an As-Converted Basis (Detail) shares in Millions		Mar. 31, 2019 shares	Sep. 30, 2018 shares
Schedule of Common Stock as Converted [Line Items]
As-converted Class A Common Stock	[1],[2]	2,263	2,291
U.K.& I preferred stock
Schedule of Common Stock as Converted [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	[2]	2	2
Preferred stock, conversion rate into Class A Common Stock		12.9390	12.9550
As-converted Class A Common Stock	[1],[2],[3]	32	32
Europe preferred stock
Schedule of Common Stock as Converted [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	[2]	3	3
Preferred stock, conversion rate into Class A Common Stock		13.8860	13.8880
As-converted Class A Common Stock	[1],[2],[3]	44	44
Class A common stock
Schedule of Common Stock as Converted [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding	[2],[4]	1,741	1,768
As-converted Class A Common Stock	[1],[2],[4]	1,741	1,768
Class B common stock
Schedule of Common Stock as Converted [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding	[2]	245	245
Common stock, conversion rate	[5]	1.6298	1.6298
As-converted Class A Common Stock	[1],[2]	400	400
Class C common stock
Schedule of Common Stock as Converted [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding	[2]	12	12
Common stock, conversion rate		4.0000	4.0000
As-converted Class A Common Stock	[1],[2]	46	47

[1] As-converted class A common stock is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

[2] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding.

[3] The reduction in equivalent number of shares of class A common stock was less than one million shares during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

[4] Class A common stock shares outstanding reflect repurchases settled on or before March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018.

[5] The class B to class A common stock conversion rate is presented on a rounded basis. Conversion calculations for dividend payments are based on a conversion rate rounded to the tenth decimal.

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Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 16, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount						$ 8,500
Stock Repurchase Remaining Authorized Amount	$ 8,400		$ 8,400
Cash dividends declared and paid, at a quarterly amount per Class A share	$ 569	$ 490	$ 1,141	$ 948
Subsequent Event | Class A common stock
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Dividends Payable, Amount Per Share					$ 0.25

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Stockholders' Equity Effect of VE Territory Covered Losses Through Coversion Rate Adjustments (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Recovery Through Conversion Rate Adjustment		$ 0	$ 0
U.K.& I preferred stock
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Effective price per share (in USD per share)	[1]	$ 137.19		$ 113.05
Recovery Through Conversion Rate Adjustment		$ 5		$ 35
Europe preferred stock
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Effective price per share (in USD per share)	[1]	$ 137.19		$ 112.92
Recovery Through Conversion Rate Adjustment		$ 1		$ 21

[1] Effective price per share for the quarter is calculated using the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s class A common stock over a pricing period in accordance with the Company’s current certificates of designations for its series B and C convertible participating preferred stock. Effective price per share for the fiscal year is calculated using the weighted-average effective prices of the respective adjustments made during the year.

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Stockholders' Equity - Share Repurchases in the Open Market (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Total cost		$ 1,938	$ 2,072	$ 4,331	$ 3,850
Class A common stock
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Shares repurchased in the open market	[1],[2]	14	17	31	33
Average repurchase price per share	[2],[3]	$ 144.94	$ 120.26	$ 141.08	$ 115.41
Total cost	[2]	$ 1,938	$ 2,072	$ 4,331	$ 3,850

[1] All shares repurchased in the open market have been retired and constitute authorized but unissued shares.

[2] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Shares repurchased in the open market reflect repurchases settled during the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. These amounts include repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before September 30, 2018 and 2017 for six months, respectively, and December 31, 2018 and 2017 for three months, respectively. Also, these amounts exclude repurchases traded but not yet settled on or before March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[3] Average repurchase price per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

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Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Net income		$ 2,977	$ 2,605	$ 5,954	$ 5,127
Class A common stock
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Income Allocation - Basic	[1]	$ 2,287	$ 2,007	$ 4,577	$ 3,952
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding - Basic		1,748	1,798	1,754	1,805
Earnings per Share - Basic	[2]	$ 1.31	$ 1.12	$ 2.61	$ 2.19
Income Allocation - Diluted	[1]	$ 2,977	$ 2,605	$ 5,954	$ 5,127
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted	[3]	2,279	2,337	2,285	2,345
Earnings per Share - Diluted	[2]	$ 1.31	$ 1.11	$ 2.61	$ 2.19
Class B common stock
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Income Allocation - Basic	[1]	$ 523	$ 452	$ 1,044	$ 886
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding - Basic		245	245	245	245
Earnings per Share - Basic	[2]	$ 2.13	$ 1.84	$ 4.25	$ 3.61
Income Allocation - Diluted	[1]	$ 523	$ 451	$ 1,043	$ 885
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted		245	245	245	245
Earnings per Share - Diluted	[2]	$ 2.13	$ 1.84	$ 4.25	$ 3.60
Class C common stock
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Income Allocation - Basic	[1]	$ 61	$ 55	$ 122	$ 110
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding - Basic		12	12	12	13
Earnings per Share - Basic	[2]	$ 5.23	$ 4.46	$ 10.44	$ 8.76
Income Allocation - Diluted	[1]	$ 61	$ 55	$ 122	$ 109
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted		12	12	12	13
Earnings per Share - Diluted	[2]	$ 5.23	$ 4.46	$ 10.42	$ 8.74
Participating securities
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Income Allocation - Basic	[1],[4]	$ 106	$ 91	$ 211	$ 179
Income Allocation - Diluted	[1],[4]	$ 106	$ 91	$ 211	$ 178

[1] Net income is allocated based on proportional ownership on an as-converted basis. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class B common stock used in the income allocation was 400 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 405 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018. The weighted-average number of shares of as-converted class C common stock used in the income allocation was 47 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 49 million and 50 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The weighted-average number of shares of preferred stock included within participating securities was 32 million of as-converted UK&I preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, and 44 million of as-converted Europe preferred stock for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

[2] Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Earnings per share is calculated based on unrounded numbers.

[3] Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are calculated on an as-converted basis and include incremental common stock equivalents, as calculated under the treasury stock method. The computation includes approximately 3 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019 and 4 million common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been dilutive. The computation excludes 1 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, and 2 million of common stock equivalents for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

[4] Participating securities include preferred stock outstanding and unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, such as the Company’s UK&I and Europe preferred stock, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and earned performance-based shares. Participating securities’ income is allocated based on the weighted-average number of shares of as-converted stock.

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Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Common stock equivalents included in the computation of diluted shares outstanding	3	4	3	4
Common stock equivalents excluded from computation of average dilutive shares outstanding	1	2	1	2
Class B common stock
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Weighted-average as-converted common stock used in income allocation	400	405	400	405
Class C common stock
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Weighted-average as-converted common stock used in income allocation		49	47	50
U.K.& I preferred stock
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Weighted-average as-converted common stock used in income allocation	32	32	32	32
Europe preferred stock
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Weighted-average as-converted common stock used in income allocation	44	44	44	44

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Share-based Compensation - Awards Granted to Company Employees and Non-employee Directors Under the 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Non-qualified stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted				1,109,645
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value				$ 25.89
Weighted-Average Exercise Price				$ 134.76
Restricted stock units (“RSUs”)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted				2,616,550
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value				$ 135.19
Performance-bases shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted	[1]			540,538
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value	[1]			$ 153.42
Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, 2007
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		$ 106	$ 82	$ 201	$ 146

[1] Represents the maximum number of performance-based shares which could be earned.

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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, percent	19.00%	19.00%		21.00%
Income tax provision	$ 700	$ 612	$ 1,353	$ 1,329
Federal statutory income tax rate, percent						24.50%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Settlement, Amount		80
Tax cuts and jobs act of 2017 deferred tax liability, provisional income tax (expense) benefit		1,100
Tax cuts and jobs act of 2017 transition tax accumulated foreign earnings, provisional income tax expense (benefit)		$ 1,100
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits	108		146
Effective income tax rate reconciliation Unrecognized Tax Benefits that would Favorably Impact Effective Tax Rate	$ 44		$ 83
Forecast
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Federal statutory income tax rate, percent					21.00%

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Accrued Litigation for Both Covered and Non-Covered Litigation (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended		69 Months Ended	70 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) merchant	Apr. 26, 2019 merchant	Dec. 04, 2018
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 1,434	$ 982
Provision for legal matters	159	1
Balance at end of period	914	830	$ 914
Interchange Rate, Card-Not-Present, Credit					0.015
Interchange Rate, Card-Not-Present, Debit					0.0115
Interchange Rate, Card Present, Credit					0.003
Interchange Rate, Card Present, Debit					0.002
U.K. Merchant Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Number of plaintiffs | merchant			450
Unsettled
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Provision for legal matters	35	0
Settled Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments	(714)	(153)
Threatened Litigation | U.K. Merchant Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Number of plaintiffs | merchant			30
U.S. Covered Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,428	978
Balance at end of period	828	828	$ 828
U.S. Covered Litigation | Settled Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments	(600)	(150)
VE Territory Covered Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	1
Provision for legal matters	159	1
Balance at end of period	61	0	$ 61
VE Territory Covered Litigation | Settled Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments	$ (98)	$ (2)
Subsequent Event | U.K. Merchant Litigation
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Number of claims settled | merchant				100
Merchants with outstanding claims | merchant				350