All locations that accept MasterCard^®, MasterCard Electronic™, Maestro^®, or Cirrus^® always must display the appropriate Acceptance Marks prominently, in the approved sequence. A point-of-interaction (POI) location is the location at which the transaction occurs, whether a physical location, a Web site, a mail order form, or another place where a customer provides payment information. All POI locations that accept MasterCard cards must:

• Prominently display the Acceptance Mark, so that it is clearly visible to the public; and
• Display the Acceptance Mark at parity with all other acceptance marks, symbols, or logos.

This requirement means that in any media, including print, electronic advertising, promotional literature, signs, decals, and any other graphic image used to indicate acceptance, no other acceptance mark, symbol, or logo may be larger, of a greater size or dimension, appear more frequently, or in any way appear more important or welcomed than the MasterCard, MasterCard Electronic, and/or Maestro Acceptance Mark.

Use at Physical Merchant Locations

At physical merchant locations, prominent signage at the entrance (such as on an exterior door or window) is preferred. This type of display serves as an invitation to cardholders and a proven advertsiing tool for merchants. An interior display (such as at the check-out station, cash register(s), or till(s) is also acceptable.




Use on Internet Merchant Locations

At internet merchant locations, cardholders must be able to determine immediately that the particular brand is accepted. The most effective way to ensure this is to display the appropriate Acceptance Marks on the merchant's home page. At the very least, the appropriate Acceptance Marks always must be displayed where payment options are presented.




Use at ATMs and Other Devices

At ATMs, Acceptance Marks must appear on or near the main entrance, on or near the cash machine, and must not appear only on the ATM screen.

Acceptance Marks also must be displayed on or near other unattended terminals installed or serviced by members. These include displays on or near compatible ATMs, telephones, or other card-accepting devices that function without an attendant.

For attended terminals, acceptance branding is recommended, and required if other payment brands are displayed. For more information, see Using with Other Marks.




Merchant Advertising

Acceptance Marks can be used on merchant advertising to signify acceptance of MasterCard's family of payment brands.




Using Our Marks Together

When using our marks together, display the marks vertically or horizontally, in the approved sequence only: MasterCard, MasterCard Electronic, Maestro, Cirrus. Always display only those brands that are accepted at the particular location. Acceptance Marks always must be presented at size and color parity with all other brand marks displayed.




Using Our Brand Names

When using our brand names in communications that promote our brands, the brand name(s) always must be used at least once. The brand names must not appear in all uppercase or all lowercase letters and always must appear in English. In general, the MasterCard, MasterCard Electronic, Maestro, and Cirrus brand names should be used as adjectives, as in "Your MasterCard card."




At a minimum, the brand names must be used as adjectives in their first or most prominent mention subsequent to any use in the title, headline, signature, or cover page of a communication, and include the ® and/or ™ trademark symbols as designated for each.




Using with Other Marks

To achieve parity with all other brand marks displayed, the Acceptance Mark must be at least as prominent and appear in at least the same frequency, size, and color treatment as the largest other acceptance mark displayed. For more information, see Using with Other Marks