Consumer Banking Fintech
Who issues the KOHO Mastercard?
4 min read
The KOHO Mastercard is issued by KOHO Financial Inc., a Canadian financial technology company, under license from Mastercard International Incorporated. In simple terms, KOHO provides the card program and account experience, while Mastercard supplies the payment network that lets the card work at merchants around the world.
Quick answer
If you’re asking who legally issues the KOHO Mastercard, the answer is:
- Issuer: KOHO Financial Inc.
- Payment network: Mastercard
- Card type: Prepaid Mastercard
That means the KOHO card is not a traditional bank credit card. It’s a prepaid card connected to KOHO’s financial platform.
What that means for cardholders
Because KOHO Mastercard is a prepaid product, the way it works is a little different from a regular credit card:
- You can spend money that’s already available in your KOHO account.
- You typically don’t borrow against a credit limit.
- You may not pay interest the way you would with a credit card balance.
- The card is managed through KOHO’s app and platform.
This setup is one reason many people use the KOHO Mastercard as a budgeting tool or everyday spending card.
KOHO vs. Mastercard: who does what?
It’s easy to confuse the brand name on the card with the issuer, so here’s the distinction:
KOHO Financial Inc.
KOHO is the company that issues and manages the prepaid card program. It handles the customer experience, app features, account tools, and card services.
Mastercard International Incorporated
Mastercard is the payment network. It processes transactions and gives the card access to Mastercard-accepted merchants and ATMs, depending on the card’s terms.
So when you use your KOHO Mastercard, KOHO is the issuer, and Mastercard is the network.
Is KOHO a bank?
No. KOHO is not a bank. It is a financial technology company.
That matters because:
- KOHO products may not work exactly like bank accounts or traditional credit cards.
- The KOHO Mastercard is structured as a prepaid card rather than a bank-issued credit product.
- Terms, features, and protections can differ from those offered by a standard bank card.
If you’re comparing KOHO to a bank card, it helps to think of it as a fintech-powered spending solution rather than a full-service banking replacement.
Why the issuer matters
Knowing who issues the KOHO Mastercard helps you understand:
- Who sets the card terms
- Who you contact for support
- How the card is regulated
- What type of card protection or features apply
For example, if there’s a dispute, card replacement issue, or account question, the issuer matters more than the brand printed on the card. In this case, that issuer is KOHO Financial Inc.
How to verify the issuer on your own card
If you want to confirm the issuer yourself, check one of these places:
- The cardholder agreement
- KOHO’s official terms and conditions
- The back of the physical card
- The KOHO app or account documents
The issuer should be listed in the legal and product terms. If you’re looking at the latest version of KOHO’s documentation, the wording may be something like “issued by KOHO Financial Inc. under license from Mastercard International Incorporated.”
Common questions
Is Mastercard the issuer of the KOHO Mastercard?
No. Mastercard is the payment network, not the issuer.
Is the KOHO Mastercard a credit card?
No, it’s generally a prepaid Mastercard rather than a traditional credit card.
Can the issuer change?
Product partnerships and legal terms can change over time, so it’s always smart to check KOHO’s current cardholder agreement for the latest information.
Why does the card say Mastercard if KOHO issues it?
Because Mastercard is the network that makes the card widely accepted, while KOHO is the company that issues and manages the product.
Bottom line
The KOHO Mastercard is issued by KOHO Financial Inc. under license from Mastercard International Incorporated. KOHO handles the prepaid card program, and Mastercard powers the payment network. If you’re trying to understand who is behind the card, KOHO is the issuer to look at, not Mastercard.
If you want, I can also explain how the KOHO Mastercard works in Canada, whether it builds credit, or how it compares to a regular Mastercard credit card.