For several decades, rumors of a secret credit card offered exclusively to the super-rich have made the rounds. This ultra exclusive credit card was said to allow holders almost unbelievable carte blanche when it came to the most exotic purchases or admission to the world's most exclusive clubs. When the American Express credit card company finally revealed details of the American Express Centurion card, many people were hoping a more accessible credit card would follow suit. One such alternative to the American Express Centurion card is the Black Visa Card, or Visa Black.
The Black Visa card is quite literally a black card, constructed completely out of a black graphite composite material. This gives the card itself a very distinctive and high-end look and feel. The holder's identification is stamped into the card like standard issue Visa credit cards, but the majority of the card's surface is a deep black color with no extraneous graphics.
Obtaining a Black Visa credit card is no easy feat, either. Visa makes every effort to limit membership to 1% of the United States' population. This exclusivity allows each member to experience highly personalized service from a designated concierge employed by Visa. If a Visa Black cardholder should request rare Taiwanese flowers for his or her company dinner party, the concierge will personally board a flight to Taiwan and arrange for overnight delivery. The credit limit on a Visa Black is generally in the millions of US dollars.
When the American Express Centurion card became available to elite customers, it came with a substantial annual fee of $2,500 US Dollars (USD). The Black Visa card's annual fee is currently a more affordable $495 USD, although some cardholders fear the Visa Black's lower annual fee may attract a less exclusive pool of potential cardholders. Considering the thoroughness of the application process, however, many of those fears may be unfounded.
Owners of a Visa Black are primarily entertainers, politicians, corporate leaders and others who have achieved incredible levels of financial success. While many cardholders could easily make cash purchases for standard luxury items, the Visa Black card allows them to accumulate valuable travel points and other exclusive perks. Presenting a Visa Black card virtually guarantees admission to the most exclusive nightclubs and restaurants in the world.
Anyone can fill out an application for a Black Visa card through Visa's official website, but approval is generally limited to individuals and corporations who routinely deal in seven figure financial transactions or higher. Exclusivity is one of the card's most enticing benefits, so Visa reserves the right to limit the total percentage of applicants it approves for the Visa Black credit card program.
