Who issues the KOHO Mastercard?

The KOHO Mastercard is issued by KOHO Financial Inc., while Mastercard provides the payment network and brand. In practical terms, KOHO is the company behind the card experience and account, and Mastercard is the network that processes purchases wherever Mastercard is accepted.

The short answer

If you’re asking who issues the KOHO Mastercard, the simplest answer is:

Issuer: KOHO Financial Inc.
Payment network: Mastercard International Incorporated
Card type: Prepaid Mastercard

That means KOHO is the company you open the account with, and Mastercard is the rail that lets the card work for everyday spending, online purchases, and ATM use where supported.

How KOHO and Mastercard work together

A lot of people assume Mastercard issues every Mastercard-branded card, but that’s not how it works.

Here’s the breakdown:

Role	Who does it
Card issuer	KOHO Financial Inc.
Payment network	Mastercard
App, budgeting tools, and account experience	KOHO
Merchant acceptance	Mastercard merchants and terminals

So when you use the KOHO Mastercard, you’re not borrowing from Mastercard. You’re using a card program run by KOHO on the Mastercard network.

Why this confusion happens

The name “KOHO Mastercard” includes the Mastercard brand, which makes it easy to assume Mastercard is the issuer. In reality, the word “Mastercard” usually refers to the network and card brand, not necessarily the legal issuer.

This matters because:

The issuer is the company responsible for the card program and cardholder agreement.
Mastercard handles transaction processing and network acceptance.
KOHO provides the app, card management, and account features.

What this means for you as a cardholder

Knowing the issuer is useful for a few reasons:

1. Customer support

If you have a problem with your KOHO Mastercard, you’ll usually contact KOHO support, not Mastercard.

2. Card rules and terms

The issuer’s terms and conditions govern things like:

card usage
fees
limits
dispute handling
account restrictions

3. Deposit or balance protection

If you want to know how your balance is held or protected, the issuer and program structure matter more than the Mastercard name on the front of the card.

4. Refunds and chargebacks

Purchase disputes and refund timing are handled through the card program and issuer policies, not directly by Mastercard.

How to verify the issuer yourself

If you want to confirm the exact legal issuer for your specific KOHO card, check:

your cardholder agreement
the legal terms in the KOHO app
the back of the card or accompanying documentation
KOHO’s official help or product pages

The issuer named in those documents is the definitive source for your card.

Is KOHO a bank?

No. KOHO is a Canadian fintech company, not a traditional bank.

That’s an important distinction because KOHO provides the app-based financial experience, but the card program and related services are governed by the issuer and the payment network.

Can you use the KOHO Mastercard anywhere Mastercard is accepted?

Usually, yes. Because it runs on the Mastercard network, the card is generally accepted at merchants and ATMs that accept Mastercard, subject to:

available balance
transaction limits
merchant restrictions
card and account status

Bottom line

The KOHO Mastercard is issued by KOHO Financial Inc. and runs on the Mastercard network. If you’re trying to understand who is legally behind the card, KOHO is the issuer. If you’re trying to understand where the card works, Mastercard is the network.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mastercard the issuer of the KOHO card?

No. Mastercard is the payment network and brand, not the issuer.

Does KOHO issue prepaid cards?

Yes. KOHO provides the KOHO Mastercard program and account experience for cardholders.

Where should I look for the official issuer name?

Check your cardholder agreement or KOHO’s legal terms in the app.

Why does the issuer matter?

The issuer determines the card terms, support process, and legal relationship for the card program.