Under a resolution adopted by the board of directors of Visa U.S.A. yesterday in Dallas, Visa will "provide open access to the Visa payments system to all regulated financial institutions," including those owned by non-banking companies.

Visa's move follows enactment by Congress last week of a measure apparently designed to clear the way for Sears, Roebuck and Co. to issue a national Visa card through a thrift institution in Utah that Sears bought from government regulators after it failed.

Sears has been poised to issue its "Prime Option" Visa card through Mountain View Financial Corp., but Visa had blocked the program, citing a bylaw that prohibits any competing card company from becoming a Visa member. Sears issues the Discover card.