Financial Institutions and Payment Networks

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Financial institutions and payment networks enable payment services. These entities work together to complete the full payment cycle.

Merchant Financial Institutions (Acquirers)

A merchant financial institution, also known as an
acquirer
, offers accounts to businesses that accept payment cards. Before you can accept payments, you must have a merchant account from an acquirer. Your merchant account must be configured to process card-not-present, card-present, or mail-order/telephone-order (MOTO) transactions.
Each acquirer has connections to a limited number of payment processors. You must choose a payment processor that your acquirer supports.
You can expect your acquirer to charge these fees:
  • Discount rates: your acquirer charges a fee and collects a percentage of every transaction. The combination of the fee and the percentage is called the
    discount rate
    . These charges can be
    bundled
     (combined into a single charge) or
    unbundled
     (charged separately).
  • Interchange fees: payment networks, such as Visa or Mastercard, each have a base fee, called the
    interchange fee
    , for each type of transaction. Your acquirer and processor can show you ways to reduce this fee.
  • Chargebacks: when cardholders dispute charges, you can incur
    chargebacks
    . A chargeback occurs when a charge on a customer’s account is reversed. Your acquirer removes the money from your account and could charge you a fee for processing the chargeback.
Take these precautions to prevent chargebacks:
  • Use accurate merchant descriptors so that customers can recognize the transactions on their statements.
  • Provide good customer support.
  • Ensure rapid problem resolution.
  • Maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
  • Minimize fraudulent transactions.
If excessive chargebacks or fraudulant changes occur, these actions might be taken:
  • You might be required to change your business processes to reduce the number chargebacks, fraud, or both.
  • Your acquiring institution might increase your discount rate.
  • Your acquiring institution might revoke your merchant account.
Contact your sales representative for information about products that can help prevent fraud.

Customer Financial Institutions (Issuers)

A customer financial institution, also known as an issuer, provides payment cards to and underwrites lines of credit for their customers. The issuer provides monthly statements and collects payments. The issuer must follow the rules of the payment card companies to which they belong.

Payment Networks

Payment networks manage communications between acquiring financial institutions and issuing financial institutions. They also develop industry standards, support their brands, and establish fees for acquiring institutions.
Some payment networks, such as Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay International, are trade associations that do not issue cards. Issuers are members of these associations, and they issue cards under license from the association.
Other networks, such as Discover and American Express, issue their own cards. Before you process cards from these companies, you must sign agreements with them.

Payment Processors

Payment processors connect with acquirers. Before you can accept payments, you must register with
a payment processor
.
An acquirer might require you to use a payment processor with an existing relationship with the acquirer.
Your payment processor
 assigns one or more merchant IDs (MIDs) to your business. These unique codes identify your business during payment transactions.
This table lists the processors and corresponding card types that are supported for payment services.
Only the card types explicitly listed here are supported.
Payment Processors and Supported Card Types
Payment Processor
Supported Card Types
Notes
Lynk
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, JCB