Merchant Account Center

Every time a credit card is swiped or keyed, information travels through different levels of the authorization process.

Here is how the Credit Card Authorization Process Works:

1. When a credit card is swiped and a credit card authorization process is initiated, the information is sent to a credit card processor.
2. The information is transmitted to the card-issuing bank through a bankcard association, where the transaction is either approved or declined.
   
3. The bankcard association transmits the approval or decline back to the terminal or POS device.

A credit card may decline if:

• The credit card has expired
• The credit card has insufficient funds.
• The credit card has been reported missing or suspicious activity.

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