Card Payment Actors Map

Authorization request path forward; settlement funding path back

Card Payment Actors Map Authorization request path forward; settlement funding path back Cardholder · PAN + consent · Architecture component Cardholder PAN + consent Merchant · MID / MCC · Architecture component Merchant MID / MCC Gateway · encrypt + tokenize · Architecture component Gateway encrypt + tokenize Acquirer / Processor · routes + funds · Architecture component Acquirer / Processor routes + funds Card Scheme · switch + rules · Architecture component Card Scheme switch + rules Issuer · approve / decline · Architecture component Issuer approve / decline card route settle funds payout Legend External Frontend Security Backend Message bus Database

Request path

  • • Authorization travels cardholder to issuer
  • • Only the issuer approves or declines
  • • No money moves yet

Funding path

  • • Settlement travels issuer back to merchant
  • • Interchange + scheme fees deducted
  • • Lands a day or two later

Roles

  • • Gateway secures; acquirer routes and funds
  • • Scheme switches and sets the rules

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