What Is the Role of an Acquiring Bank in Payment Processing?

The acquiring bank is responsible for the process of transferring funds from purchase to settlement. Key Roles: Enables acceptance of card payments via POS systems or gateways Routes data to the appropriate card network and issuing bank Receives approval/decline responses from the issuer Settles funds into the merchant’s account after deducting fees Ensures PCI compliance and enforces fraud controls The ability of merchants to process card payments securely and efficiently is related to the involvement of acquiring banks.

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Pagamentos SaaS
What Is an Acquiring Bank?

Pagamentos SaaS

What Is an Acquiring Bank?

Q: What Is an Acquiring Bank?

An acquiring bank, also known as a merchant bank, is a financial institution thatprocesses credit and debit card payments on behalf of merchants. It provides merchants with tools for processing card payments, such as: point-of-sale (POS) systems payment gateways merchant accounts. The acquiring bank: is responsible for routing transaction data between the Saas businesses' POS system and the card networks (like Visa or Mastercard). ensures that funds are transferred from the issuing bank (the cardholder's bank) to the merchant's account, minus any fees

Q: What Is the Difference Between Acquiring Banks and Issuing Banks?

The difference lies in who they serve and what roles they play in a transaction. Role Acquiring Bank Issuing Bank Serves Merchants Cardholders Provides Merchant accounts Credit/debit cards Authorizes Payments Relays to issuer Approves/declines transactions Manages Risk For Merchant fraud, chargebacks Cardholder fraud, credit limits Settles Funds To Merchant’s account Charges cardholder’s acc ount An acquiring bank ensures funds reach the merchant, while the issuing bank ensures the cardholder has sufficient funds or credit.

Q: How Are Online Transactions Processed with an Acquiring Bank?

In online transactions, the acquiring bank is part of a multi-step process that ensures secure payment authorization and fund settlement. Steps: The process begins with the payment authorization, in which the client makes a purchase on a merchant's website and securely transmits their payment information to the acquiring bank via a payment gateway. The acquiring bank submits the transaction data to the card network (e.g., Visa, MasterCard) for approval by the issuing bank. Once accepted, the acquiring bank credits the merchant's account and settles the funds, minus any costs, after clearing the transaction. Keep In Mind Acquiring banks also maintain security protocols, such as PCI DSS compliance, to protect against fraud during online payments.

Q: How Do Acquiring Banks Manage Fraud and Risk Associated with Merchant Accounts?

Acquiring banks manage risk using a multi-layered strategy focused on prevention, monitoring, and continuous improvement. Fraud and Risk Management Strategies: Merchant underwriting: Assessing merchant credibility before account approval Transaction monitoring: Detecting suspicious patterns in real time AI and machine learning: Identifying fraudulent behavior with predictive analytics Chargeback management: Handling disputes and issuing refunds where necessary PCI DSS enforcement: Ensuring merchants meet security compliance standards Because acquiring banks are liable for fraud losses, they invest heavily in fraud detection technologies and strict merchant screening.

Publicado: julho 25, 2025

What is an Acquiring Bank?

An acquiring bank, also known as a merchant bank, is a financial institution that processes credit and debit card payments on behalf of merchants.

It provides merchants with tools for processing card payments, such as:

point-of-sale (POS) systems
payment gateways
merchant accounts.

The acquiring bank:

is responsible for routing transaction data between the Saas businesses’ POS system and the card networks (like Visa or Mastercard).
ensures that funds are transferred from the issuing bank (the cardholder’s bank) to the merchant’s account, minus any fees

What functions does an acquiring bank perform in payment processing?

An acquiring bank acts as the primary link between the merchant, the card networks (such as Visa or MasterCard), and the issuing bank.

Core functions:

Merchant Onboarding: Set up merchant accounts.
Transaction Processing: Handling real-time payment flows
Settlement: Transferring approved funds to the merchant’s account.
Gestão de riscos: Managing fraud, chargebacks, and regulatory compliance
Technology support: Including POS systems and payment gateways.

Acquiring banks assume risk, making them key to the security and reliability of card-based payment ecosystems.

What is the difference between acquiring banks and issuing banks?

The difference lies in who they serve e what roles they play in a transaction.

Função	Acquiring Bank	Issuing Bank
Serves	Merchants	Cardholders
Provides	Merchant accounts	Credit/debit cards
Authorizes Payments	Relays to issuer	Approves/declines transactions
Manages Risk For	Merchant fraud, chargebacks	Cardholder fraud, credit limits
Settles Funds To	Merchant’s account	Charges cardholder’s account

An acquiring bank ensures funds reach the merchant, while the issuing bank ensures the cardholder has sufficient funds or credit.

How are online transactions processed with an acquiring bank?

In online transactions, the acquiring bank is part of a multi-step process that ensures secure payment authorization and fund settlement.

Steps:

The process begins with the payment authorization, in which the client makes a purchase on a merchant’s website and securely transmits their payment information to the acquiring bank via a payment gateway.
The acquiring bank submits the transaction data to the card network (e.g., Visa, MasterCard) for approval by the issuing bank.
Once accepted, the acquiring bank credits the merchant’s account and settles the funds, minus any costs, after clearing the transaction.

Lembre-se

Acquiring banks also maintain protocolos de segurança, such as PCI DSS compliance, to protect against fraud during online payments.

What are the key differences between payment processors and acquiring banks?

Though they work closely together, SaaS payment processors and acquiring banks have different responsibilities.

Function	Processador de Pagamento	Acquiring Bank
Main Role	Transfers transaction data	Manages merchant accounts and fund settlement
Provides	Payment infrastructure (payment gateways, APIs)	Access to card networks and settlement services
Regulatory Role	Less regulated	Heavily regulated; assumes financial risk
Owns Relationship With	Technology and POS vendors	Merchants and card networks

o processor enables the transaction, but the acquirer completes and settles it.

How do acquiring banks manage fraud and risk associated with merchant accounts?

Acquiring banks manage risk using a multi-layered strategy focused on prevention, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

Fraud and Risk Management Strategies:

Merchant underwriting: Assessing merchant credibility before account approval
Transaction monitoring: Detecting suspicious patterns in real time
IA e aprendizado de máquina: Identifying fraudulent behavior with predictive analytics
Chargeback management: Handling disputes and issuing refunds where necessary
PCI DSS enforcement: Ensuring merchants meet security compliance standards

Because acquiring banks are liable for fraud losses, they invest heavily in fraud detection technologies and strict merchant screening.

Conclusão

By handling the complex relationships between merchants, payment processors, and card networks, acquiring banks are essential financial institutions that assist SaaS businesses in accepting digital payments.

Their roles are very different from those of payment processors and issuing banks, and they offer essential services such merchant account creation, transaction administration, and fraud risk mitigation.

As e-commerce expands, acquiring banks play an increasingly significant role in payment processing for businesses globally.