!!! Overview
The [{$pagename}] (Also observed the Term [Merchant Service Provider]) are defined in [Payment Card Industry] ([PCI]) as [Business entities|Organizational Entity] that __are not__ a [payment brand|Card Issuer], involved in the processing, storage or transmission of [Cardholder Data] on behalf of another [entity]. 


[{$pagename}] also includes companies that provide services that control or could impact the [security] of [Cardholder Data] and are the interface for the [Merchant] to the [Payment Network].

The [{$pagename}] and [Acquirer] can be the same [Entity] but is often a third party company selected by a [Merchant] to handle transactions for [Payment Networks] for the [Card Issuers].

[{$pagename}] is the intermediary between [Acquirers] and [Card Issuer] for authorizing credit card transactions.


[{$pagename}] typically provide and support the [POS Terminal].

There are typically two types of [{$pagename}]:
* [Front-End Processors]
* [Back-End Processors]
In an operation that will usually take a few seconds, the [{$pagename}] will both check the details received by forwarding them to the respective [Card Issuer] or [Payment Network] for verification, and also carry out a series of anti-fraud measures against the transaction.

[Cardholder Verification Methods] including the card’s country of issue and its previous payment history, are also used to gauge the probability of the transaction being approved.

Once the payment processor has received confirmation that the [Cardholder Verification Methods] have been performed, the information will be relayed back to the [Merchant], who will then complete the payment transaction. If [Cardholder Verification Methods] fail, the payment processor will relay the information to the [Merchant], who will then decline the transaction.

The [{$pagename}] do not directly maintain a link to every [Card Issuer], but instead they maintain a link to every major card [Payment Network]. The [Payment Network] in-turn maintains a link with every [Card Issuer] that issues their network branded cards. 

{$pagename}] are the intermediary between [Acquirers] and [Card Issuer] for authorizing credit card transactions.

[{$pagename}] is one member of the The [Four-Party Credit Card System]

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
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