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How do Internet credit card transactions work?
There are two ways a web-based merchant can accept credit cards from their customers: Live Real-Time payments and Non-Real-Time.


1. Customer visits your website, shops, and wants to pay with a credit card. Customer enters in the credit card information.

2. Based on the type of merchant account the merchant has, Real-Time or non-Real-Time, the card information can flow one of two ways.
  • Real-Time: The card information flows to the processing center/payment gateway.
  • Non-Real-Time: The merchant captures the credit card information via a secured form and then manually enters in the card information to the processing center/payment gateway.
3. The processor/bank verifies the card information and either approves or declines the cardholder.

4. If the cardholder is approved, the amount is moved from the cardholder's bank to the merchant's processing bank. The merchant's processing bank then moves the money to the merchant's local checking account. The transaction is complete.

Why don't I just go to my local bank?
Unfortunately, when it comes to smaller businesses, especially home-based businesses, most banks will not approve this type of account.


©2001-2008 Spectrum Merchant Services. All rights reserved.
Spectrum Merchant Services is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, CA
and of BancorpSouth Bank, Tupelo, MS.
American Express requires separate approval.