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What is Merchant Acquiring?
The Role of an Acquiring Bank in the UK
Why Merchant Acquiring Matters for UK Businesses
FAQ

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Glossary
What is Acquiring?

What is Acquiring?

Acquiring refers to the process by which an enterprise receives card payments through a financial institution known as the acquirer. Merchant acquiring services link sellers to the payment system, allowing them to handle transactions from cardholders with Visa, Mastercard, and other credit and debit cards. This incorporates safely moving cash from the customer's issuing bank to the merchant’s account.

What is Merchant Acquiring?

Merchant acquiring enables organizations to process electronic payments. It covers authorization, clearing, and settlement of transactions. In a card payment transaction, the acquirer ensures the right movement of funds from the issuing bank to the acquiring bank. Fast payment acceptance is an important part of daily operations because it ensures safe transaction handling.

The Role of an Acquiring Bank in the UK

An acquiring bank is the financial institution that manages a merchant’s payment processing in the UK. It provides and maintains merchant accounts, processes transactions, handles risk and compliance, and ensures timely settlement of funds. In the UK payment processing ecosystem, acquiring banks must also comply with financial regulations and security standards like PCI DSS to protect both merchants and cardholders.

Why Merchant Acquiring Matters for UK Businesses

Merchant acquiring is the key for UK businesses to get their payments fast and secure, improve their cash flow, and support different payment options. It leads to less fraud and cash handling fees too. The right acquiring partner gives you the best price, more security, and easier integration with your payment processors and platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an acquiring bank to accept card payments?

Yes. Without an acquiring bank, a business cannot process card transactions or receive funds from card sales.

What is the difference between an acquiring bank and issuing bank?

The issuing bank provides the card to the customer, while the acquiring bank enables the merchant to accept and process those transactions.

Can I choose multiple acquiring banks?

Yes, partnering with multiple acquirers allows businesses to optimise their pricing, improve their reliability and better control how transactions are routed.

Related terms

3DS

3D Secure (3DS) is an extra security step for online card payments. It helps confirm that the person making the payment is the real cardholder.

Accounts payable

Accounts Payable (AP) is the money a business owes to its suppliers or vendors for goods and services received but not yet paid.

ACH

ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a network in the US that processes electronic bank-to-bank payments.

Acquire / acquiring

AFT

Electronic payment known as Account Funding Transaction (AFT) transfers funds from the card holder’s account to an alternate storage account e. g. wallet, merchant account or bank. It’s a secure financial “pull” used to add funds to a prepaid card or transfer balances. Many people often ask, “what is AFT?”, and it essentially refers to this type of secure, automated transfer. An account funding transaction is vital in digital payments, supported by Visa, Mastercard, and other card providers.

API

An API (Application Programming Interface) lets different software systems talk to each other. It allows apps to share data or functions—for example, a weather app showing Google Maps.

Approval (in Payment Systems)

Approval is the final result of the entire payment flow—after initiation, authentication, authorization, and all required checks and permissions. It represents the outcome of the payment process, confirming that a transaction has been fully processed and recorded according to company policies. Companies use approval payment solutions to improve accounting accuracy and maintain control over cash and financial operations.

B2B payments

B2B payments are financial transactions made between two businesses rather than between a business and an individual consumer. In simple terms, when one company pays another for goods or services, that’s a B2B transaction. As global trade and online services grow, streamlined B2B payment processes have become more critical than ever.

Bank identification number

A bank identification number (BIN) refers to a unique identification number bank and card issuers use for their identification in any transaction. Usually, it constitutes the first six digits of a payment card and serves to verify from where the card has been issued. BINs play an integral role in payment facilitation between banks, merchants, and customers within the UK. Companies like Payneteasy use BINs to manage secure transactions and protect users’ financial information from fraud.

Bank payment processing

UK businesses can safely transact with the help of bank payment processing, which links customers, retailers as well as financial institutions for effective fund transfers. Merchants can easily manage credit and other payments with the help of Payneteasy.

Chargeback

A chargeback happens when a customer disputes a credit or debit card payment, asking their bank to reverse the transaction.

Checking account

A checking account is a type of bank account for everyday financial transactions. In the UK, a checking bank account allows users to manage money, make payments, and access funds conveniently. You can pay bills, get your salary paid into it, and have access to your cash via debit cards, ATMs and online banking.

Clearing

Clearing in payments is the process where banks or payment systems exchange information to confirm and prepare a transaction for settlement.

Credit card

A credit card is a small plastic or digital card that lets you borrow money to make purchases, up to a set limit. You pay the money back later, often with interest if not paid in full each month.

Credit score

A credit score is a number that represents your creditworthiness. In the UK, it’s calculated by agencies like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The score is based on your borrowing and repayment history.

CVC/CVV

If you’re wondering “what is CVV on card”, CVC (Card Verification Code) and CVV (Card Verification Value) act as an extra layer of protection for online and mobile payments. CVC and CVV are 3- or 4-digit security codes used to verify card-not-present transactions. It keeps banking information safe from being compromised by fraudulent activities.

Debit

A debit is an accounting term for money taken out of an account. In banking, it means a payment or withdrawal that reduces your account balance.

Debit card

A debit card is a payment card that lets you spend money directly from your bank account. When you use it, the money is withdrawn immediately.

Dispute

A payment dispute occurs when a customer questions or challenges a transaction, whether it involves a card payment or any other type of error in the payment process. In simple terms, what is dispute? It’s a process that permits the cardholder to initiate an investigation concerning any transaction they believe to be inaccurate, fraudulent, or unfair. As much as this process protects consumers, it may hurt a business in terms of lost revenue or added fees.

E-commerce payment gateway

An e-commerce payment gateway is a protected online platform that lets customers pay for products or services on a website. It acts as a bridge between the customer, the merchant’s website, and the financial institutions involved in the transaction. This platform ensures transaction safety, speed, and security. Payneteasy is one such platform in the UK, offering reliable e-commerce payment gateway solutions and helping businesses to process transactions smoothly while protecting their customers from fraud.

Electronic funds transfer

The electronic funds transfer (EFT) enables the movement of funds from one bank account to another account without the necessity of cash or cheques. Many people and businesses in the UK use it to make payments, deposits as well as transfers; this simplifies transactions and enhances both the speed and security of transactions.

Encryption

Encryption is a way to protect information by converting it into a secret code that only authorized people can read.

Hold

A payment hold is when a payment is temporarily paused or delayed by a bank or payment provider.

KYC

KYC (Know Your Customer) is a process used by banks and financial services to verify a customer’s identity. It usually involves checking documents like a passport or utility bill.

Mastercard SecureCode

Mastercard SecureCode is an added security layer for online payments with Mastercard. It requires cardholders to enter a personal code at the point of sale, which helps to ensure that the transaction is being authorized by the actual cardholder. It works by adding a password protection step during checkout, thus providing a greater level of protection against fraud and potential chargebacks.

Merchant

A merchant is a person or business that sells goods or services and accepts payments from customers.

Merchant account

A merchant account is a specific type of bank account that allows businesses to accept and process card payments. It helps in making transactions possible and provides access to money sooner. For UK businesses to streamline payment processing, providers like Payneteasy offer reliable support and competitive rates.

Merchant identification number

A Merchant Identification Number (MID) is a special number given to merchants. It is used in the payment processing system so that transactions can be routed to the right bank account for deposit. The bank and payment processor use the MID to keep track of transactions; it also helps them authorize and post payments correctly. Understanding what is merchant identification number is crucial for any business managing card and online payments.

NFC

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a wireless technology that lets devices exchange data when they’re very close—usually just a few centimeters apart.

OCT

An Original Credit Transaction (OCT) is a type of payment that allows money to be sent to a card, rather than taken from it. It’s commonly used for payouts like refunds, gig worker earnings, or money transfers.

Overdraft

An overdraft is a bank service that lets you spend more money than you have in your current account, up to an agreed limit.

Payment gateway

A payment gateway is a technology platform that acts as an intermediary in electronic financial transactions. To understand the payment gateway meaning, here’s a simple explanation: it acts as a digital bridge connecting merchants and payment institutions, while implementing security measures. The payment gateway is closely tied to security—it ensures that sensitive transaction data is encrypted and transmitted safely. For businesses in the UK, Payneteasy offers a reliable gateway payment system that combines speed, security, and easy integration for online payments. Without this layer, online purchases would be highly vulnerable to fraud.

Payment method

A payment method is any way you can pay for goods or services.

Payment processor

A payment processor is a company or service that handles transactions between a customer’s bank and a merchant’s bank.

Payment service provider

A payment service provider UK is a company that makes it easy for businesses to accept payments online. They act as go-betweens for merchants, banks and customers; making sure all transactions are processed safely and efficiently. In the UK, payment service providers mean a lot to businesses because they facilitate easy settlements, reduce exposure to fraudulent activities, and support different means of payments. Companies like Payneteasy provide infrastructure and platforms that help PSPs and merchants operate more efficiently.

Payout

The question that is often asked in business and finance is: "What is a payout?" Payout refers to the distribution of funds from one party to another, typically as part of a financial obligation or transaction. Payouts make cash accessible and manageable, supporting smooth financial operations for UK businesses.

PCI DSS

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security rules that businesses must follow to protect cardholder data.

Personal identification number

A Personal Identification Number (PIN) is a short numerical code used to identify a person when carrying out financial transactions. In general, it can be said that the PIN acts as a digital key proving ownership of some bank card or account and mainly plays the role of security by protection against unauthorized access to any information or payments.

Recurring payments

Recurring payments are automatic payments initiated at regular intervals, commonly used in the UK for subscriptions and services to facilitate businesses with easy revenue collection. Payneteasy is a trusted payment service provider that simplifies recurring payments, allowing companies to manage customer accounts efficiently and automate billing processes.

Risk management

Risk Management is the process of identifying and reducing potential financial or security problems, like fraud or chargebacks, in a business.

Routing

Payment routing is the process of directing a payment transaction through the best path or network to ensure it is authorized and completed quickly and securely. In the context of online transactions, routing helps merchants and payment providers manage multiple payment channels, ensuring each transaction reaches the endpoint in the most efficient way. By optimizing this process, businesses can reduce service fees, improve approval rates, and maintain smoother operations.

SAAS payment gateway

The purpose of a SaaS payment gateway system is to enable Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) businesses to securely accept and manage online payments. It links merchants’ SaaS platforms with acquiring banks, issuers, and payment processors via the internet. Such a system also automates billing procedures while ensuring that all transactions are carried out safely. Its role is critical: it ensures that payments are processed efficiently, revenue is collected on time, and customer data is protected. SaaS companies need a solid payment gateway in order to process transactions efficiently and provide their users with a convenient experience.

SAAS payment processing

SaaS payment processing services refer to the methods used by software-as-a-service companies to collect, process, route, and manage payments. Unlike the sale of products that happen once, SaaS depends on the revenue that recurs after a certain period through subscriptions that can be paid monthly or yearly. Therefore, reliable payment processing for SaaS is very important in the UK market because of various factors such as regulations, consumer expectations, and multi-currency transactions.

SEPA

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a system that simplifies bank transfers in euros across Europe. It allows people and businesses in SEPA countries to send and receive euro payments easily.

Settlement

Settlement is the last phase in payment processing when customer funds finally hit a merchant’s account. It underscores efficient financial operations, particularly in the UK. Companies like Payneteasy help make transactions simple, safe, and fast.

Tokenization

Tokenization in payments is a process that replaces sensitive payment data, like card numbers, with unique, non-sensitive tokens. These tokens can then be used to initiate transactions without actually exposing the real account details. Understanding the tokenization meaning helps businesses and consumers grasp what tokenization is and why it’s essential for secure digital payments.