A card transaction flows through multiple systems to authorize and settle a payment. In the standard four-party model, such as that of the Visa or Mastercard networks, the participants include:  

 – the individual or business using the card.

 – the bank that issued the card (Cross River, via its BIN sponsorship). 

 – the merchant’s bank or payment provider. 

The process typically involves an issuer processor and an acquirer processor, which route the transaction through the card network (Visa, Mastercard) to complete the payment securely. 

The authorization phase determines whether a card transaction is approved or declined. This typically happens in milliseconds. Here are the steps:

The cardholder taps, swipes, or enters card info at the merchant’s terminal or app.

The merchant sends transaction data to its acquirer processor. 

The acquirer processor formats the request and sends it to the appropriate card network (Visa, Mastercard). 

The card network forwards the request to the issuer processor associated with the BIN on the card for real time authorization. 

The card issuer or issuing processor responds with an approval or decline decision to the card network. 

The card network routes the decision back to the acquirer processor. 

The merchant receives the response — and the transaction is approved or declined at the point of sale. 

After a transaction is authorized, it may go through several additional phases depending on the program, network behavior, and any disputes: 

The transaction is approved and a hold is placed on funds. 

The merchant submits the transaction for clearing and settlement.

The acquirer sends the presentment file to the card network, which routes it to the issuer.

The issuer transfers funds to the network for any posted transactions while the network transfers funds to the acquirer.

If the cardholder disputes the transaction, the issuer initiates a chargeback through the card network.

The merchant can respond with evidence, re-presenting the transaction.

If the chargeback is unresolved, the network may arbitrate. 

A final correction is made by the issuer or acquirer to resolve an error or reverse a prior action. 

A card transaction moves through multiple systems to authorize and settle payments, involving the cardholder, merchant, issuer (Cross River), and acquirer via the card network.

Card transaction flow

Card transactions

Account Funding Transaction.  Pull funds from a debit card for specific purposes. Use an AFT to fund a wallet or prepaid card, or to initiate a person-to-person (P2P) transfer through the card network rails. AFTs are not allowed for purchases.

A 32-character hexadecimal string with hyphens, such as 123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426655440000 used as a unique identified. Sometimes called a UUID.

GUID

Know Your Business processes verify legitimacy business entities and their ownership structures to prevent financial crime and comply with regulations. KYB requires information including company registrations and operational activities. See also KYC.

Know Your Customer processes verify the identity of an individual customer to prevent financial crime and comply with regulations. KYC uses personal details and identity documents for this verification.

A GUID assigned to you by Cross River. This ID is required for some API calls.

Partner_ID

The automated lending platform from Cross River that includes services such as Preapproval, Oversight, Arix Origination and Funding, Selling, and Hooks.

Lending

Information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, either alone or when combined with other information that is linked or linkable to a specific individual. Also known as PII.

Personally_Identifiable_Information

These are contracts for monetary assets that can be purchased, traded, created, modified, or settled for. In terms of contracts, there is a contractual obligation between involved parties during a financial instrument transaction.

financial_instrument

Interest Rate Cards are pre-configured interest rate profiles that can be assigned to specific accounts on demand.

rate_card

A financial institution holding a principal license with a Card Network has the right to issue cards itself and sponsor other institutions (fintechs) to issue on its behalf (BIN sponsorship). Affiliate/Associate members cannot offer BIN sponsorship.

Principal_member

A 6 or 8 digit number assigned by the card networks for card issuing and functions as the first 6 or 8 digits on the card itself. The BIN identifies the bank that is responsible for issuing the program and handling daily settlement with the Network.

Card_BIN

A solution that allows partners to offer card solutions without requiring a direct relationship with the card networks. The bank acts as an intermediary while allowing partners to use its bank identification numbers (BIN). 

BIN_sponsorship

Politically Exposed Person is an individual who holds a prominent public position, or has done so in the recent past and is subject to a higher level of scrutiny due to an increased risk of involvement in bribery, corruption, and money laundering.

Office of Foreign Assets Control. Part of the US Department of the Treasury that administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals.

OFAC

Move funds internally between accounts. The transfer requires both a debit and credit account and can be either a master account or sub-ledger, or any combination of the two.  Can be made via API calls or for non-API Partners on the COS Explorer.

book_transfer

This is where the financial institution verifies the member has the funds needed before they are transferred to the receiver.

Good_Funds_Model

An instant payment service developed and operated by the Federal Reserve for financial institutions in the United States, which allows individuals and businesses to send and receive money.

FedNow

A payment processing network used to send money electronically between banks in the US. Available year round, it transfers funds between 2 banks account instantaneously. Processes on bank holidays and weekend and after business hours.

A merchant category code (MCC) is a four-digit number used for retail financial services to classify a business by the types of goods or services it provides. Codes are specified by the ISO 18245 standard.

Card Acceptor ID. An internal identifier assigned to your business by your Acquirer when creating the merchant account used for financial processing.

CAID

Business Application Identifier, used by merchants in card payments

The automated loan validation and funding software from Cross River

Arix

Mobile Deposit Capture is the process of submitting a check electronically using a smartphone

Input Message Accountability Data. A unique number given to each FedWire payment when using the Federal Reserver Bank Service and can be used to investigate and track wire transfers.

IMAD

Notification of Change.  The purpose of an NOC is to identify and communicate incorrect information within an ACH entry, such as account numbers or transit and routing number. Sent by a RDFI to the ODFI and the Originator via their ACH Operator.

A global financial messaging standard for electronic payments. It enhances interoperability across financial systems, improves payment processing efficiency and supports compliance by providing detailed transaction information.

ISO20022

A SWIFT Code is a standard format of Bank Identifier Code (BIC) used to specify a particular bank or branch. These codes are used when transferring money between banks, particularly for international wire transfers.

SWIFT

Receiving Depository Financial Institution. All ODFIs must also agree to act as an RDFI to receive ACH payments. An RDFI receives entries directly or indirectly from its ACH Operator for debit or credit to the accounts of its customers.

RDFI

Originating Depository Financial Institution. It has the authority to initiate ACH transactions on behalf of its customers. ODFIs ensure compliance with regulatory standards and securely transmit payment instructions to the ACH network

ODFI

 National Automated Clearing House Association. Nacha governs the ACH Network, the payment system that drives Direct Deposits and Direct Payments with the capability to reach all U.S. bank and credit union accounts

Nacha

International ACH Transaction. A Nacha SEC code.

A uniquely configured financial product you offer your customers. For example, a debit card or a savings account, configured according to your needs and specifications, are product types.

product_type

Bank Identification Number. A unique identifier used in payment card transactions.

COS_Explorer

relationshipmanager

Cross River guides provide details about our products

guide

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