{"id":1025,"date":"2026-06-18T07:04:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webpays.com\/blogs\/?p=1025"},"modified":"2026-06-18T07:06:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:06:02","slug":"payment-processing-glossary-terms-for-merchants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webpays.com\/blogs\/payment-processing-glossary-terms-for-merchants\/","title":{"rendered":"Payment Processing Glossary: A\u2013Z Terms Every Merchant Must Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you are setting up your first <strong>merchant account<\/strong> or managing an established <strong>high-risk business<\/strong>, <strong>payment processing<\/strong> is full of technical terminology that directly affects your costs, compliance obligations, and processing stability. This glossary defines every key term clearly \u2014 no jargon, no ambiguity \u2014 so you can read contracts, speak with acquirers, and manage your account with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/webpays.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Payment-Processing-Glossary-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Payment Processing Glossary\" class=\"wp-image-1026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webpays.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Payment-Processing-Glossary-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/webpays.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Payment-Processing-Glossary-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/webpays.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Payment-Processing-Glossary-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/webpays.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Payment-Processing-Glossary.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Every Merchant Needs to Understand Payment Processing Terminology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payment processing agreements are dense legal documents. A merchant who doesn&#8217;t understand the difference between MDR and an interchange fee, or who mistakes a rolling reserve for a penalty, is at a serious disadvantage when negotiating account terms \u2014 or when disputing a fee that should not have been applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/webpays.com\/high-risk-merchant-account.html\">high-risk merchants<\/a><\/strong> specifically, the stakes are even higher. Terms like TC40, VAMP, and chargeback ratio are not abstract compliance concepts \u2014 they are the thresholds that determine whether your account stays open. Understanding them is not optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>A \u2014 Acquiring Bank to Authorisation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Acquiring Bank (Acquirer)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An acquiring bank \u2014 also called an acquirer \u2014 is the financial institution that processes card payments on behalf of a merchant. When a customer pays by card, the acquirer receives the transaction request, communicates with the card network, and ultimately settles funds into the merchant&#8217;s account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The acquirer takes on the financial risk of the merchant&#8217;s transactions. This is why merchants in high-risk industries face higher fees, rolling reserves, and more stringent underwriting \u2014 the acquirer&#8217;s exposure is greater, and its pricing reflects that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Key distinction: The acquiring bank serves the merchant. The issuing bank serves the cardholder. These are two separate institutions, and both play roles in every card transaction.<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Acquiring Bank<\/strong>Acquirer<\/td><td>The bank that processes card payments for a merchant, accepts financial risk of those transactions, settles funds into the merchant&#8217;s account, and manages the relationship with Visa and Mastercard on the merchant&#8217;s behalf.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>ACH \u2014 Automated Clearing House<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ACH is a US-based electronic payment network that enables direct bank-to-bank fund transfers without using card networks. Transactions processed through ACH \u2014 commonly called eChecks or direct debits \u2014 move funds directly between bank accounts and are governed by NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association) rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For high-risk merchants, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/webpays.com\/ACH-payment-processing.html\">ACH processing<\/a><\/strong> is an important complement to card payments. It provides a payment rail entirely outside card-network rules \u2014 meaning no Visa VAMP thresholds, no Mastercard BRAM monitoring, and lower per-transaction costs. ACH is widely used in iGaming, subscription billing, and nutraceutical businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>ACH<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Card Processing<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Transaction cost<\/td><td>0.5%\u20131.5%<\/td><td>2.5%\u20135.5%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Network<\/td><td>NACHA<\/td><td>Visa \/ Mastercard<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chargeback rules<\/td><td>NACHA return limits<\/td><td>VAMP \/ BRAM thresholds<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Settlement speed<\/td><td>2\u20135 business days<\/td><td>1\u20133 business days<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Authorisation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authorisation is the first step of a card transaction. When a customer presents their card, the merchant&#8217;s payment gateway sends an authorisation request to the acquiring bank, which forwards it to the card network (Visa or Mastercard), which then routes it to the cardholder&#8217;s issuing bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The issuing bank checks whether the card is valid, not flagged for fraud, and whether sufficient funds or credit are available. It returns an approval or decline code. An approved authorisation places a hold on the customer&#8217;s funds \u2014 but does not move money. Settlement is a separate, subsequent process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Important for high-risk merchants: Authorisation rates \u2014 the percentage of transactions approved at the issuing bank level \u2014 are a key performance metric. Low authorisation rates often signal card-network or issuer-level restrictions on your merchant category code (MCC).<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>C \u2014 Chargeback to Compelling Evidence 3.0<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chargeback<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A chargeback is a forced reversal of a card transaction, initiated by the cardholder&#8217;s issuing bank on behalf of the customer. The merchant&#8217;s account is debited for the full transaction amount, plus a chargeback processing fee \u2014 regardless of whether the original transaction was legitimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chargebacks exist to protect consumers from fraud and non-delivery. In practice, a large proportion \u2014 estimated at 36% in 2025 \u2014 are instances of friendly fraud, where a genuine purchaser disputes a valid transaction rather than requesting a refund through the merchant&#8217;s own process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Chargeback Process \u2014 Step by Step<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Cardholder contacts their issuing bank to dispute a transaction<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Issuing bank files a chargeback against the merchant via the card network<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Merchant&#8217;s acquiring bank debits the transaction amount and fee from the merchant&#8217;s account<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Merchant has a defined window (typically 20\u201345 days) to submit representment evidence<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; If representment is accepted, funds are returned; if rejected, the loss is permanent<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Cost impact: Industry data shows that merchants lose an average of $4.61 for every $1 disputed in a chargeback \u2014 factoring in the transaction value, chargeback fee, fulfilled product cost, and internal processing time.<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Chargeback<\/strong><\/td><td>A forced transaction reversal where the cardholder&#8217;s bank debits the merchant&#8217;s account for a disputed amount. The merchant can contest the reversal through a process called representment by submitting documentary evidence.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chargeback Ratio<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your chargeback ratio is the percentage of your total monthly card transactions that resulted in a formal chargeback. It is the single most important metric your acquiring bank uses to assess the health of your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Threshold<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What It Means<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Below 0.3%<\/strong><\/td><td>Best-in-class \u2014 maximum account stability<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>0.3%\u20130.5%<\/strong><\/td><td>Clean \u2014 acquirer early-warning zone for some processors<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>0.5%\u20130.75%<\/strong><\/td><td>Acquirer informal review threshold \u2014 expect account scrutiny<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>0.75%\u20130.9%<\/strong><\/td><td>Approaching Visa VAMP enforcement threshold<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Above 0.9%<\/strong><\/td><td>Visa VAMP monitoring tier \u2014 scheme fines apply<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Above 1.0%<\/strong><\/td><td>High risk of account termination<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Formula: Chargeback Ratio = (Total Chargebacks in Month \u00f7 Total Transactions in Month) \u00d7 100<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Compelling Evidence 3.0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compelling Evidence 3.0 (CE3.0) is Visa&#8217;s updated framework for chargeback representment, introduced to address the significant rise in friendly fraud disputes. It allows merchants to contest certain chargeback categories by submitting specific documentary evidence that proves the cardholder authorised, received, and engaged with the transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under CE3.0, merchants can submit evidence including device fingerprints, IP addresses, previous undisputed transactions from the same customer, and post-purchase activity logs. When accepted, CE3.0 representment shifts the liability back to the issuing bank and recovers the disputed funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Counts as Compelling Evidence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Customer&#8217;s device ID or fingerprint linked to the disputed transaction<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; IP address matching the customer&#8217;s account or previous undisputed purchases<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Proof of prior undisputed transactions by the same cardholder on the same device<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Post-purchase login records, content access logs, or download history<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Delivery confirmation with signature or tracking events<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>I \u2014 Interchange Fee to Issuing Bank<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interchange Fee<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The interchange fee is paid by the merchant&#8217;s acquiring bank to the cardholder&#8217;s issuing bank on every card transaction. It is set by the card networks \u2014 Visa and Mastercard \u2014 and varies based on card type (debit, credit, corporate, premium rewards), transaction method (card-present or card-not-present), and the merchant&#8217;s category code (MCC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interchange is the largest component of the total processing fee a merchant pays. The MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) charged by the acquirer is built on top of interchange \u2014 it includes interchange plus the acquirer&#8217;s own margin. Merchants cannot negotiate interchange directly; it is a card-network-set cost that flows through to every transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>For high-risk merchants: Card-not-present transactions (online, telephone) carry higher interchange rates than card-present (in-person) transactions. International cards and premium rewards cards also incur higher interchange, which is relevant for businesses with a high proportion of international customers.<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Interchange Fee<\/strong><\/td><td>A per-transaction fee paid from the acquirer to the issuing bank, set by Visa or Mastercard. It varies by card type, MCC, and transaction method. Interchange is the primary cost component built into a merchant&#8217;s MDR.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Issuing Bank (Issuer)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The issuing bank is the financial institution that issued the cardholder&#8217;s payment card. When a customer makes a purchase, their issuing bank authorises the transaction, temporarily holds the funds, and \u2014 if the transaction is settled \u2014 transfers those funds through the card network to the acquirer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a chargeback scenario, the issuing bank is the entity that initiates the reversal on the cardholder&#8217;s behalf. The issuer is the primary point of contact for the customer; the merchant never deals with the issuer directly \u2014 all communication routes through the card network and the acquirer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>M \u2014 MDR to MCC<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>MDR \u2014 Merchant Discount Rate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is the all-in percentage fee charged to a merchant on every processed transaction. It is the headline rate in a merchant account agreement. MDR is made up of three components: interchange (paid to the issuing bank), scheme fees (paid to Visa or Mastercard), and the acquirer&#8217;s own margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>MDR Component<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Who Receives It<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Interchange (largest portion)<\/td><td>Issuing bank<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Scheme fee<\/td><td>Visa \/ Mastercard<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Acquirer margin<\/td><td>Your acquiring bank<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For high-risk merchants, MDR typically falls between 2.5% and 5.5% per transaction \u2014 significantly higher than standard-risk rates of 1.5%\u20132.5%. This premium reflects the additional risk the acquirer takes on by underwriting a high-risk merchant category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>MCC \u2014 Merchant Category Code<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit number assigned to every merchant by their acquiring bank and registered with the card networks. It classifies the primary business activity of the merchant and has far-reaching consequences for fees, processing rules, and risk classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why MCC Matters for High-Risk Merchants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Determines interchange rate: Different MCCs carry different interchange rates \u2014 some significantly higher<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Triggers high-risk classification: Certain MCCs \u2014 including gambling (7995), adult content (5967), and digital goods (5816) \u2014 are automatically classified as high-risk by card networks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Affects chargeback rules: MCC influences which card-network monitoring programmes apply to your account<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Limits processor availability: Many mainstream processors explicitly block specific MCCs in their terms of service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>R \u2014 Rolling Reserve<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rolling Reserve<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A rolling reserve is one of the most important \u2014 and most commonly misunderstood \u2014 features of a high-risk merchant account. It is a percentage of your monthly card processing volume that your acquiring bank withholds as a financial buffer against future chargebacks, refunds, and regulatory liabilities. It is held in a separate reserve account and returned to you on a fixed rolling schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>The rolling reserve is your money. It is not a fee. It is a deferred payment \u2014 held temporarily by the acquirer to cover any chargebacks filed after settlement, then released to you after the agreed hold period.<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How a Rolling Reserve Works \u2014 Illustrated<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Example: 7% rolling reserve, 90-day hold period, processing \u00a3100,000\/month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Month<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Processed<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>7% Withheld<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Reserve Released<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Month 1<\/td><td>\u00a3100,000<\/td><td>\u00a37,000<\/td><td>\u00a30 (in hold)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Month 2<\/td><td>\u00a3100,000<\/td><td>\u00a37,000<\/td><td>\u00a30 (in hold)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Month 3<\/td><td>\u00a3100,000<\/td><td>\u00a37,000<\/td><td>\u00a30 (in hold)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Month 4<\/td><td>\u00a3100,000<\/td><td>\u00a37,000<\/td><td>\u00a37,000 (Month 1 released)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Month 5+<\/td><td>\u00a3100,000<\/td><td>\u00a37,000<\/td><td>\u00a37,000 (rolling)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rolling Reserve Rates by Industry<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Industry<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Typical Rate<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hold Period<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>iGaming &amp; Online Gambling<\/td><td><strong>7.5%\u201312%<\/strong><\/td><td>120\u2013180 days<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Adult Content<\/td><td><strong>7.5%\u201310%<\/strong><\/td><td>90\u2013180 days<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nutraceuticals &amp; Supplements<\/td><td><strong>5%\u201310%<\/strong><\/td><td>90\u2013120 days<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Travel &amp; Tourism<\/td><td><strong>7.5%\u201312%<\/strong><\/td><td>120\u2013180 days<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Forex &amp; CFD Trading<\/td><td><strong>7.5%\u201310%<\/strong><\/td><td>90\u2013120 days<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CBD &amp; Hemp Products<\/td><td><strong>5%\u201310%<\/strong><\/td><td>90\u2013120 days<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Subscription Services<\/td><td><strong>5%\u20137.5%<\/strong><\/td><td>90 days<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>S \u2014 Settlement<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Settlement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Settlement is the process by which the funds from approved card transactions are transferred from the cardholder&#8217;s issuing bank, through the card network, to the merchant&#8217;s acquiring bank, and ultimately into the merchant&#8217;s settlement account \u2014 net of processing fees and any rolling reserve deductions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Settlement does not happen instantly. The authorisation hold is placed at the time of purchase, but actual settlement \u2014 the movement of funds \u2014 occurs on a daily batch cycle. For most card-present transactions, settlement takes 1\u20132 business days. For card-not-present (online) high-risk transactions, settlement cycles of 2\u20135 business days are standard, with some high-risk categories extending to T+7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Settlement Timeline \u2014 Card-Not-Present High-Risk Transaction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Day 0: Authorisation approved, funds held at issuing bank<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Day 1: Merchant submits daily batch for settlement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Day 2\u20133: Card network processes the interchange flow<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Day 3\u20135: Acquirer receives funds and credits merchant account (net of fees and reserve)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>T \u2014 TC40<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>TC40 \u2014 Fraud Notification Signal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TC40 is a fraud reporting signal used within the Visa network. When a cardholder reports a transaction as fraudulent to their issuing bank, the issuer submits a TC40 notification to Visa. This signal flags the transaction as suspected fraud \u2014 even if no formal chargeback has yet been filed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TC40 signals matter enormously to high-risk merchants because they are included in Visa&#8217;s VAMP combined ratio calculation alongside formal chargebacks. A merchant whose formal chargeback ratio looks acceptable may still be in a VAMP monitoring tier if their TC40 fraud signal rate is elevated \u2014 and they will often not know it until their acquirer notifies them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Action point for merchants: Standard chargeback monitoring dashboards do not show TC40 counts. You need TC40 data access \u2014 through your acquirer or a specialist tool \u2014 to know your true VAMP ratio. Merchants who monitor only formal chargebacks are measuring the wrong number.<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>TC40<\/strong>Fraud Signal<\/td><td>A Visa network notification submitted by an issuing bank when a cardholder reports fraud. TC40 signals count toward the merchant&#8217;s VAMP combined ratio before a formal chargeback is ever filed. Monitoring TC40 data is essential for high-risk merchants managing their Visa compliance threshold.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>V \u2014 VAMP<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>VAMP \u2014 Visa Acquirer Monitoring Programme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VAMP is Visa&#8217;s unified compliance framework for monitoring merchant dispute and fraud rates, which replaced the older Visa Dispute Monitoring Programme (VDMP) and Visa Fraud Monitoring Programme (VFMP) with a single combined programme. Full enforcement began in January 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under VAMP, Visa monitors a combined ratio \u2014 TC40 fraud signals plus TC15 non-fraud disputes \u2014 divided by total settled Visa transactions in the same month. The enforcement threshold is 0.9%. Merchants whose combined ratio exceeds this threshold enter a formal monitoring tier subject to scheme-level fines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>VAMP Thresholds and Consequences<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Tier<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>VAMP Ratio<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Consequence<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Standard<\/strong><\/td><td>Below 0.9%<\/td><td>No monitoring action<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Early Warning<\/strong><\/td><td>0.4%\u20130.5%<\/td><td>Acquirer-level internal flag (not Visa formal)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Monitoring<\/strong><\/td><td>0.9%\u20131.5%<\/td><td>Scheme-level fines begin; acquirer oversight increases<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>High-Risk<\/strong><\/td><td>Above 1.5%<\/td><td>Elevated fines; acquirer may terminate relationship<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Critical distinction: VAMP measures TC40 + TC15 combined \u2014 not just formal chargebacks. Merchants targeting below 0.5% are managing to their acquirer&#8217;s internal early-warning threshold, which is the correct operating target for account stability.<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quick Reference: All Glossary Terms at a Glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Term<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>One-Line Definition<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Acquiring Bank<\/strong><\/td><td>The bank that processes card payments for a merchant and settles funds into their account.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>ACH<\/strong><\/td><td>US electronic bank-to-bank payment network used as a card alternative for high-risk businesses.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Authorisation<\/strong><\/td><td>Issuing bank approval that confirms a card is valid and places a fund hold \u2014 not a completed payment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Chargeback<\/strong><\/td><td>Forced transaction reversal debited from the merchant&#8217;s account; contestable through representment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Chargeback Ratio<\/strong><\/td><td>Percentage of monthly transactions resulting in a chargeback; Visa VAMP threshold is 0.9% combined.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Compelling Evidence 3.0<\/strong><\/td><td>Visa&#8217;s representment framework allowing merchants to prove cardholder authorised a disputed transaction.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Interchange Fee<\/strong><\/td><td>Per-transaction fee from acquirer to issuing bank, set by Visa\/Mastercard; the core cost within MDR.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Issuing Bank<\/strong><\/td><td>The bank that issued the cardholder&#8217;s card; authorises purchases and initiates chargebacks.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>MCC<\/strong><\/td><td>Four-digit code classifying merchant business type; determines interchange rates and risk classification.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>MDR<\/strong><\/td><td>All-in percentage fee charged to the merchant per transaction; includes interchange + scheme + acquirer margin.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rolling Reserve<\/strong><\/td><td>Percentage of monthly processing volume withheld by acquirer and released after 90\u2013180 days.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Settlement<\/strong><\/td><td>The transfer of funds from issuing bank to merchant account, net of fees; takes 1\u20135 business days.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>TC40<\/strong><\/td><td>Visa fraud notification signal counted in VAMP ratio before a formal chargeback is filed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>VAMP<\/strong><\/td><td>Visa&#8217;s combined fraud + dispute monitoring programme; 0.9% threshold triggers scheme-level fines.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Q&nbsp; What is a rolling reserve in a merchant account?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A&nbsp; A rolling reserve is a percentage of your monthly card processing volume \u2014 typically 5%\u201310% for high-risk merchants \u2014 that your acquiring bank holds as a security buffer against future chargebacks and disputes. It is not a fee: it is your money, held temporarily and released on a rolling 90\u2013180 day schedule. From Month 4 onward (on a 90-day hold), you receive both your current month&#8217;s settlement and the release of the reserve from 90 days prior.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Q&nbsp; What is an acquiring bank?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A&nbsp; An acquiring bank (acquirer) is the financial institution that processes card payments on behalf of a merchant. It underwrites the merchant&#8217;s transactions, manages settlement, and handles the relationship with card networks like Visa and Mastercard. The acquirer takes on financial risk \u2014 which is why high-risk merchant accounts are subject to higher fees, rolling reserves, and stricter underwriting. The acquiring bank is distinct from the issuing bank, which serves the cardholder.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Q&nbsp; What is the difference between MDR and interchange?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A&nbsp; Interchange is the fee paid by the acquiring bank to the issuing bank on every card transaction. It is set by Visa or Mastercard and is not negotiable by merchants. MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) is the all-in percentage fee the merchant pays to the acquirer \u2014 it includes interchange, card network scheme fees, and the acquirer&#8217;s own margin. MDR is the headline rate in a merchant account agreement; interchange is one component within it.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Q&nbsp; What is TC40 and why does it matter for my chargeback ratio?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A&nbsp; TC40 is a fraud notification signal submitted by an issuing bank to Visa when a cardholder reports a transaction as fraudulent. It is reported to Visa before a formal chargeback is filed. TC40 signals are included in Visa&#8217;s VAMP combined ratio calculation alongside formal disputes. A merchant can have a formal chargeback ratio below 0.9% but still be in a VAMP monitoring tier because their TC40 fraud rate pushes the combined ratio over the threshold. High-risk merchants must monitor TC40 data \u2014 not just formal chargebacks \u2014 to know their true VAMP exposure.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Q&nbsp; What is the difference between authorisation and settlement?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A&nbsp; Authorisation is the approval step: the issuing bank confirms the card is valid and places a temporary hold on funds. Settlement is the completion step: the actual transfer of funds from the issuing bank through the card network to the acquiring bank and into the merchant&#8217;s account. Authorisation happens in seconds; settlement typically takes 1\u20135 business days for card-not-present transactions.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you are setting up your first merchant account or managing an established high-risk business, payment processing is full of technical terminology that directly affects your costs, compliance obligations, and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[368,13,9,17,7,6,11,367,365],"class_list":["post-1025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-merchant-account","tag-credit-card-processing-terms","tag-high-risk-merchant-account","tag-high-risk-payment-gateway","tag-international-payment-gateway","tag-merchant-account","tag-payment-gateway","tag-payment-gateway-integration","tag-payment-gateway-terminology","tag-payment-processing-glossary"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Payment Processing Glossary: A\u2013Z Terms &amp; Definitions for Merchants<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Complete A\u2013Z glossary of payment processing terms for merchants \u2014 from ACH and acquiring bank to chargeback ratio, rolling reserve, and VAMP threshold. 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