Ideas in this flowchart

• Card-payment authorization and settlement flow
• Transaction initiation and information capture
• The customer swipes the card.
• The card's account number, expiration date, billing ZIP code, and security code are captured.
• Authorization information is routed through the payment-processing network.
• A front-end processor working for the merchant and acquiring bank receives the information.
• The processor forwards the information through the relevant card association.
• The issuing bank verifies the transaction.
• The issuing bank verifies the account.
• The issuing bank checks whether sufficient credit is available.
• The authorization response returns to the merchant.
• Approval travels back through the same processing chain.
• The merchant usually receives approval within seconds.
• The merchant is paid later through a separate settlement process.