The company that moves a card transaction between the merchant, the card networks, and the banks — handling authorization, clearing, and settlement. Your processor sets your pricing and support experience.
Why it matters for your business
Terms like Payment processor aren't just jargon — they sit behind what you actually pay to accept payments. Understanding them is the difference between reading your statement and being at the mercy of it. If you're not sure how this shows up in your own costs, the fastest way to find out is to have someone read your statement line by line.
See what you're really paying →Related — Processing & Technology