Payments Glossary  /  Risk & Compliance
Payments glossary

Underwriting

The review an acquirer performs before (and during) a merchant relationship to assess risk — business type, volume, credit, and history. It determines approval, pricing, reserves, and limits.


Why it matters for your business

Terms like Underwriting 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.

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