Making sense of the complex

AAA is a comprehensive framework used in network management and security that stands for "Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting.

An ABA transit routing number, commonly referred to as a route transit number or RTN, is a unique nine-digit code used to identify a specific financial institution.

Access control refers to the security mechanisms and protocols used to restrict and regulate the availability of information or information-processing resources to only those persons or applications that are authorized.

Account data is a collective term for information related to a cardholder’s financial account, comprising both cardholder data and sensitive authentication data.

 Acculynk is a suite of payment solutions provided by First Data, designed to enhance electronic payment processing for eCommerce merchants and other entities.

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) is a vital electronic network that facilitates a broad spectrum of financial transactions within the United States.

An Acquirer Reference Number (ARN) is a unique identifier used in credit card transactions.

AVS is a security measure employed to prevent credit card fraud by verifying the billing address provided by a customer against the address records held by the credit card issuer.

An adjustment in the context of payment processing is an action taken by an acquiring bank to correct an error associated with a transaction.

Administrative access refers to the elevated or increased privileges granted to certain accounts, allowing them to manage systems, networks, and applications.

Adware is a type of malicious software designed to force computers to automatically display or download advertising content.

AES, short for Advanced Encryption Standard, is a block cipher utilized in symmetric key cryptography.

Affiliate fraud is a deceptive practice where a fraudster, pretending to be a legitimate affiliate marketer, manipulates traffic or makes fraudulent purchases to earn higher payouts.

An affinity card is a type of credit card issued in partnership between a credit card issuer and a specific organization or collective group, such as a professional organization, alumni group, or association for retirees.

AFT, or Automatic Funds Transfer, refers to the electronic movement of funds between bank accounts using advanced electronic or telecommunications technology.

Afterpay is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service owned by Square, which provides customers with the option to purchase items and pay for them in installments over a six-month period.

An agent bank is a financial institution that participates in the acquiring program of another bank.

An aggregator merchant acts as an intermediary between individual merchants and an acquirer.

AliPay is a significant third-party mobile and online payments platform owned by the Alibaba Group®, established in February 2004.

Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) encompass a range of payment options that deviate from traditional credit and debit card transactions.

Amazon One is an innovative payment method developed by Amazon that enables customers to make purchases using their palm print as identification.

American Express, commonly known as AmEx, is a multinational financial services corporation headquartered in New York City.

AMEX SafeKey is a security feature implemented by American Express as a part of the 3D Secure protocol, which enhances the safety of online transactions.

ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute, a private, non-profit organization that plays a crucial role in overseeing the U.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) encompasses a comprehensive set of laws, regulations, and procedures implemented globally to prevent individuals and entities from disguising illegally obtained funds as legitimate income.

Anti-virus software is a program designed to detect, remove, and provide ongoing protection against various forms of malicious software, commonly referred to as "malware.

AOC stands for "Attestation of Compliance," a crucial document used by merchants and service providers to confirm their adherence to the requirements of the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).

AOV stands for "Attestation of Validation," a formal document used by assessors and/or laboratories to confirm the findings of an assessment as outlined in the applicable Report on Validation.

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules and protocols for building and interacting with software applications.

Apple Pay is a comprehensive digital wallet and mobile payment service developed by Apple Inc.

In the context of technology and software, an application refers to any software program or group of programs designed for end users.

In the context of financial transactions, an approval is the confirmation provided by the cardholder or check writer's bank that a transaction is authorized and can proceed.

Arbitration in the context of credit card transactions is a formal dispute resolution process used by credit card issuing companies to determine the definitive responsibility for a chargeback between the involved parties, typically the card issuer and the acquirer (the entity processing payment transactions on behalf of a merchant).

Assessments are specific types of processing fees that merchants are required to pay to Card Associations, such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and others.

In the context of financial services, associations refer to entities established to administer and promote the use of credit cards and payment cards.

ASV stands for "Approved Scanning Vendor," a designation given to companies that have been authorized by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to conduct external vulnerability scanning services.

Asynchronous Communication: Asynchronous communication refers to a method of data transmission in which data elements are sent independently of each other without a common clock signal.

An ATM, or Automated Teller Machine, is an unattended electronic banking terminal that allows customers to perform a variety of financial transactions autonomously.

An audit log, also known as an audit trail, is a chronological record that captures the detailed sequence of activities, events, and operations within a system or process.

In the realm of payment processing, authentication refers to the process by which a customer's identity is verified before a transaction is allowed to proceed.

Authorization is a critical step in the payment process where a merchant seeks verification from the customer's card issuer to confirm that the credit or debit card being used has sufficient funds available to cover the transaction amount.

Auto-Close is an automated process utilized within electronic payment systems where daily batches of transactions are systematically summarized and transmitted for end-of-day settlement.

An ATM, or Automated Teller Machine, is a self-service banking terminal that allows customers to perform basic financial transactions without the need for a teller or branch representative.

Automatic funds transfer, commonly referred to as direct debits, is a financial service that allows customers to schedule payments to be automatically withdrawn from their checking or savings accounts.

Average Monthly Volume, commonly abbreviated as AMV, refers to the typical amount of transactions processed by an organization, such as a merchant or payment processor, within a month.

Average Ticket, also known as Average Selling Price (ASP), refers to the average dollar amount of a typical sale or transaction processed through a merchant's account.

AVS, or Address Verification System, is a security measure used to verify the billing address provided by a customer against the address on file with the credit card issuer.