What is an acquirer? The business-side bank in every card payment
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
An acquirer is the bank or licensed firm that takes card payments on behalf of a business. When a customer pays by card, the acquirer asks the customer's card issuer for the money and then pays it out to the business.
Who's who in a card payment
- The cardholder pays with their card.
- The acquirer, working for the business, sends the payment request through the card scheme, such as Visa or Mastercard.
- The issuer, the cardholder's bank, approves or declines it.
- If approved, the money moves from the issuer to the acquirer, which pays the business, less its fees.
How acquirers get paid
The business pays a fee on each card payment. Part of it goes to the issuer as the interchange fee, part to the card scheme, and the rest is the acquirer's own margin.
How businesses reach one
Big firms may sign directly with an acquirer for a merchant account. Most small businesses use a payment provider that has an acquirer behind it, which is quicker to set up.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay doesn't sell card machines or act as an acquirer. SendPay platforms let your customers take payments through payment links, invoices and subscriptions, under your own brand and powered by licensed partners.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
What is a card scheme?
The network, such as Visa, that links issuers and acquirers.
What is a card scheme? →Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.