A payment processor is the company that handles communication between the merchant, acquiring bank, card network, and issuing bank. It routes transactions, applies fraud checks, and deposits funds into your merchant account. Processors can be standalone services or bundled with gateways and acquirers.
Understanding how your processor works helps troubleshoot declines, fund delays, and reconciliation issues. You should review processor fees, chargeback handling policies, and fraud settings to ensure alignment with your business. AltoPay partners with processors optimised for your industry and volume needs.
For more than a decade, Jessica Velasco has been a thought leader in the payments industry. She aims to provide readers with valuable, easy-to-understand resources.
