Banks process debit card transactions first because it’s more efficient for them to do so. If you’re using an online banking system, you can configure your bank account to automatically pay bills each month.
This means that your bank will process all of your credit card transactions before processing your bill payments.
If you’ve got a business checking account, however, you’ll need to manually make sure that your checks get paid every month.
In this case, you should set up automatic payment instructions with your bank as this will make the transaction process far easier to monitor and manage.
How Are Card Transactions Processed?
When you swipe a credit card, the magnetic strip on the back of the card contains information about the type of transaction (credit or debit) and the amount of money being charged.
When you swipe your card, the terminal reads the data from the magnetic strip and sends it along to the merchant’s processor. The processor then processes the transaction and tells the merchant how much money is owed by you.
The processor also keeps track of how many times your card has been used in a certain time period. It does this so that if there are any problems with your card, they can be resolved quickly.
What Happens After A Transaction Is Completed?
After a transaction is completed, the merchant receives a notification from the processor telling him how much he owes you. He may also receive a statement showing his total purchases during that billing cycle.
How Long Does It Take Credit Card Transactions To Process?
Credit cards have become one of the most popular forms of payment today. As such, merchants want to accept as many types of credit cards as possible. However, not everyone uses credit cards, so some merchants don’t accept them at all.
For example, when you use a debit or credit card to buy something, the merchant doesn’t know whether you have enough funds in your account to cover the purchase. So, instead of accepting debit or credit cards, some merchants only take cash.
Whilst most merchants will process debit cards first, some merchants who accept both credit and debit cards prefer to process credit card transactions first.
This allows them to charge customers’ accounts immediately after the sale. They can then wait until their next monthly bill to deduct the charges from their own accounts.
This method of processing is the same for banks as they typically process debit card transactions first. But what happens when you use a different type of card?
For instance, let’s say you use a prepaid card to buy something. You won’t have access to your regular checking account balance, so you might not be able to pay the merchant right away.
In this situation, you could either give the merchant a check or ask him to hold the item until you can pay later. Or, you could tell the merchant to put the items into a safe place and contact you when you have sufficient funds to pay him.
Are Online Transactions Quicker To Process?
No. Online transactions are processed just like traditional transactions. There is no difference between online and offline processing.
Are Apple Pay Transactions Quicker To Process?
Apple Pay is an app that lets you pay for things using your iPhone or iPad. With Apple Pay, you simply tap your device against a reader to complete a transaction.
You can use Apple Pay to make payments at stores that support the service. If the store accepts Apple Pay, you will see a green “i” icon appear on the screen when you tap your phone against the reader.
If you’re paying for something over the Internet, you’ll need to enter your credit card number manually.
However, Apple Pay makes entering your card numbers easier than typing them out yourself.
If you’re shopping online, you can enable Apple Pay before you finish your order. Then, you can choose to pay by tapping your phone against a reader, or you can choose to pay through other methods such as PayPal or Google Wallet.
Apple Pay is a faster means of payment, however, the processing period is not faster than any other form of transaction.
What Is The Easiest Transaction To Process?
The easiest transaction to process is a cash-based transaction. Cash purchases are easy because there is no middleman involved. You hand the cashier your money directly, and they hand it back to you.
Cash is also fast. When you pay with cash, you don’t have to wait for someone else to verify your identity or approve your payment. In fact, you don’t even have to leave your seat!
Cash is also convenient. It’s easy to carry around, and you never have to worry about losing it. Plus, if you lose it, nothing is extensively lost except time as you are unlikely to carry large amounts of cash.
Does A Merchant Get Paid If They Process Credit Card Transactions First?
When you use a credit card to shop, the merchant gets paid in two ways:
- The merchant receives his share of the interchange fees charged by the bank. Interchange fees vary depending on where you shop and how much you spend.
- The merchant gets paid via the credit line offered by the bank. Your credit limit is determined based on your spending history.
Conclusion
To conclude, the type of transaction that gets processed first is dependent upon the type of card used. Debit cards are usually processed first, followed by credit cards. Prepaid cards are typically processed last.
However, cash will always be the fastest transaction to process as there are no interchange fees or external processes involved.
Paul Martinez is the founder of EcomSidekick.com. He is an expert in the areas of finance, real estate, eCommerce, traffic and conversion.
Join him on EcomSidekick.com to learn how to improve your financial life and excel in these areas. Before starting this media site, Paul built from scratch and managed two multi-million dollar companies. One in the real estate sector and one in the eCommerce sector.