KartenNetzwerke

Kartennetzwerke, also known as card networks or payment networks, are financial infrastructures that facilitate electronic fund transfers between merchants, consumers, and financial institutions. These networks enable the processing of transactions initiated by credit, debit, and prepaid cards. Key players in the ecosystem include cardholders, merchants, acquiring banks (which process transactions on behalf of merchants), issuing banks (which issue cards to consumers), and the card network itself.

When a consumer uses a card, the transaction data is transmitted securely through the card network to the issuing bank for authorization. The issuing bank checks the cardholder's account for sufficient funds or credit and approves or declines the transaction. This approval or decline is then sent back through the network to the merchant. If approved, the funds are eventually transferred from the issuing bank to the acquiring bank and then to the merchant's account, minus transaction fees.

Prominent examples of Kartennetzwerke include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. These networks establish the rules and standards for card transactions, manage security protocols, and provide the technology backbone for processing millions of transactions daily worldwide. They play a crucial role in modern commerce by enabling convenient and secure electronic payments.