kortudsteder

A kortudsteder, or card issuer, is a financial institution or company that provides payment cards, such as credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards, to consumers and businesses. These issuers are responsible for managing the accounts associated with the cards, approving or denying transactions, and handling disputes. When a cardholder uses a card to make a purchase, the card issuer authorizes the transaction by verifying funds or credit availability and then facilitates the transfer of money to the merchant's bank.

The relationship between a card issuer and a cardholder is governed by terms and conditions that outline fees, interest rates, credit limits, and other important details. Major card issuers include large banks and credit card companies. They partner with payment networks like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, which provide the infrastructure for processing transactions globally. The issuer bears the primary risk in the transaction, including the risk of non-payment by the cardholder. In addition to issuing the physical or digital card, they also handle customer service inquiries, account management, and security measures to protect cardholders from fraud.