The use of plastic cards is associated with convenience and reliability when paying for goods and services. The ordinary consumer is interested in the simplicity of operations. They don’t even think about what processes take place at the time of payment and how many electronic systems are involved in the payment process. This complex complex, combining many operations into one whole, is called processing.
Processing system - what is it?
Processing is the process of processing data provided for when conducting payment transactions. Processing centers that provide services for the supply of software and maintenance of payment systems are one of the links in the acquiring system. Its purpose is the implementation of payment transactions on payment cards.
Participants in acquiring operations are:
- an acquiring company directly calculating;
- issuing bank that issued a plastic card;
- payment system - an intermediary between previous participants.
The processing system is obliged to provide continuous uninterrupted communication between the participants in the settlements.
Acquiring System Features
During payment by card, the following details are checked:
- legal capacity of the card;
- amount of funds on a chip;
- issuing bank status.
Also, the processing system carries out transactions for the transfer of funds through a payment gateway and ensures the safety and security of the operation, protection from fraudsters.
These processes are controlled in hardware and software systems that are connected to the acquiring system of communication channels. A very important factor of a good center is its rapid modernization, the speed of processing and data transfer.
Features of the organization of processing
A payment processing system using plastic cards, based on process automation, is most often used in the field of e-commerce. With the help of the smooth running of all systems that quickly track settlements between the cardholder, acquiring bank, payment gateway, store and the owner of the payment chip, the processing center becomes the link between the parties to the transaction.
The functioning scheme implements the following tasks:
- processing of payer payment card data;
- transfer of payment request data for a transaction to the issuing company;
- processing the payment details protocol;
- formation and support of the database;
- daily report to the acquiring bank on settlements made;
- mixing stop lists and sending information to counterparties.
Additional services of such centers include the production of plastic cards, their personalization and protection. The processing system of a bank may include payment centers.
Processing Center Functionality
Payment systems process a huge amount of information and requests for financial transactions every minute. Therefore, processing centers have high-performance computing power. Companies are also supplied with protective software, since the security of payment systems is a guarantee of reliability in the eyes of the consumer. Processing systems include a staff of highly qualified programmers who can maintain equipment and timely repel hacker attacks.
Types and types of processing systems
In Russia, financial companies create their own payment centers for electronic payments. They are supplied with a software product that controls the issued cards.
Integration into international systems obliges our financial institutions to use the services of foreign processing centers and implement their software. Also, domestic banks depend on world monsters both legally and financially. That is, they are fully obliged to fulfill the requirements for cooperation for the convenience of the consumer.
The largest processing systems in Russia use payment systems developed by the United Card Company. The most famous foreign centers are Visa, Master Card, Skrill and others. All processing complexes perform Internet acquiring using a single network.
The problem of Russian financial systems is that each bank produces its own payment system, without providing the opportunity for other market players to use it.
Security
Unfortunately, to date, no processing system can provide complete protection for customers from scammers. One of the methods to combat hackers was the emergence of a set of security measures according to the PCI DSS standard. 
According to its provisions, at all stages of the remote banking operations with a card account for each participant in the payment scheme obligations are imposed:
- Each issuing bank provides a plastic card with counterfeit protection. Such protection can be magnetic chips or strips, CVV numbers, an additional PAN identification code, PIN for cardholders. Also, the holder of the payment instrument passes 3-D Secure authentication. Each owner is assigned a login and one-time password via SMS.
- Each processing center is certified. Without proper certification, he is not allowed to participate in payment transactions until he passes re-certification. All employees are tested by the national security service.
All information is transmitted using cryptographic algorithms and security protocols according to PCI DSS standards. Each participant in a financial transaction is constantly audited for security measures. The PCI DSS standard also sets requirements for electronic payment systems that are subject to mandatory certification.
Payment system license (processing)
When processing starts, a license is required, which can be obtained from a provider that provides services for processing centers. Such companies provide a safe and efficient service using knowledge and many years of experience in the processing center industry.
Payment system requirements
The processing system should meet the basic requirements of plastic card payments. When using online cash desks, the buyer enters a secure form of payment. At this stage, the task of the processing center is to verify the status of the payment card and the parameters of the online store.
Connection of payment systems
Compared with bank transfers electronic financial systems have several advantages. The main factor is easy accessibility. Simply register on the site, get a virtual account or company card, go to your personal account, get individual login details - and you can make payments. 
Electronic transaction security is carried out using the international encryption protocol SSL using a 128-bit code.
The most famous are WebMoney, PayPal, Western Express, Yandex.Money and others.
Overview of some international payment systems
International processing systems are represented by the following well-known companies:
- PayPal is the most common and secure payment system. Engaged in administration, release certificates of deposit issuing financial instruments, executing payment transactions, conducting banking operations under licenses of offshore banks.
- WebMoney is the most common payment system in the vastness of the CIS countries. Supports Visa and MasterCard. Gives loans to customers.It is possible to make transfers without additional registration in the system. Payments can be made through the terminals. The system commission for the transaction is 0.8% of the payment amount.
- Western Express is a service for cashing checks. Russian language interface. Withdraw funds to a PayCard, WebMoney or Western Union bank card.
- LiqPAY - supports Visa and MasterCard. You can transfer money to your mobile phone. It supports currencies such as Euro, Dollar, Russian Ruble and Ukrainian Hryvnia.
- Payza is an international electronic payment system. Simple registration. The possibility of additional earnings in the form of affiliate rewards.
- Yandex.Money is the most famous Russian electronic Internet payment service. To register, you must register a mailing address in the Yandex system. Simple linking a bank card. The ability to make payments through the terminal.
Everyone can choose for themselves the system that meets their ideas about the quality of services, speed of operations and security.
