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Diagram illustrating the stages a credit card goes through from application to delivery

Credit Card

What stages does a credit card go through before reaching the customer?

Credit cards are undoubtedly the most important payment tool for most of us when shopping. So what stages does a credit card or debit card go through before it reaches our pocket? The customer submits a card application request, and the process continues from there.

Diagram of ISO/IEC card standards defining credit card dimensions and layout

Credit Card

Standards that define credit card design and operation

When payment systems come to mind, credit cards are usually the first thing people think of. Credit cards are produced according to specific standards, both in visual design and during printing. These standards belong to the ISO/IEC 781X family.

Diagram of a smartphone using Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) to emit a signal that mimics a card's magnetic stripe at a POS terminal

Merchant & POS

What is MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission)?

Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) is a mobile payment technology in which devices such as smartphones emit a signal that mimics the magnetic stripe on a traditional payment card, letting a physical card's POS use be imitated without upgrading terminal software or hardware.

Istanbulkart transit and payment card

Credit Card

Istanbulkart: Both Transit Card and Payment Card

When I think back to the Akbil I used when I first arrived in Istanbul, I think it's fair to say that Istanbulkart has undergone a very significant transformation. Users can now track activity, top up and view balances right from their phones.

Diagram of the TR QR Code payment flow between cardholder, issuer, BKM and acquirer

Payment Systems

Why Am I Getting an Error When I Try to Pay with a TR QR Code?

In payment or cash withdrawal transactions, the TR QR Code is generated by the POS or ATM. The card issuing bank must build its systems to read and act on this code. Errors usually stem from mishandling the long and short QR code flows, which are explained here.

Logos of various international payment card schemes

Credit Card

What Are National and International Payment Schemes?

In the world of payment systems, just as credit cards are an indispensable product, a payment scheme is indispensable for credit cards. When a credit card product is launched, the scheme it will be issued under is decided first.

POS terminal used for a card payment transaction

Merchant & POS

What Is a Timeout in Payment Systems?

In the world of payment systems, both the issuer (the cardholder's bank) and the acquirer (the POS/ATM bank) must follow certain rules for card transactions made through a POS terminal or an ATM. Responding to transactions within a certain time is one of these rules.

Diagram explaining the System Trace Audit Number (STAN) field in a payment transaction

Merchant & POS

What is a System Trace Audit Number (STAN)?

The System Trace Audit Number (STAN) is a number assigned by the third-party system (ATM or POS) to help uniquely identify a transaction. It is generated in the range 000001 to 999999. Each new authorization message needs a new STAN; retries reuse the original STAN.

Diagram illustrating the Card Verification Key (CVK) concept

Credit Card

What is CVK (Card Verification Key)?

CVK (Card Verification Key) is the key information used to generate and verify CVV/CVC values, confirming their validity. It is kept as a pair of keys, CVK A and CVK B, encrypted under TMK, ZMK or LMK.