Card Present

Card Present refers to any transaction that occurs when the card being used is physically present, and payment data was captured in-person from the consumer's card, at the point of sale (POS).
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Definition

Card Present refers to any transaction that occurs when the card being used is physically present, and payment data was captured in-person from the consumer's card, at the point of sale (POS). Most people think of "swiping a credit card" as defining card present transactions, however there are more ways to capture credit card data that constitute a card present transaction.

For example, you can swipe a card through a terminal, which reads the magnetic strip, insert an EMV chip card, simply tap your card on a contactless device and pay using a digital wallet with your stored card information in an app, like Apple Pay.

These would all constitute a card present transaction.

Card present simply means that the credit card was physically present at the merchant when the goods/services were paid for.

Card Present Transactions

  • Traditional countertop credit card machines
  • POS Systems with card readers
  • Contactless-enabled terminals
  • Card reader connected to smartphone/tablet

Card Present Transaction Costs

Card present transactions will typically cost less than card not present transactions.

Card Present Transaction Risk

Merchant account providers consider card present transactions less risky, for obvious reasons - less people will take a stolen credit card into a store to make purchases for an in-person "present" transaction that will for a card not present (maybe online shopping?) transaction.

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