Introduction
The total time it takes to process a card transaction depends on several factors. The time between the transaction being authorized and received by the merchant can vary based on the following:
Factors that affect the card transaction time
The length of time it takes to process a card transaction depends on several factors, including:
- The type of card used
- The location of the merchant
- The time of day (peak hours vs. off-peak hours)
- The type of card reader used
- The type of network used (e.g., a wireless device or an Internet connection)
The customer’s chosen payment method may also affect how quickly their purchase is processed. For example, if a customer chooses to pay with Apple Pay, this can take a few seconds longer than cash, but it won’t slow down other customers’ transactions throughout the store.
How long until my customer sees the payment in their account?
The time it takes for a card transaction to be processed and the payment to be received depends on several factors, including:
- The type of card being used. For example, an American Express transaction may take longer than a Visa transaction.
- The merchant’s bank. While many banks process payments within 24 hours, others can take up to 72 hours (3 business days).
- The payment network the customer’s bank uses to process their transactions, such as VisaNet or MasterCardNet (which are separate from each other). These networks have different processing times that vary based on factors like volume and capacity at any given moment.
How long does it take for refunds to show up in customers’ accounts?
How long does it take for refunds to show up in customers’ accounts?
The amount of time it takes for a refund to appear in your account depends on the type of transaction. While there are no industry-wide rules, here is an overview:
- For refunds made with paper checks, expect them to arrive between 3-10 business days after they’re issued.
- If you paid by credit card, your bank will typically process the refund within 5 business days. If you used a debit card and choose not to dispute the charge, your bank may need up to 15 days (or even longer) before issuing a refund.
The total time it takes a transaction to move through the payment network can vary based on several factors.
The total time it takes a transaction to move through the payment network can vary based on several factors, including:
- The type of card used (credit, debit or prepaid).
- The type of merchant where you made your purchase.
- Which network processes your transaction—including Visa and Mastercard and other networks such as American Express and Discover?
- The time of day you submit your payment. For example, suppose you’re making a large purchase in the evening when many people are preparing for an evening out on the town (and restaurants are open late). In that case, there may be more potential delays due to increased traffic in that area.
In addition, if you’re shopping online with an international merchant located outside of North America at 3 am EST (eastern standard time), there’s also more potential for delays due to increased traffic in that area.
Conclusion
In this post, we’ve covered how our payment network processes card transactions and how long it takes to receive a payment. We’ve also looked at the factors that affect the speed of your customer’s transactions and when they’ll see their funds in their bank accounts.