Support Center
Browse guides, documentation, and answers for POS Index
Payments Industry Basics
What Is a Payment Processor (Acquirer)?
What Is a Payment Processor? A payment processor, also known as an acquiring bank or acquirer, is a financial institution that enables...
What Is a Card Issuer?
What Is a Card Issuer? A card issuer is the bank or financial institution that provides credit or debit cards to consumers. When you see a ban...
Card Issuer vs Acquirer: Key Differences
Issuer vs Acquirer: The Core Difference Card Issuer - Serves: The cardholder (consumer) - Role: Provides the card, manages account, a...
Card Networks Explained (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover)
What Are Card Networks? Card networks are the infrastructure that connects issuers and acquirers. They don't issue cards or process payments direc...
Compliance & Security
What Is PCI DSS Compliance?
What Is PCI DSS? PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It's a set of security requirements designed to protect ...
Why PCI Compliance Matters
The Real Cost of Non-Compliance PCI compliance isn't just a formality. Failure to comply can lead to severe financial and operational consequences...
POS & Hardware Education
What Is a POS System?
What Is a POS System? A Point of Sale (POS) system is a combination of hardware and software that enables businesses to complete sales transac...
Terminal vs Smart Terminal vs Mobile Terminal
Types of Payment Terminals Payment terminals come in three main types, each designed for different business needs and transaction volumes. Tra...
PIN Pads vs Card Readers
PIN Pad vs Card Reader: What's the Difference? Both devices accept card payments, but they serve different roles in a checkout environment. Ca...
Billing & Team Access
Team Access: How multi-seat accounts work
Team Access: How multi-seat accounts work Team Access lets ISO owners, sales managers, and merchant services teams use POS Index as a shared worksp...
Funding, ACH & Risk
ACH Reject Codes Explained
What Are ACH Reject Codes? When a payment processor attempts to deposit settlement funds into a merchant's bank account via ACH, the transaction c...
How to Resolve ACH Rejects
Step-by-Step Guide to Resolving ACH Rejects Step 1: Identify the Reject Code - Check your merchant portal for settlement reports - Look for A...
Merchant Account Operations
Understanding Merchant Account Demographics
Merchant Account Demographics Explained When setting up or managing a merchant account, demographic information is critical for underwriting, comp...
How to Complete DDA Changes with Acquirers
What Is a DDA Change? A DDA (Demand Deposit Account) change is when a merchant updates the bank account where their settlement funds are depos...
Using POS Index
Understanding POS Hardware Pricing Estimates
POS Hardware Pricing Estimates Important Disclaimer: Hardware pricing shown in POS Index is an estimate based on manufacturer retail prici...
How to Use the Compare Devices Tool
What Is the Compare Devices Tool? The Compare Devices tool allows you to view multiple POS terminals side-by-side, making it easy to identify ...