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Card Knowledge Glossary

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D

D&B DUNS Number

Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System. A unique 9 digit code that identifies and links more than 57 million companies worldwide.

Data Capture

Also known as electronic draft capture (EDC) or draft capture. A data processing term for collecting, formatting, and storing data in computer memory according to predefined fields, for example, customer name, account number, and dollar amount of purchase. When a terminal reads this information from a plastic card or from entries at a terminal, the information is stored in computer memory for later output as a hard copy printout or as soft copy on a CRT display. See Electronic Draft Capture.

Data Encryption Standard (DES)

DES. A cryptographic algorithm adopted by the National Bureau of Standards for data security. The algorithm encrypts or decrypts 64 bits of data using a 56-bit key. See also Triple DES.

Data Integrity

Measures to prevent unauthorized alteration of data

Debit

A charge to a customer's bankcard account. A transaction, such as a check, automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawal, or point-of-sale (POS) debit purchase that debits a demand deposit account.

Deciphering

Conversion of ciphertext back into plaintext

Decryption

Decryption is the process of transforming ciphertext back into plaintext. It is the reverse of encryption.

Decryption Key

See key.

Deposit

Process of transmitting a batch of transactions from the merchant to the acquiring institution in preparation for settlement.

DES

Data Encryption Standard. A cryptographic algorithm adopted by the National Bureau of Standards for data security. The algorithm encrypts or decrypts 64 bits of data using a 56-bit key. See also Triple DES.

Digital Signature

A data element allowing the recipient of a message or transaction to verify the content and sender.

Discount Fee

Fee paid by the merchant to the merchant bank or other contracted party for processing the merchant's credit card sales (transactions).

Discount Rate

This is the percentage rate that a merchant institution charges the merchant giving deposit credit for handling merchant sales drafts or electronic sales transmissions. The discount fee is the dollar amount charged.

Draft Capture

The act of electronically capturing transactions. See Electronic Draft Capture.

DSA

Digital Signature Algorithm -- the algorithm used in creating the digital signature for a given message or transaction.

E

EDC

See Electronic Draft Capture.

EDI

Electronic Data Interchange - The process of conducting business electronically using a set of standardized forms and data formatting

EIPP

Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment. A term that refers to the ability to electronically submit an invoice from supplier to the buyer and effect payment.

Electronic Authorization

Obtaining authorization for use of a credit card by electronic means, as via computer equipment and telephone line.

Electronic Commerce

A system of integrated communications, data management, and security services that allow business applications within different organizations to automatically interchange information.

Electronic Draft Capture (EDC)

EDC is a point-of-sale terminal that reads the information encoded in the magnetic stripe of bankcards. These terminals electronically authorize and capture transaction data, eliminating the need for a paper deposit.

Enciphering

Conversion of plain data into encrypted data (plain text into ciphertext)

Encryption

Encryption is the process of disguising a message (using mathematical formulas called algorithms) in such a way as to hide its substance, a process of creating secret writing.

Encryption Key

When used in the context of encryption, a series of numbers which are used by an encryption algorithm to transform plain text data into encrypted (ciphertext) data, and vice versa.

End-To-End Security

Application of security measures consistently across a whole data system or process, leaving no weak points

E-P3 (Or Ep3)

A MasterCard initiative to combine EIPP offerings with their Corporate Purchasing Card as the method of settlement.

E-Procurement (Or Eprocurement)

Electronic procurement, or electronic purchasing, refers broadly to the technology that automates some or all of the processes related to creating a requisition document, obtaining purchase approval, locating or sourcing a supplier, creating a Purchase Order (PO), and delivering the PO to the supplier.

Expired Card

A card on which the embossed, encoded, or printed expiration date has passed.

F

Federal Mall

A generic term for a centralized buying site for the Federal Government.

Federal Supply Schedule

A Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) is a pre-established contractual vehicle that a supplier can establish with the General Services Administration (GSA) to allow government agencies to purchase from it under established prices.

Fleet Card

Fleet Cards are a specific type of commercial card (or corporate card) used to purchase goods and services for automobile/vehicle, aviation, or marine fleets.

Floor Limit

An amount that Visa and MasterCard have established for single transactions at specific types of merchant outlets and branches, above which authorization is required.

Fraudulent Transaction

A transaction unauthorized by the cardholder of a bankcard. Such transactions are categorized as lost, stolen, not received, issued on a fraudulent application, counterfeit, fraudulent processing of transactions, account takeover, or other fraudulent conditions as defined by the card company or the member company.

Fraudulent User

An individual who is not the cardholder or designee and who uses a card (or, in a mail/phone order or recurring transaction, an account number) to obtain goods or services without the cardholder's consent.