Discover

Discover is a financial services company that uniquely operates both as a card issuer and a transaction acquirer. This dual role distinguishes Discover from other major card networks like Visa and MasterCard, which are associations comprised of numerous financial institutions and do not issue cards directly. As an issuer, Discover provides credit cards directly to consumers, offering a variety of benefits and rewards. As an acquirer, Discover also handles the processing of transactions made with its cards at merchant locations. This integrated model allows Discover to manage the entire lifecycle of a credit card transaction, from issuance and usage by consumers to acceptance and settlement at merchants. This structure can lead to efficiencies in transaction processing and potentially more competitive rates for both cardholders and merchants.