Electronic Payments Coalition

Routing Explained: Credit vs. Debit Networks

Electronic payment routing—whether through debit or credit networks—is a complex process. The merchant, merchant processor, network, and issue processor all play integral roles in authorizing and approving electronic payment transactions. The below explainer on routing provides an in-depth look behind-the-scenes of what occurs when a consumer uses their credit or debit card to make a purchase.

[pdfviewer width="100%" height="750px" beta="true/false"]https://electronicpaymentscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Routing-Explained-Credit-vs-Debit-Networks.pdf[/pdfviewer]

Get the Latest Updates Delivered to Your Inbox

By submitting you agree to our Terms & Conditions

More Updates

© 2026 Electronic Payments Coalition. All rights reserved.
})