What is the different between a 3rd party merchant provider and a merchant account?

[Admin]

With a Merchant Account you will be contracted directly with the Acquiring bank, an Acquiring Bank is the one that finally will withdraw the money from the card holder and credit it your bank account.With a Merchant Account you will also be assured that the financial institution or Acquiring Bank that handles your money will [...]

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[rinky9888]

A true merchant account is just that, a "true" merchant account. You, the merchant, apply with a processing bank, usually through a sales agent, to have the right to have a merchant account dedicated solely to your business.

A third party processor allows your business, or even you as an individual, to use their merchant account to accept credit card payments.