WHAT IS A GATEWAY?

1.  Customer Pays

• The customer enters their card details online or swipes/inserts/taps in-store.

2.  Gateway Encrypts Data

• The payment gateway securely encrypts and sends the details to the payment processor or acquiring bank.

3.  Bank Approves/Declines 

• The customer’s bank checks if the funds are available and approves or declines the transaction.

4.  Response Sent Back 

• The gateway sends the approval/decline result back to the merchant.

5.  Transaction Completes 

• If approved, the funds are captured and later deposited into the merchant’s account.
   

💡 Example: When you buy something online and enter your credit card info at checkout, the payment gateway is what ensures your details are safe and that the payment gets approved in seconds.