A merchant acquirer is a financial institution or payment company that processes credit and debit card transactions on behalf of merchants, managing the relationship with card networks and ensuring funds are settled to the merchant's bank account. As a registered acquirer, CSG handles underwriting, onboarding, transaction processing, settlement, and risk management for its merchant portfolio.

As a registered acquirer and payment facilitator, Forte manages the full merchant lifecycle — from application and underwriting through onboarding, transaction processing, settlement, dispute management, and ongoing risk monitoring. Merchants are with automated KYC/KYB checks, and CSG handles all compliance, funding, and chargeback management on behalf of its merchant portfolio.

In a gateway-only relationship, Forte routes transactions to a third-party acquirer, and merchants manage their own banking relationship and settlement. As a full acquirer, Forte is in the flow of funds — managing underwriting, settlement, funding timelines, and dispute resolution directly. This gives merchants a single point of accountability and eliminates the need for a separate acquiring bank relationship.

Disputes are managed through the Dex platform, where merchants receive instant notifications when a chargeback is filed, can upload supporting documentation, and track dispute outcomes. The Risk team manages the dispute lifecycle, including communication with card networks and issuing banks. Chargeback monitoring is built into the acquiring relationship to help merchants minimize dispute exposure.

Standard funding timelines for acquired merchants depend on the processing model and payment method. For card transactions, merchants typically receive funds within one to two business days after settlement. Same Day ACH is available for faster funding. Specific funding schedules are configured at the merchant level and reflected in the Dex platform's funding and payout reporting.