What is a characteristic of the authorization process in a bank transaction?

The authorization process in a bank transaction is characterized as the first stage of transaction processing. During this phase, a merchant seeks approval from the card issuer (the bank that issued the card) to confirm that the cardholder has sufficient funds or credit available to complete a transaction. This step is crucial, as it ensures that the funds are available before a merchant proceeds with completing the sale.

A successful authorization provides the merchant with a guarantee that they will receive payment for the transaction if it is completed, which is critical for managing cash flow and inventory. This stage is essential to prevent fraud and ensure that transactions are legitimate.

In contrast, immediate notification to the cardholder is not guaranteed, as notifications can depend on several factors, including the systems used by the merchant and card issuer. Additionally, merchants cannot alter transaction amounts after authorization has been received, as this could lead to discrepancies and potential fraud cases. Finally, the authorization process is closely tied to the card issuer, and it cannot function independently from it, as the issuer is responsible for approving or declining the transaction based on the cardholder's account status.