Merchant Account or Payment Gateway is online business system which makes a website to accept credit cards online and in this way the credit card holder do the business online.

The use of credit cards has seen an increase in recent months because many businesses companies offering their products or services for sale on the internet which cannot be limited to 'cash on delivery' methods.

Payment Processing services provide a secure interface for customers to enter their credit card details online. Once entered, the numbers are checked for discrepancies to prevent fraudulent misuse. Bank databases are queried to approve the transaction. Upon approval, the merchant gets the money debited to his account. This multi-layered approach to security has also contributed to customer confidence in using credit cards online.