Bandwidth: The amount of data (i.e., text, images, video, sound) that can be sent through a given communications circuit.

Bank Identification Number (BIN): A unique series of numbers assigned by MasterCard or VISA to a principal member institution that identifies the member in transaction processing. It is the first three to six digits of a standard cardholder account number and can be used by the member's affiliates, if necessary.

Bank Routing Number: The first nine digits that appear across the bottom of a personal check; they identify the financial institution.

Bankcard: A financial transaction card (credit, debit, etc.) issued by a financial institution.

Bankcard Association: A group of institutions formed for sponsoring a bankcard program, using a common processing and administrative center.

Banknet: The primary data transport communications facility that links all MasterCard customers and MasterCard data processing centers into a single on-line financial network (also called a packet-switching network). Banknet separates communications processing from financial applications processing, allowing an unlimited variety of financial applications to transmit messages over a single communications network.

Bankwire Transfer: Transfer of funds to any bank within the Federal Reserve System.

Batch: The accumulation of captured (sale) transactions waiting to be settled. Multiple batches may be settled throughout the day.

Batch Authorization Transaction System (BATS): A system designed to allow certain merchants ' for example, mail order merchants ' to batch process authorizations on their own time schedules.

Batch Header Ticket: The identifying form used by the electronic submission merchant to indicate a batch of sales/credit slips (usually one day's work).

Batch Processing: A type of data processing and data communications transmission in which related transactions are grouped together and transmitted for processing, usually by the same computer and under the same application.

Baud: The number of electrical symbols per second that a modem sends down a phone line.

Bill Payment Provider (BPP): An agent (usually a financial institution) of the biller that originates and accepts payments on behalf of the biller.

Bill Payment Service Provider (BPSP): A financial institution or non-financial entity acting as an intermediary between the biller and consumer for the exchange of electronic bill payment information.

Bill Service Provider (BSP): An agent of the biller that provides an electronic bill presentment and payment service for the biller.

Billback: A means of recovering or reducing interchange fees for transactions clearing differently than planned. The processing company passes through the charges to the merchant.

Biller: A company or organization that sends a bill or statement to a consumer, usually requesting payment for a product or service.

Biller Direct: One of four models of electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP). A biller establishes an electronic billing capability on its own web site and provides its consumers with their billing information and the capability to make payments directly from the site. Other models include: Thick Consolidator, Thin Consolidator and Customer Consolidation.

Browser: Short for 'Web Browser,' the tool (program) that allows users to surf the Web. The most popular Web browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Bulletin Board System (BBS): An electronic message system that you dial up directly on your computer to read and post messages or pull off files.

Business Card: A bankcard issued to companies for use by company employees. The liability for abuse of the card typically rests with the company, not with the employee