Transaction events and categories
Transaction event types, subtypes, fund movement mapping, and transaction category values for Issuing lifecycles and card transactions.
Each transaction event has a type and optional subtype that classify the event. For example:
- An authorization can have subtype
incremental_authorization. - A reversal can have subtype
partial_reversal.
Together, status (on the card transaction), event type, and subtype describe the full picture of the transaction.
Event types
| Event type | Description |
|---|---|
AUTHORIZATION | Request to the issuer to validate the card for payment; can be approved or declined. |
CLEARING | Request to complete settlement of a previously approved authorization; can settle a partial, exact, or (within scheme rules) greater amount. |
REVERSAL | Request to reverse a previously approved authorization or a previously cleared transaction; can be partial or full. |
Event type and fund movement mapping
The following table maps event.type, event.subtype, transaction_category, and fund movement behavior. Use it to interpret how each transaction event affects the wallet.
| Event type | Subtype | Transaction category | Fund movement |
|---|---|---|---|
AUTHORIZATION | AUTHORIZATION | PURCHASE, CASH_DISBURSEMENT, ACCOUNT_FUNDING, BILL_PAYMENT | Reservation of funds |
AUTHORIZATION | AUTHORIZATION | MERCHANT_CREDIT | No movement of funds |
AUTHORIZATION | INCREMENTAL_AUTHORIZATION | PURCHASE | Reservation of funds |
AUTHORIZATION | VERIFICATION | PURCHASE | No movement of funds |
CLEARING | CLEARING | PURCHASE, CASH_DISBURSEMENT, ACCOUNT_FUNDING, BILL_PAYMENT | Debit of funds |
CLEARING | CLEARING | MERCHANT_CREDIT, ORIGINAL_CREDIT, DISPUTE_CREDIT | Credit of funds |
CLEARING | CLEARING_REVERSAL | PURCHASE, CASH_DISBURSEMENT, ACCOUNT_FUNDING, BILL_PAYMENT | Credit of funds |
CLEARING | CLEARING_REVERSAL | MERCHANT_CREDIT,ORIGINAL_CREDIT | Debit of funds |
CLEARING | PARTIAL_CLEARING | PURCHASE | Debit of funds |
REVERSAL | REVERSAL | PURCHASE, CASH_DISBURSEMENT, ACCOUNT_FUNDING, BILL_PAYMENT | Release of reserved funds |
REVERSAL | REVERSAL | MERCHANT_CREDIT | No movement of funds |
REVERSAL | PARTIAL_REVERSAL | PURCHASE | Release of reserved funds |
EXPIRED_AUTHORIZATION | - | PURCHASE, CASH_DISBURSEMENT, ACCOUNT_FUNDING, BILL_PAYMENT | Release of reserved funds |
Transaction categories
The following table lists the transaction_category values documented here, with a definition and typical use case for each.
| Transaction category | Definition | Use case |
|---|---|---|
PURCHASE | A purchase of goods or services at a merchant. | Cardholder buys goods or services at a merchant (retail, online, or in-person). |
CASH_DISBURSEMENT | A cash withdrawal, typically at an ATM or over the counter. | Cardholder withdraws cash from an ATM or receives cash from a bank or agent. |
ACCOUNT_FUNDING | A transaction that loads or adds funds to an account. | Loading a prepaid or wallet account; adding funds to the card balance. |
QUASI_CASH | A transaction for cash-equivalent instruments (for example, traveler's checks, money orders, casino chips). | Cardholder purchases instruments that can be exchanged for cash or used like cash. |
MERCHANT_CREDIT | A credit issued by a merchant (refund, rebate, or adjustment) that increases the account balance. | Merchant refunds a purchase, applies a rebate, or credits the cardholder. |
DISPUTE_CREDIT | A credit resulting from a dispute resolution in the cardholder's favor. | Chargeback or dispute outcome credits funds back to the cardholder. |
ORIGINAL_CREDIT | Funds are pushed to the card for the purpose of money transfer. | Payroll, benefits, disbursements, or other push payments sent to the card. |
ELIGIBILITY_INQUIRY | An inquiry to verify card or account eligibility with no money movement. | Verification (for example, $0 authorization) to confirm the card is valid and usable. |
BILL_PAYMENT | A payment to another party or a domestic bill-pay style payment (covers former PAY_OTHER_PARTY and PAYMENT_US categories). | Cardholder pays a bill, pays a third party, or completes a domestic bill-pay or similar payment flow. |
See also
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