Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist Certification (CAMS) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of an Acquiring Bank?

1. To solicit investment in commodities

2. To process credit card transactions for merchants

3. To advise clients on financial products

4. To underwrite futures contracts

The correct answer is: To process credit card transactions for merchants

The primary purpose of an acquiring bank is to process credit card transactions for merchants. Acquiring banks serve as financial institutions that partner with merchants to enable them to accept credit and debit card payments. This involves managing the technical aspects of the transaction process, facilitating communication with credit card networks, and settling funds between consumers' banks and the merchants' accounts. When a customer makes a payment using a credit card, the acquiring bank is responsible for transmitting the transaction details to the respective card network and ensuring that the payment is approved. This service allows merchants to offer more payment options to their customers, thereby enhancing sales opportunities. The acquiring bank also plays a crucial role in risk management, fraud detection, and compliance with payment processing regulations. In contrast, the other options focus on financial activities that are outside the primary role of an acquiring bank. Soliciting investments in commodities is related to investment services, advising clients on financial products pertains to financial advisory roles, and underwriting futures contracts is an activity associated with investment banking and trading firms rather than the payment processing function of acquiring banks.