# Settlement

https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/settlement/

*Last updated: 2026-08-03*

The transfer of a period’s takings, net of fees, from the acquirer into the merchant’s bank account. The three questions that decide what settlement is worth to a business are which currency, on what cycle, and into how many accounts — and all three are usually harder to renegotiate later than the rate is.

## Why it matters to a merchant

This is the number a merchant actually cares about, and it is the one comparison tables leave out. Two providers quoting the same rate can settle on different days, into different account arrangements, with fees taken at different points — and the merchant's cash position is decided by that, not by the rate. Ask about settlement in the same breath as pricing.

## Related terms

*How a payment moves*

- [Authorisation](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/authorisation/)
- [Capture](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/capture/)
- [T+1 settlement](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/t-plus-1/)
- [Batch](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/batch/)
- [Reconciliation](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/reconciliation/)
- [Chargeback](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/chargeback/)
- [Refund vs void](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/refund-void/)
- [Pre-authorisation (hold)](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/pre-authorisation/)
- [Issuer decline](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/issuer-decline/)
- [Merchant descriptor](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/merchant-descriptor/)
- [3-D Secure](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/three-d-secure/)
- [Tokenisation](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/tokenisation/)
- [Card on file](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/card-on-file/)
- [Payment link](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/payment-link/)
- [ARN (acquirer reference number)](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/arn/)
- [Representment](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/representment/)
- [Chargeback ratio](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/chargeback-ratio/)

- [All 74 terms](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/)

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