Glossary

D & B Duns Numbe

Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System. A unique 9 digit code that identifies and links more than 57 million companies worldwide.

Data Encryption Standard (DES)

A cryptographic algorithm adopted by the National Bureau of Standards for data security. The algorithm encrypts or decrypts 64 bits of data using a 56-bit key.

Data Integrity

Measures to prevent unauthorized alteration of data.

Database

A database is an organized collection of information. Computer databases allow for quick retrieval of information and flexible methods of searching through the data.

Debit

A charge to a customers bankcard account. A transaction, such as a check, automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawal, or point-of-sale (POS) debit purchase that debits a demand deposit account.

Deciphering

Conversion of ciphertext back into plaintext.

Decryption

Decryption is the process of transforming ciphertext back into plaintext. It is the reverse of encryption.

Deposit

Process of transmitting a batch of transactions from the merchant to the acquiring institution in preparation for settlement.

Digital Signature

A data element allowing the recipient of a message or transaction to verify the content and sender.

Discount Fee

Fee paid by the merchant to the merchant bank or other contracted party for processing the merchants credit card sales (transactions).

Discount Rate

This is the percentage rate that a merchant institution charges the merchant giving deposit credit for handling merchant sales drafts or electronic sales transmissions. The discount fee is the currency amount charged.

Draft Capture

The act of electronically capturing transactions. See Electronic Draft Capture.

DSA

Also known as electronic draft capture (EDC) or draft capture. A data processing term for collecting, formatting, and storing data in computer memory according to predefined fields, for example, customer name, account number, and currency amount of purchase. When a terminal reads this information from a plastic card or from entries at a terminal, the information is stored in computer memory for later output as a hard copy printout or as soft copy on a CRT display.