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Glossary

Card Settlement Reconciliation

Card settlement reconciliation is the process of matching card payment processor settlement reports to bank deposits and accounting records — accounting for processing fees, chargebacks, and refunds.

Full definition

Card settlement reconciliation involves comparing the settlement files generated by card payment processors — which show authorized charges, processing fees, refunds, and chargeback deductions — against the bank deposits received and the accounting system entries. Settlement typically occurs one to three business days after the card transaction, creating timing differences. Chargebacks and refunds may post in subsequent periods.

Why it matters

Card processing involves multiple deductions — interchange fees, processor fees, refunds, and chargeback losses — that are applied against gross sales before settlement. Without structured reconciliation, these deductions are difficult to verify, and chargeback losses may go untracked.

Example

A business processes $50,000 in card sales in a week. After 2.2% in processing fees ($1,100) and two chargebacks ($800), the settlement deposit is $48,100. Card settlement reconciliation confirms that all deductions match the processor report and that the deposit matches the expected net.

How Certanexa helps

Certanexa helps reconcile card settlement files against bank deposits — surfacing fee deductions, chargeback allocations, and refund timing differences for structured finance team review.

Safe boundary: Certanexa helps surface differences for review. Finance teams remain responsible for disputing chargebacks, verifying fee rates, and recording accounting entries.

Related terms

Ecommerce Payout Reconciliation
Ecommerce payout reconciliation is the process of matching marketplace payout reports, card settl…
Marketplace Payout Reconciliation
Marketplace payout reconciliation is the process of matching marketplace-generated payout reports…
Tolerance Matching
Tolerance matching is a reconciliation method that accepts two entries as candidate matches even …
Timing Difference
A timing difference is a reconciliation exception that occurs when the same transaction is record…

Related pages

Ecommerce Payout Reconciliation
Use Cases

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