Introduction
This article provides an overview of debit card acceptance in Cybersource. Debit card support varies based on your payment processor, region, and integration type.
Some debit cards are processed in the same way as credit cards, while others require additional data fields or configurations. This article outlines the general processing categories and where to find processor-specific requirements.
Overview
Cybersource supports multiple debit card types. The processing behavior depends on the card brand, network, and integration method (e.g., e-commerce vs. point-of-sale).
| Debit Card Type | Network | PIN Required | Typical Use Case | Integration Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Debit | Visa, Mastercard | No | E-commerce, card-not-present | Processed like credit cards. BIN determines card type. |
| Domestic Debit Schemes | Interac, eftpos, etc. | Sometimes | Region-specific acceptance | May require additional fields. Processor-dependent. |
| PIN Debit | STAR, Pulse, NYCE, etc. | Yes | Card-present, retail POS | Requires PIN pad hardware and special configuration. |
Procedure: Determining Debit Card Support
- Identify the card brand and type
- Look for Visa, Mastercard, or a domestic debit network logo.
- Use the card BIN (first 6–8 digits) to confirm type.
- Determine the integration environment
- E-commerce/Card-not-present: Typically uses Signature Debit processing.
- Card-present/POS: May support PIN Debit or domestic debit schemes.
- Check your processor’s capabilities
- Debit card acceptance varies by processor.
- Review the Payments PDF for supported brands and required fields.
- Review required data fields
- For most Visa/Mastercard debit: send the same fields as for credit cards.
- For certain domestic debit cards: include extra fields (e.g., issue number, start date) if applicable.
- Submit all data exactly as printed on the card.
- Test transactions
- Use test cards (where available) or small-value live transactions to confirm processing behavior.