Authorizations

When you submit an authorization request, the issuing bank determines whether funds are available, then it reduces your customer’s

open to buy

. This is the amount of funds available on the payment card.

Most authorizations expire between five and seven days. The issuing bank sets the length of time. When an authorization expires with the issuing bank, your bank or processor might require you to resubmit an authorization request and include a request for capture in the same message.

The payment system is not informed by the issuing bank when an authorization expires. By default, the authorization remains in the system for 60 days after the authorization date, even after it expires with the issuing bank.