Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or other personal information without your knowledge for their own benefit. They may use this information to make unauthorized purchases or open new accounts in your name.

Introductory Rate
This is a temporary, lower APR (sometimes called a "teaser rate") used to entice customers to switch cards. The introductory rate usually applies for 6-12 months before converting to a normal long-term fixed or variable rate. This type of rate may apply only to purchases (and sometimes only to certain, "qualified" purchases), only to balance transfers, or in some cases both. Special restrictions generally apply.

Interest Rate
The rate at which a credit card company or other lender charges a customer for "borrowing" money. It is a percentage of the amount borrowed.

Issuer
Institutions that provide a credit line to a consumer through a payment card are called issuers. Issuers can include banks, credit unions or savings and loan associations, and retailers such as department stores or gasoline companies.

Interchange
The exchange of information, transaction data and money among banks. Interchange systems are managed by Visa and MasterCard associations according to their requirements and are very standardized so banks and merchants worldwide can use them.

Interchange Fee
A fee paid by the acquiring bank/merchant bank to the issuing bank. The fee compensates the issuer for the time after settlement with the acquiring bank/merchant bank and before it recoups the settlement value from the cardholder

Interchange Rate
Interchange rates are baseline costs established by the two bankcard associations, Visa and MasterCard, on behalf of their member banks that set the foundation costs which makeup the merchant's bank card processing fees. Additional fees may be added by the merchants acquiring bank to reach a final rate called the "discount rate".

Interchange Reimbursement Fee
One of the following: A fee that an acquirer pays to an issuer in the clearing and settlement of an interchange transaction, based on either the standard (paper-based) rate or electronic rate. A fee that an issuer pays to an acquirer for making a cash disbursement to a cardholder or check purchaser.