Enhanced authorization service protects issuers.

To help members lower credit and fraud losses through improved reporting and more active participation in the authorization process, the Enhanced Authorization Service was implemented earlier this year as a key element of BackOffice 2000.

The service automatically updates the VisaNet Exception file when a "pick-up card" response is generated by the issuer and the card is not already listed.

In addition, it automatically lists the card in other regional editions of the combined warning bulletin. The service provides members with virtually immediate protection from the subsequent used of cards known to be lost or stolen.

A new component of the service, available in October, will enable an issuer's host system to receive authorizations on the basis of predetermined capacity limits -- as compared to dollar-amount-only limits of today.

This will ensure that issuers have the opportunity to make as many authorization decisions as possible, based on their up-to-date cardholder file. When an issuer's capacity is reached, stand-in processing is performed automatically by Visa.

To help financial institutions determine their most effective authorization parameters, Visa will generate a series of enhanced performance reports that help members control their authorization procedures.

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