Merchant services is the name given in the United States to a broad category of financial services intended for use by businesses. In its most specific use, it usually refers to the service that enables a business to accept a transaction payment by use of the customer’s credit or debit card. More generally, the term includes the following in its use: Credit and debit cards payment processing, check guarantee, and check conversion services, gift and loyalty card programs, payment gateway, email marketing, mobile text-based marketing, direct mail marketing, merchant cash advances, online ordering systems, point of sales systems, and pre-paid cell phones.