What does an ATM acquirer primarily do?

The role of an ATM acquirer is primarily centered around processing ATM transactions on behalf of financial institutions, which includes both banks and credit unions. This involves managing the transaction process when a cardholder uses an ATM to withdraw cash, check balances, or perform other banking tasks. The ATM acquirer acts as the intermediary that ensures smooth transaction flow, handling communications between the ATM and the financial institution’s systems.

Additionally, the acquirer is responsible for authorizing transactions, managing the transaction's security, and ensuring that funds are correctly deducted from the customer's account and transferred to the ATM operator. This function is crucial in facilitating the accessibility and usability of ATMs for consumers, enhancing the overall banking experience.

While the other choices mention relevant banking and financial services, they do not accurately reflect the primary focus of an ATM acquirer. For instance, providing loans is a service typically offered by banks rather than ATM acquirers, managing logistics is more aligned with ATM operators, and issuing credit cards pertains to card issuers rather than the acquirer role. Thus, processing ATM transactions stands out as the core responsibility of an ATM acquirer, affirming the correctness of this answer.