What is the purpose of the Card Authorization System (CAS)?

The Card Authorization System (CAS) is designed primarily to perform credit analysis, which is crucial for protecting establishments from potential fraud. This system checks the validity of the card and ensures that funds are available before processing a transaction. By verifying cardholder information and assessing the risk associated with the transaction in real-time, the CAS helps merchants mitigate the risk of fraud and chargebacks. Ensuring that a valid transaction is authorized upholds the integrity of the payment system and fosters trust between consumers and merchants, which is vital in financial transactions. This function is central to maintaining security and operational efficiency within payment processing systems.