Which entity acts under the rules of Visa, MasterCard, or Discover to manage cardholder accounts?

The card-issuing bank plays a crucial role in the payment processing ecosystem. It is the entity that issues payment cards to consumers and manages cardholder accounts in accordance with the regulations and standards set by payment networks such as Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. This bank holds the account information, maintains records of transactions, sets the terms and conditions for credit limits, fees, and interest rates, and provides services like fraud monitoring and customer support to cardholders.

The other options, while related to the payment system, do not perform the same functions. For instance, the cardmember refers to the individual who holds the card but does not manage the account. The Cardholder Information Security Program is a set of security measures relating to the protection of cardholder data, rather than an entity that manages accounts. Lastly, the cardholder profile simply captures personal and transaction-related information about the cardholder but lacks the operational role carried out by the card-issuing bank. Thus, recognizing the specific functions and responsibilities of the card-issuing bank highlights its essential role in managing cardholder accounts.