> card network > merchant gateway > merchant acquirer/payment processor > acquiring bank so, since no merchants integrate directly with Mastercard/Visa (it

> card network > merchant gateway > merchant acquirer/payment processor > acquiring bank so, since no merchants integrate directly with Mastercard/Visa (it would seem that's just not the business model of the industry. I'd also gamble it isn't possible because if you're a mom and pop shop, Mastercard does not care for you to integrate directly with them), they are going through networks/gateways, which would be TSYS/FiServ/First Data, yes? I'm just trying to picture a world where payment processor fees are lower because instead of PoS systems for businesses connecting to gateways/middlemen who need to take a cut and hike the rate up, they connect directly to the card network/the underlying bank. But, it sounds like a service like that would be exactly the middlemen I'm describing, who need to take a cut of the fees :P