acquirer

(noun) a person who acquires something (usually permanently).

(noun) a corporation gaining financial control over another corporation or financial institution through a payment in cash or an exchange of stock.

(noun) the financial institution that dispenses cash in automated teller machines and collects a fee from the bank that issued the credit card.

(noun) a credit card processing bank; merchants receive credit for credit card receipts less a processing fee. Synonyms: merchant bank.