Pull payment

Pull payment is a transaction where the merchant initiates the withdrawal of funds from a customer's account based on prior authorization. The customer provides payment credentials once, then the merchant "pulls" the authorized amount when needed.

Common examples include card payments, direct debits, and recurring subscription charges. Pull payments enable convenient features like stored credentials, one-click checkout, and automatic billing.

In contrast, push payments like bank transfers are initiated by the customer for each transaction, offering lower fraud risk but less convenience and limited buyer protection.