a comprehensive description of the payments systems (cards, checks, ACH, wires, and cash) that move money between and among consumers and enterprises in the U.S. In clear and lively writing, the authors explain how the payments systems work, how they evolved, who uses them, who provides them, who profits from them, and how they are changing. Anyone in the payments industry - or needing to use payments products - can benefit from understanding this. The third edition updates information about each system, adds a chapter on payments innovation, and includes a glossary of industry terminology.