The consumer accumulates a debt balance when a credit instrument is used to pay the recipient. At a later point in time the consumer can settle the accumulated debt using a credit card or a bank account.

After the settlement debt balance is reduced, the funds are transferred to the recipient's account using the payment instrument specified in the settlement documents.

A settlement document is a consumer document that is installed on the consumer's account which gives the payment method and the payment instrument used to settle the debt balance.