INTRODUCTION: PAYMENT INNOVATION DRIVES SPECIALIZED MARKET REQUIREMENTS In an increasingly integrated global marketplace, credit card payments have not only become the standard way of transacting across borders, but have also shaped the payment habits of consumers and merchants. For specific industries, such as luxury goods, bulk transactions and other high-risk or special needs areas, standard payment solutions often fail to meet their unique business needs. As a result, "Specialty Credit Card Channels" have emerged to provide more secure, efficient and customized payment processing services for these specific markets. This paper will take a closer look at these specialized channels...