Which information is most likely to improve authorization rates in a payment transaction?

Improving authorization rates in payment transactions often hinges on factors that help verify the authenticity of the transaction and reduce the likelihood of fraud. The postal code is particularly effective in this regard because it provides a method for matching the customer's billing address with the address on file with their card issuer. This address verification can significantly increase the likelihood that the transaction will be authorized.

When a customer enters their postal code at checkout, the payment processor can cross-check this information with what the bank has on record. If the postal code matches, it reinforces to the bank that it is indeed the legitimate cardholder making the purchase, which can lead to a higher authorization rate.

On the other hand, while customer email addresses, transaction history, and merchant locations can provide useful context for a transaction, they do not have the same level of direct impact on the verification process that is critical during the authorization phase. Customer email addresses can help with communication and account recovery, transaction history may indicate a trustworthy customer, and merchant location might align with customer expectations but do not play as crucial a role in directly preventing fraud during authorization as the postal code does.