Which of the below functions is associated with acquirers?

Acquirers play a crucial role in the payment processing ecosystem, acting as intermediaries between merchants and card networks. They offer various services to facilitate transactions, and one of their primary functions is to provide clearing services to merchants. This involves processing credit and debit card transactions, including authorization, settlement, and funding of the merchant's account after a sale is made.

Clearing services ensure that funds are transferred from the cardholder's issuing bank to the merchant's bank, making this function essential for the financial flow in card transactions. Acquirers handle the technical and administrative aspects of processing transactions, which includes ensuring that the funds are cleared and settled in a timely manner.

The other options, while related to merchant services, do not accurately define the primary function of acquirers. Marketing services and customer support are typically handled by other entities within the payment ecosystem, such as service providers or the merchants themselves, rather than directly by acquirers.