High Risk Merchant Account

In the world of merchant services providers, some businesses are considered more high risk than others. This doesn’t mean these businesses can’t obtain merchant accounts or process credit cards, but they may be required to provide additional documentation in order to do so.

If you want to accept credit cards for your business but you’ve had trouble finding a credit card processor that will approve you, Merchant Express® may be able to help. As long as your business is legal and not adult related, we may be able to set you up with either a high risk merchant account or an international merchant account.

Who is a High Risk Merchant?

Merchants considered to be high risk are the ones perceived to be the easiest targets of data breach and data theft. Recent reports have identified an alarming trend of data breaches originating from external sources, typically involving a hack or introduction of malware (software designed to exploit a computer or its data without consent).

Restaurants (and other hospitality businesses) are targeted more than any other merchant category making them high risk merchants. E-commerce websites are also often found in the cross hairs of would-be cybercriminals due to their ease of access via the Internet and vulnerabilities inherent in e-commerce website code. Each of these industries associated with high risk merchant accounts are susceptible to phishing. Phishing is a form of Internet fraud that aims to steal highly sensitive personal information including credit card information, Social Security numbers, user IDs and passwords.

Merchant Express Offers PCI Compliance Solutions to Minimize Security Risks

Merchant Express does much more than offer accounts to high risk merchants. We also provide information, guidance and programs that help make it easier to be safer. Data security and risk management solutions benefit your business, minimize your financial liability and safeguard your reputation.

Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance — also known as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance — is a necessary part of doing business for every merchant who accepts credit cards, debit cards and EBTs (electronic benefit transfers) to protect your business and your customers. Knowing what PCI compliance is and how to achieve it is vital to the future of your business on a number of different levels. Studies show that most victims of fraud, hacking and identity theft are targets of opportunity and most breaches are avoidable with PCI DSS compliance solutions.

We are committed to understanding each client’s unique situation in order to meet the need for specialized, secure transaction processing. Merchant Express provides security awareness training to educate our merchants on the importance of maintaining a secure environment. With guidance on the proper handling of card data and comprehensive security policy implementation and enforcement, merchants can guard against security attacks.

It’s not too late to grow your business with a high risk merchant account from Merchant Express! If your business is considered high risk, has been turned down for a standard merchant account, is not adult related, or is located outside of the United States you may be eligible for a high risk merchant account from Merchant Express.