Onboarding through approval

PHASE 01

Merchant Documentation & KYC

Provide valid IDs, EIN verification, business documents, banking information, and all website links. We submit only the verified business owner and focus strictly on KYC, beneficial ownership, AML, and OFAC compliance to ensure a complete and transparent merchant file.

PHASE 02

Owner Compliance Gating

Strict ownership, identity, AML, and sanctions screening is completed before the full underwriting review begins. All applicants must successfully clear the verification protocol.

MATCH Review: any principal listed on the Terminated Merchant File must be disclosed.
OFAC Protocols: no parties on the SDN list or tied to sanctioned regions are permitted.
Identity Audit: all business owners must pass background checks; felony history is a disqualifier.
KYC Standards: all Know Your Customer requirements set by the Bank must be fully met before an account can be considered.
Compliance Gaps: activity failing our AML standards or classified as unlawful under bank rules.
Business Legitimacy: inability to verify real ownership, banking history, or OFAC status.
Ownership Risk: undisclosed principals or non-verifiable business owner identities.

PHASE 03

Pre-Underwriting Assessment

Our submission readiness review identifies strengths and gaps before your file is submitted to the acquiring bank's underwriting team.

PHASE 04

Compliance Review

Our pre-submission compliance review covers the website, product set, marketing, and operational model to identify issues the acquiring bank's underwriting and compliance teams are likely to flag.

PHASE 05

Execution of Agreements

Finalize settlement terms and rates. Sign the legal MPA to confirm the merchant partnership.

PHASE 06

Technical Go-Live Support

Deployment of the gateway and confirmation of flow. Live processing starts within 24–48 hours of sign-off.

UNDERWRITING AND COMPLIANCE TERMINOLOGY

Industry terms to know

MATCH: Mastercard Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants. A database used by acquiring banks to identify merchants and principals previously terminated for certain risk or compliance reasons.
TMF: Terminated Merchant File. An older industry term commonly used to describe the MATCH database.
SDN: Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. An OFAC-maintained list of sanctioned individuals, companies, and organizations prohibited from conducting business with U.S. persons.
OFAC: Office of Foreign Assets Control. The U.S. Treasury agency responsible for administering economic and trade sanctions.
AML: Anti-Money Laundering. Policies and procedures used to detect and prevent money laundering, fraud, terrorist financing, and other prohibited financial activity.
KYC: Know Your Customer. The process of verifying the identity, ownership, address, and legitimacy of a merchant and its beneficial owners.
KYB: Know Your Business. Verification of the business entity, formation records, EIN, operating address, products, services, and commercial activity.
Identity Audit: Verification of each owner's identity, address, ownership interest, background, and authority to act for the business. Criminal history is evaluated based on relevance.
Beneficial Owner: An individual who directly or indirectly owns or controls the business. Ownership thresholds and control requirements may vary by bank and regulations.
Principal: An owner, controlling person, officer, director, guarantor, or other individual with significant authority over the business.
Business Legitimacy: The ability to verify that the business is properly formed, active, controlled by disclosed owners, and connected to a valid bank account.
Sanctions Screening: A review of owners, businesses, counterparties, and operating regions against OFAC and other applicable sanctions and watchlists.
Ownership Risk: Risk created by undisclosed owners, nominee principals, unverifiable identities, or parties acting on behalf of the true owner.
Compliance Gap: Missing, inconsistent, or prohibited information that prevents a merchant from meeting KYC, AML, legal, or bank underwriting requirements.
Adverse Action: A decision by an acquiring bank or processor not to approve a merchant based on risk, compliance, credit, or underwriting concerns.

SMART MERCHANT SUPPORT

Cleaner files, faster

Our agentic workflows help you prepare cleaner files and better messaging to banks. While final approval rests with underwriters, we make the path to submission faster and clearer.

Cleaner bank files

AI-assisted prep helps you build professional documentation for bank review in 24 hours.

Better messaging

Use our AI tools to refine how your business model is presented to prospective banks.

Merchant-facing AI

Access specialized agentic tools to improve your own daily operations and commerce speed.

Merchant file preparation is typically completed within 24–48 hours, with technical support provided throughout. Final underwriting timelines are determined by the acquiring bank and generally range from 7–10 business days.

Begin Merchant Review