Merchant Accounts via 30+ Acquirers | CatalystPay
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Merchant Accounts

Get the merchant account setup your business needs to scale

Access merchant accounts for low- and high-risk businesses through our 30+ acquirers network, improve approval rates, and build a more resilient payment setup with hands-on onboarding, transparent pricing, and expert support.

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The multi-acquirer strategy your business needs

With over 30 acquiring banks within our network, we offer a wide range of payment processing solutions. 

Access to multiple payment processors means your business thrives on continuity and is beneficial if aiming to scale and diversify your customer base across different markets. 

With single connection, you get access to multiple acquiring banks to process your payment transactions in a fast, secure and cost-effective way.

Increase your approval rates, lower your costs, and gain access to a broader range of processing and settlement currencies as well as global and local payment methods. 

  • How it works?

One integration to a whole payment ecosystem

Accept payments easily through multiple processors, payment methods and currencies, all with a single integration to CatalystPay platform.

Payment partnership for growth

We exist so that you can make the most of your business through payments. This means that from product to pricing to customer support, we’re here to make payments easier for you. 

Online Payments

Built for any business

From e-shops, to subscriptions, to platforms and marketplaces, we will find the right payment solutions for your online business.

Reviews from our clients

Their Success Is Our Proof

Here are a few words from merchants who trusted us with their payments.

CatalystPay has been an outstanding partner throughout the entire process. Their team is highly responsive, supportive, and genuinely committed to delivering a reliable experience.

I would definitely recommend CatalystPay to any business looking for a dependable and proactive payment partner.

Ziya Cosar
Fortuna Digital

I had a very positive experience with CatalystPay, They demonstrated incredible patience and expertise, helping us navigate through all the challenges I faced. I highly recommend CatalystPay to any company in search of efficient and reliable business payment solutions.

Alex Sun, Managing Director
GamsGo

Working with CatalystPay has been a great experience. Their support has helped us grow and run things more smoothly. We appreciate the flexibility, openness, and teamwork they have provided throughout.

Mohammed Essaghir, CEO
MM3 Digital

So far the best PSP around; great service, great people and multiple connectors / acquirers to choose from with an easy and quick application flow to boot. Thanks for the collaboration.

Kim Bengtsen, CEO
Internet Zoo

Working with CatalystPay has been a great experience. Their team is fast and effective, always addressing our needs promptly and with good industry knowledge. The level of professional behavior and attention to detail they provide is remarkable. CatalystPay embodies everything you expect in a reliable partner, making them an invaluable part of our operations.

Sandi Špenko, CEO
CryptoUnity

The team at CatalystPay were amazing, they made everything easy from start to finish. Stefan lead the approval phase and Zhivko was the integration wizard. Looking forward to a prosperous relationship into the future! Thanks team!

Angus Ryals, CEO
PuntPal

Great team, great attitude & great product!
We have been working with the team at Catalyst Pay for a little while. They have been nothing but exceptional. If you are looking for acquiring lines for your business give them a shout!

Kasun Herath, Director
Quantra Neo

We’re thrilled with CatalystPay. Their technical solution for connecting to acquirers and facilitating account openings was seamless and efficient. Additionally, their expertise in setting up accounts for online payment processing is invaluable.

Eugenio Calderon, CEO
Payconsulting

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about Merchant Accounts? Find the answers here.

  • What is an Acquirer?
    An acquirer is a bank or a financial institution that is authorized by the Card Associations to serve merchants. It is licensed to provide merchant accounts to qualified businesses, enabling these businesses to process payment card transactions.

    What Does an Acquirer Do?

    The acquirer is contracted with a processor through a merchant agreement to perform the following duties:

    1. Issue merchant accounts
    2. Obtain funds from the cardholder’s issuing bank and deposit them into the merchant’s account
    3. Assess fees to the merchant on behalf of the processor, issuers, and card brands.
    4. Monitor risk and implement revenue holds when necessary

    Also referred to as:

    Acquiring bank
    Merchant’s bank
    Merchant Acquirer

  • What is a Merchant Account?
    An acquirer provides a merchant account so a business can accept and process payment card transactions. The merchant account is where the acquirer deposits funds received from issuers.

    Obtaining a Merchant Account

    Merchants must apply for a merchant account. The application process can be facilitated by either the acquiring bank or an independent sales organization (ISO) like Catalystpay.

    There are various things that will be taken into consideration as part of the application process:

    o The type of products or services the merchant offers
    o The sales method (such as in-person, online, phone order, etc.)
    o The payment method (such as recurring billing, free trial offers, single sale, etc.)
    o Past processing history (or personal credit history if there is a lack of processing history)
    o Perceived risk (usually determined by analyzing chargeback activity)
    o Number of processing applications the merchant has previously submitted

    Not all merchant accounts are the same, and not all banks provide merchant accounts. Some merchants will need a high-risk merchant account.

    Merchant accounts come with pre-determined limitations, such as sales volume and transaction volume. As a business grows, more merchant accounts will be needed to accommodate the increase in sales and volume.

    Maintaining a Merchant Account

    Merchant accounts are valuable assets and should be treated as such. Merchant accounts can be revoked if terms of the merchant agreement aren’t upheld.

    The most common reason for losing a merchant account is excessive chargebacks.

  • How do I open a merchant account with Catalystpay.com services?
    To open a merchant account with Catalystpay.com, please first fill in this short form. Once you’ve submitted your application our Sales team will contact you for a follow up discussion within 24 hours. We will help you identify the best payment solutions based on your business vertical, geographical locations, and other preferences. We shall support you all the way through the onboarding process (1. Application, 2. Integration, 3. Contracting and 4. MID issuing) so that you can really focus on growing your business.

    Check the merchant onboarding page for more details. 

    For AML reasons we have to adhere to our Know-Your-Customer (KYC) policy and may request you to provide some personal information in order to fulfill the identification and authentication requirements.

  • What documents are required for merchant account opening?
    The documents listed here are of the most common documents acquiring banks require to open a merchant account. Please keep in mind that this is for directional purposes only, and that each acquiring bank has their own rules and list of documents they might request.

    Check FAQ Section for detailed explanation for each of these:

    • Processing history or Business plan
    • Company documents / Extract (KYB)
    • Company bank letter
    • Personal documents (KYC)
    • PCI DSS – Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)
    • Domain ownership
    • Proof of address
    • Policies
    • License
    • Manufacturing/Reseller/Franchise/Service Agreement

  • What is a High-risk Merchant Account?
    Some merchants are considered high-risk because they have the potential to be a financial or regulatory liability for the acquirer. These merchants need a specific type of merchant account.

    How is Risk Evaluated?

    Merchants are evaluated before receiving a merchant account to determine how much risk the business poses to the acquirer. Several variables are taken into consideration. The following are some, but not all, of the characteristics that are considered risky:

    · The merchant is registered in the MATCH or VMAS List database because previous merchant accounts have been terminated.
    · The business is new and has very little payment processing history.
    · The merchant’s industry is known to have a high rate of chargebacks or is classified with an MCC the card brands have deemed high-risk.
    · The merchant sells products or services using a subscription billing model or free trial offers.
    · The business sells to international customers in certain high-risk countries.
    · The merchant sells custom goods.
    · The merchant has a high average ticket amount.
    · The sales model includes delayed or future delivery of goods.
    · The merchandise the merchant sells poses a reputational risk to the acquirer.

    High Risk Merchant Accounts

    High-risk merchants aren’t eligible for traditional merchant accounts. They must contract with a payment processor that offers high-risk merchant accounts.

    There are both pros and cons of payment processing with a high-risk merchant account.

    High-risk merchants typically pay more in transaction processing fees and chargeback fees to compensate for the danger they could potentially cause to the payment processor’s bottom line. They are also more likely to have money held in a reserve. However, high-risk merchants are usually allowed a higher chargeback-to-transaction ratio.

  • Do you support High-Risk Merchant Accounts?
    At Catalystpay, acting as an ISO for over 30 acquiring partners, we support businesses in various verticals, including high-risk industries. During the application and onboarding process, merchants undergo an upfront underwriting process. This process identifies potential risk factors early on, saving you precious time and costs.

  • What is a Merchant Category Code (MCC)?
    Describes merchant’s business type, transaction type, or business name. For example, MCC 0742 is used for any merchant providing veterinary services. Other MCCs are used by a single business, such as 3000 for United Airlines.

    If a merchant sells multiple items or services, the MCC will describe the item or service that has the highest annual sales volume.

    MCCs are managed by the card associations and assigned by the acquirer when the merchant account is created.

    Examples include:

    4131 – Bus Lines
    5072 – Hardware Equipment and Supplies
    5139 – Commercial Footwear
    8651 – Political Organizations

  • Is CatalystPay an acquirer?
    Catalystpay acts as an ISO and payment gateway technology provider that links merchants with multiple principal Acquirers. While we provide the technical infrastructure for the merchant to be able to accept card payments, the actual financial services “card acquiring” are done by the Acquirer. Catalystpay do not “touch” any merchants’ funds as we are not authorized to do so.
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