Being labeled high risk usually means one of three things: nobody will board you, the rate is punitive, or the account gets shut off without warning six months in. Black Mesa Payments places high-risk merchants with banks that actually want the business.
What we can approve
We are approved for most high-risk verticals and merchant category codes through high-risk banking relationships. There is no fixed list, because the honest answer depends on your model, your chargeback history and your volume. Every high-risk account is underwritten case by case, and we will tell you quickly whether it is a fit rather than leaving an application open for weeks.
Online tobacco is one of the categories we place, alongside a range of other MCCs that traditional processors decline on sight.
How we are different
- No hard time over your industry type. If the model is legitimate, we work it.
- No outrageous industry fees layered on top of the rate
- Low cutoff risk, because the account is placed with a bank that expects your category
- No junk or hidden fees, in high risk the same as everywhere else
Rails and pricing
We can board on Fiserv, TSYS, Global Payments or Worldpay, so we are not forced to fit you to one set of rails. Pricing is set per merchant from your volume, average ticket and credit and debit mix, and dual pricing is available where it suits your model. Once your processor fee program is set, it is locked for the life of our relationship.
What to expect
High-risk underwriting asks for more documentation than a standard account, so we tell you up front what the bank will want. Once approved, funding is same day or next day like any other account, and support is 24/7 and US-based.
Tell us about your business and we will give you a straight answer on placement.
