High-Risk Credit Card Processing: Cards & ACH
High-risk credit card and ACH processing for businesses mainstream processors decline. Accept all major cards plus bank-to-bank ACH, with AI fraud screening built in, funding terms disclosed up front, and rate ranges published by vertical.
- All major cards plus ACH
- Funding terms disclosed up front
- AI fraud screening built in
The difference
Processing that doesn't pretend you're low-risk
Taking a card payment is mechanically the same whether you sell t-shirts or supplements: the customer pays, the transaction authorizes and settles, the money lands in your account. The reason high-risk businesses struggle isn't the checkout, it's everything behind it. A mainstream aggregator boards anyone in minutes, then reacts to your real profile by holding funds or shutting you off.
High-risk credit card processing fixes that by starting from the truth. Your account is boarded through a sponsor bank that knowingly accepts your category, priced for your fraud and chargeback exposure, and managed so a normal dispute spike is expected rather than alarming. You accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, exactly as any merchant would.
The cheaper rail
ACH: the rail high-risk merchants underuse
Cards aren't the only way to get paid, and for a lot of high-risk models they aren't the cheapest. ACH moves money bank-to-bank, and because it's priced as a flat or capped fee rather than a percentage, it's dramatically cheaper on large or recurring payments.
ACH carries a different risk shape than cards, returns and unauthorized-debit claims rather than card chargebacks, so we underwrite and monitor it on its own terms. Offering both rails lets you put the right payment on the cheaper one: cards where customers expect them, ACH where the economics favor it.
One account
Every way you get paid
Payment gateway
Take payments online through hosted checkout, tokenization, and the API.
Virtual terminal
Accept payments in person, by phone, or by mail through a secure keyed terminal.
Recurring billing
Bill on a schedule for subscriptions, with smart dunning and an account updater.
Fraud prevention
AI risk scoring on every transaction before it posts, tuned to your vertical.
Built in
Fraud screening on every transaction
- Address and CVV verification on every card
- Velocity and device signals to catch card-testing runs
- Behavioral patterns that flag a stolen card before it settles
- Catching fraud pre-settlement keeps the resulting chargeback off your ratio
Pricing
Published rate ranges by vertical
| Tier | Card rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low-risk-mid | from ~2.7% | Cleaner card mix, lower exposure |
| Most scrutinized categories | 5–9% | Heaviest underwriting scrutiny |
| ACH | flat or capped fee | Priced separately and lower than cards |
Final rate is set by underwriting on your volume, average ticket, and chargeback history. Full table on the pricing page. See pricing →
Hosted checkout
A checkout that takes every way you get paid
One hosted page accepts major cards, digital wallets, and ACH, with the order summary and card fields your customers expect. It runs on an account underwritten for your category, so the checkout that goes live is the checkout that stays live.
- Cards, wallets and ACH on one page
- Order summary and receipts customers trust
- On an account built for high-risk volume
FAQ
Processing FAQ
How does high-risk credit card processing work?
Mechanically it's the same as any card processing: a customer pays, the transaction is authorized, captured, and settled to your account. The difference is underneath: a high-risk account is boarded through a sponsor bank that knowingly accepts your category, priced for your chargeback and fraud exposure, and managed so a dispute spike doesn't trigger a freeze. So you accept all major cards exactly as a low-risk merchant would; what's different is the underwriting and risk management behind the account, not the checkout.
Can high-risk businesses accept ACH payments?
Yes, and they often should. ACH (bank-to-bank) costs less than card processing, typically a flat or capped fee rather than a percentage, which makes it ideal for recurring billing, large invoices, and B2B, where card percentages add up. ACH carries its own risk profile (returns and unauthorized-debit disputes rather than card chargebacks), so we underwrite and monitor it accordingly. Offering both cards and ACH lets you steer high-value or recurring payments to the cheaper rail and lower your blended cost.
How fast is funding?
Funding speed is set during underwriting and disclosed before you board. There's no single number that fits every account, because it depends on your risk profile and whether a reserve applies. The important part is that it's defined up front and predictable, rather than subject to the surprise holds that mainstream aggregators impose when an account they boarded casually starts doing real volume. You'll know your funding terms in writing before you commit.
What cards and payment types can I accept?
All major card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover) plus ACH for bank-to-bank payments. You can take payments online through the gateway, in person, by phone or mail through the virtual terminal, and on a recurring schedule for subscriptions. The point is one account that handles the ways your customers actually pay, underwritten for your category rather than forcing you into a low-risk box you don't fit.
Keep exploring
Built for who you actually are.
If you run a high-risk business and want card and ACH processing built for your category, not a low-risk template you'll get dropped from, that's what we're built for.