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Questions on banking and payments

Short answers to what merchants ask. The sourced version is in the guides.

Who will process payments for my peptide store?

A bank that knowingly underwrites research-use-only peptides, through a merchant account in your company's name. Stripe, PayPal and Shopify Payments restrict peptides, so the bank has to see your real site and catalog before you take a payment.

What is a high-risk merchant account?

A merchant account from an acquiring bank that knowingly underwrites your industry, often with a reserve and closer monitoring. The acquiring bank sponsors you into Visa and Mastercard and carries the liability for your chargebacks.

Stripe closed my account. What do I do now?

Get the reason in writing, export your records, and keep refunding customers. Don't open a new LLC to hide the closure; move new sales to a direct merchant account with a bank that underwrites your industry. We can't release funds Stripe is holding.

How long can Stripe or PayPal hold my money?

Stripe's stated practice after a risk closure is usually 120 days, then a review. PayPal's risk holds generally run up to 21 days, and up to 180 days for challenged payments.

Should I switch from Stripe to a high-risk processor?

If Stripe's terms restrict or prohibit what you sell, plan the move before a review closes the account. A direct merchant account is underwritten in your name before you process, so the bank has already seen your business.

Is a 10% rolling reserve normal?

It's the standard public example: PayPal's User Agreement uses 10% held for 90 days. Your bank sets the percentage and hold period in the contract, so read both before you sign.

Can I get a merchant account if I'm on the MATCH list?

Sometimes. Mastercard's rules let a bank board a MATCH-listed merchant, and a listing drops off automatically after five years. Expect tougher terms, and disclose it, because hiding it ends the next account too.

Why do I keep getting declined for a merchant account?

Usually the bank doesn't take your industry, or your file left questions unanswered. Common causes: a site that fails review, an undisclosed past closure, high chargebacks, or an application and site that describe different businesses.

What documents do I need for a high-risk merchant account?

Formation documents, ID for each owner, recent business bank statements, and your processing history, including any past closures. Your website also needs customer-service contact details, policies and a business location.

Why are high-risk processing fees so high?

Because the bank carries more chargeback risk, so it prices that in and usually adds a reserve. The bank sets pricing after underwriting, so compare the full contract, not just the rate.

Are you a payment processor or a bank?

No. Break Free Finance is not a bank, payment processor, or money transmitter; we build the file and place it with banks in our network, and the bank makes the final call.

Which industries do you work with?

RUO peptides, supplements and nutra, complex ecommerce, crypto, MSBs and money transmitters, and fintechs, payfacs and ISOs. If your MCC is outside what our banks underwrite, we say so.

Do you work with companies outside the US?

Yes. We work with US businesses and international clients, and licensing, the corridor and the bank decide what's possible.

Longer, sourced answers are in the guides.