Merchant Accounts

A Merchant Account is issued according to the business information provided. Then, a credit Card Processing Application containing the entities account info is created and loaded into the device(s) whether it be a Credit Card Terminal, POS System, Smartphone/Tablet, or Ecommerce Payment Gateway.

Depending on the chosen Merchant Services, (Credit Card, Debit Card, EBT, Loyalty, Gift and/or Check Cards), transactions are processed through the device and securely transmitted through our networks to the appropriate Card Issuer for authorization. This is done via phone line, ethernet or wireless connection. A rapid response is sent back to the device with approval/decline information and transaction receipt is printed and/or emailed to cardholder.

Encrypted data from all transactions is stored in the device which is subsequently transmitted as a batch for capture and settlement from the Sponsor Bank for the next day transfer of funds into the merchant’s DDA checking account.

The standard merchant account set-up enables merchants to accept Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover as well as “Off-Line Debit” which is the processing of debit cards containing the card issuer logo without the pin entry requirement of the cardholder. 

Adding Pin-Based Debit is simple and allows merchants to take advantage of the lowest possible rate, but the credit card terminal must have an internal or external pin pad which is encrypted prior to deployment.   

Merchants may also accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) but must provide 1NPS with their state issued number, which is then programmed into the merchant account parameters.   

Additions to the Merchant Account listed above include Check Guarantee Services, Gift and Loyalty Card Programs, ACH services which enable drawing on customers checking accounts directly. 

Cash Discounting / Convenience Fee:  Enabling this service allows merchants to carry all related interchange fees over to the cardholder.  This set up results in the merchant incurring ZERO Charges to accept all payment types and includes a Free Credit Card Terminal.   

1NPS provides same day approvals. Applications processed before 2 o’clock PM Est will receive a live Merchant Account that same day. Payment Terminals and Payment Gateways can be activated and deployed as soon as the Merchant Account goes live. 

For merchants currently processing and needing reprograms of existing terminals, terminal updates, and application downloads, 1NPS can generally do all this the same day either via Phone Line or Ethernet line.    

Providing the 1NPS Merchant Service Advisers with complete, detailed information about the business model along with current and anticipated processing criteria is paramount. Many Merchant Account Statements contain limited and misleading information that only the trained eye can analyze and dissect. This results in merchants not understanding the fee structures and plans available to them and being misinformed about their true credit card processing rates.

The experts at 1NPS educate and enlighten merchants by performing a complete analysis of business and processing activity both current and forecasted pro-forma. If additional information is needed or hidden on existing statements, our team will assist in obtaining it from the merchant’s current provider. Through the detailed analysis provided by 1^st National, merchants will obtain a complete understanding of all options at their disposal enabling them to make an educated business decision to satisfy their current needs and accommodate long term growth.

The choice is in no way a lifetime commitment. If a merchant is unhappy with the chosen plan, terminal type, or a combination of both, 1NPS will gladly make the appropriate changes to ensure things are corrected.  Processing plan changes happen instantaneously, once accompanied by an authorized electronic signature, and terminals or other devices can be swapped or upgraded seamlessly and deployed that same day.  1NPS monitors our portfolio carefully to ensure accuracy and client satisfaction so if an account does, in fact, necessitate a plan change merchants will most likely receive an outbound notification with the appropriate recommendation.

1^ST National Merchant Accounts can be download into an infinite number of devices that can be differentiated and identified by a unique Terminal ID Number. 

A merchant can have multiple fixed devices at their brick-and-mortar location, smart phone, and/or tablet credit card processing devices while they’re on-the-go, and an e commerce gateway all running simultaneously! 

The only time a separate Merchant Account set-up is required is for multiple physical locations. This requirement is for charge back and risk management reasons as communicating incorrect addresses or customer service phone numbers to the cardholder leads to confusion and disputes with the merchant. For convenience and efficiency, all locations and related Merchant Accounts will be linked together with a chain code enabling easy access to activity and all related data via the 1NPS Secure Merchant Portal. 

Typically, most Merchant Accounts do carry a cancelation fee if terminated prior to the expiration of the agreement term.  1^st National strongly advises merchants to check with their current provider and to request a copy of the signed agreement along with the terms and conditions to determine the contract status of their merchant account.   Merchants should not, however, let an Early Termination Fee deter them from speaking with a 1^st National Merchant Service Advisor as there are options.  First, the overall savings a merchant can realize by switching to a 1NPS Merchant Account can quickly exceed the ETF assessed by their current provider making the decision to switch an easy one.  Secondly if the perceived profitability on the Merchant Account warrants it, 1NPS advisors are authorized to absorb the ETF fee for new merchants making the decision to switch another no brainer.   

Contract terms on 1^st National Merchant Accounts are based upon the individual needs of each business. Factors that affect contract include Credit and D&B Score, Equipment Type and Quantity, Software and Programming Requirements, Business Longevity among others.  

Merchants requiring Free Credit Card Machine and POS placements will be subject to longer terms which is based on the cost of the machine being absorbed by 1NPS. 1^st National also offers custom short-term agreements in conjunction with Free Terminal Placements for business owners conducting special events and fundraisers. 

This program is typically reserved for established businesses with a high credit card processing volume and or a large number of transactions. The rates and fees that apply come directly from the card issuers, Visa, Master Card, Amex and Discover and do not get any better. Merchants take advantage of the reduced risk that applies to certain types of credit cards, debit cards and check cards which carry costs below 1% for interchange and transaction fees under 5 cents. There is no better deal available! 

Merchants interested in 1^st National’s Interchange Plus program simply need submit their most recent 3 months of processing statements to our expert advisors for review. New businesses can also qualify for this program based on pro forma forecasts, but need be aware that monthly minimum fees do apply if volume requirements are not hit.  

Absolutely not! Commingling of funds is too messy and inefficient for business owners. Most of our Payment Terminals and Credit Card Processing applications have the capability of holding Multi-Merchant files. 

This means that each of a merchant’s independent contractors would have their own Merchant Account attached to its own DDA Checking Account from which fees are withdrawn and to which deposits are made. The master merchant account and independent contractor accounts are combined into one application and together downloaded into the one Secure Payment Terminal accessed by a unique user id a password provided to the contractor.  Contractors simply enter their ID number to get to the proper account and process transactions accordingly. They will be able to run their own reports and perform their own batches as well! 

The Convenience Fee and Cash Discounting are popular methods to help merchants reduce and or eliminate their merchant fees.  Depending on how the account is configured the cardholder will either receive a purchase discount for paying with cash (Cash Discounting) or alternatively, be charged a premium on a purchase for paying with a credit card (Convenience Fee).  Using the Cash Discounting method, product prices in the Payment System are already increased by a percentage to cover the credit card transaction fees. When a customer makes a purchase, if they pay with a credit card the prices stay as is, but if they pay with cash, they will receive a percentage discount off the purchase.  Alternatively, if the account is set up with the Convenience Fee, customers who pay with a credit card will be charged a percentage on top of the purchase price to cover the transaction fees.  Using either method the merchant will eliminate all credit card fees charged to them by the processor.  Convenience Fee / Cash Discounting can be easily configured by 1NPS to most any Secure Payment Terminal, POS or Payment Gateway and is typically set up with a FREE Terminal of POS placement, which translates to ZERO UPFRONT FEES as well.