Merchant Service Experts

At North American Bancard, we work hard to help our clients achieve success.  We understand that, in many ways, the success of our clients is directly proportional to our level of success and to our continued growth.  Over the past 10 years, North American Bancard has seen significant growth, both in staffing and with the acquisition of a number of business solutions that have rounded out our offerings.  In addition, we realize that partnering with others in the industry can benefit our clients too.  Our strategic partnership with Capital for Merchants has been very beneficial to a number of our clients, including a Play N Trade client from Florida, who remarked about the benefits of this partnership.

Testimonial: Play N Trade

I came to NAB for a credit card terminal and got that and lots more! I found that because of my affiliation with NAB, I could apply for a business advance through the Capital for Merchants program. The holiday shopping season was coming up and my store needed some extra inventory, but I didn’t have the cash at hand. I applied and got approved for an $11,000 advance. Because of that, I was able get the extra inventory I needed and had a great sales season. I am looking forward to doing business with North American Bancard for a long, long time.

Steve and Barbara McGreal, Owners and operators, Play N Trade, Brandon, FL

North American Bancard will continue to partner with like-minded organizations who share our organizational philosophy and commitment to customers.  Capital for Merchants, and the testimonial above, is a great example of taking the extra step, beyond what other merchant account providers may be willing to do, to offer that much more value to our clients.  We believe that is what has made us so success and what will continue to differentiate us for years to come.  For more information on Capital for Merchants, visit their website or call 800-BANCARD and speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives.

How do they do it?  It seems like every week, you see another company announcing record profits or at least significant growth, even in a down economy.  Really, how do they do it? There are probably a number of things that contribute to their success, but certainly thinking strategically is a big part of it.  What does thinking strategically look like for your business when it comes to payment processing?  It's important to take credit card processing to the next level.  Some retailers would benefit greatly from having a wireless point of sale option in their stores or wherever business is conducted.  

Accepting credit cards, especially wireless payments, really does mean that your business knows no bounds.  The team at North American Bancard can help add wireless credit card processing machines to your existing service.  The process is painless and will allow you to accept transactions securely from just about anywhere.  With North American Bancard's wireless merchant services you can:

• Accept all major credit cards
• Receive near immediate authorizations
• Enjoy the lowest rates with the most secure transactions
• Access the GPRS wireless network, the most reliable network available in the U.S.
• Utilize "Store and Forward" capability which allows you to "swipe" transactions in areas with poor coverage and process later
• Include tips or tolls and also link transactions to specific customers
• Choose from the industry’s largest selection of free wireless credit card terminals

In today's business world, transactions can be processing in your home, in an office, at a tradeshow, county fair or from a mobile device.  Accepting payment via a wireless terminal is a hassle-free way to add yet another level of convenience for your customers and improve your profit potential.  Even if you don't do business on the road of from remote locations, there are still numerous brick-and-mortar applications for wireless processing.  Take your checkout counter to the customer and "wow" them with your service.

 

 

 

PCI compliance may be the topic that is most often asked about when discussing credit card processing with our customer service team.  Simply take a look at our FAQ section on PCI compliance and you'll understand why.  The topic is complex and very important.  Let's take a few moments to discuss what it is, who needs it and how North American Bancard can help to ensure that you are compliant.

Due to the significant increase in use of credit and debit cards and the prevalence of data security issues that come along with this use, a number of organizations formed to create industry standards of privacy and security.  The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) federal law and Triple DES PIN encryption have established standards and requirements for the safekeeping of cardholder information.  Let's focus specifically on what it takes to be PCI compliant.

PCI compliance requires attention to important details including the following:

- Removing full credit card numbers and expiration dates from receipts
- Conducting self-assessment questionnaires
- Conducting quarterly vulnerability scans to identify potential weaknesses

Many merchants may believe that their business is too small, that they don't process enough transactions for it to matter or that PCI compliance is too costly for them.  Regardless of the business size or how many transactions you do, PCI compliance is a necessity.  When it comes to cost concerns, the costs of a single breach or non-compliance far outweigh any investment that you would make to ensure compliance.

In order to make ensuring PCI compliance and maintenance simpler for our clients, North American Bancard has partnered with ControlScan, a leading provider of compliance and security services, to create a comprehensive Compliance Program.  This program includes access to a web-based resource providing merchants with the tools and support necessary to analyze, remediate, and validate PCI compliance.  Tools include:

- PCI Self-Assessment Questionnaire
- Vulnerability Scanning
- Security Policy Builder
- Security Awareness Training
- And More

For more information, check out How PCI Works. Get additional questions answered in our FAQs or by our compliance support staff at 866.785.5044.

At North American Bancard, we take privacy and data security just as seriously as you do when dealing with your customers' credit card information.  There are a number of items of information that we may ask from you including name, job title, contact info, demographics info or other information relevant to customer surveys and offers.  We use this information to better understand your needs, to provide you with even better service on your merchant account and for a number of other reasons including:

- Internal record keeping
- Product or service improvement
- In order to send out periodic promotional emails about new products or special offers
- For market research purposes

Many people ask us how we protect not only their data but their money, as well.  In order to prevent unauthorized access to your account, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to ensure security of the information that we collect online.

And, similarly to how we protect you, our client, from privacy and security concerns, we also offer solutions to help you ensure PCI compliance for your business and privacy for your customer's credit card data.  Whether you require traditional or internet merchant account services, North American Bancard will walk you through the process of how to accept swiped transactions as well as card-not-present transactions.

Here are a few things to look for when attempting to spot a fraudulent card-not-present transaction:

- First-time shopper: Criminals are always looking for new victims.
- Larger-than-normal orders: Because stolen cards or account numbers have a limited life span, crooks need to maximize the size of their purchase.
- Orders that include several of the same item: Having multiples of the same item increases a criminal's profits.
- Orders made up of “big-ticket” items: These items have maximum resale value and therefore maximum profit potential.
- “Rush” or “overnight” shipping: Crooks want these fraudulently obtained items as soon as possible for the quickest possible resale, and aren’t concerned about extra delivery charges.
- Shipping to an international address: A significant number of fraudulent transactions are shipped to fraudulent cardholders outside of the U.S. Visa AVS can't validate non-U.S., except in Canada and the United Kingdom.

The secret to our success as a merchant services provider  really is no secret at all.  It's certainly not top secret, just above and beyond what others in the industry are willing and able to do.  When you meet the needs of your clients, you begin to build a more loyal client base.  This translates to greater revenues and greater, more sustained success.  Just take a look at what one of our customers had to say:

VIP World Club
I got involved with North American Bancard in an interesting way... I was their limousine company, offering service for all of their VIPs. One day, their CEO asked me if I accepted credit cards. One thing led to another and I ended up, not only utilizing NAB’s services, but also becoming a sales rep and selling credit card services to my fellow business people and beyond. I guess you could say I was sold! I have never encountered a better group of people who really love what they do. Plus their knowledge of the business has helped me and my company greatly. Business is up and life is good. I would strongly encourage businesses of all sizes to get to know the folks at North American Bancard. They truly changed my life for the better. Thanks again.

Walter (Mike) Hagen President, VIP World Club, Troy, MI

As you probably noticed, this client was so impressed by the solutions that we provided and the level of service that we offered that he not only became a client, he also became a reseller of our traditional and internet merchant account services.  You may look elsewhere and find similar rates or credit card terminal fees but most others will not meet the needs of their clients like we do. 

 

If you've already got a merchant account and can accept credit cards, then you're headed in the right direction to making your business successful.  So what else can you do? Many clients of North American Bancard are looking for ways to improve their POS systems, but don't necessarily have the budget to add necessary services or upgrade retail credit card machines like they would like to do.  We recognized this and set out to partner with a company that provided our clients with this capital without all of the red tape and hassle of traditional business loans.  That company is Capital for Merchants.

Capital for Merchants is a merchant cash advance company.   The concept of a merchant cash advance is simple; Capital for Merchants will pay you (give you cash in advance) for your future credit card transactions up front. As credit card transactions roll in to your business, Capital for Merchants gets paid back by taking a small, fixed percentage of those daily credit card transaction receipts.

While the concept is fairly simple, many people still have questions because they are so used to the complicated and frustrating way that banks loan money.  Let's take a look at a few of the most commonly asked questions related to a merchant cash advance.

What qualifications do you need for a merchant cash advance?
To qualify for a merchant cash advance with Capital for Merchants, an institution typically has to be in business for a minimum of one year. The business must also be processing a minimum of $2,000 worth of credit card transactions a month, and have been accepting credit cards for up to six months prior to the time they apply for the merchant cash advance.

How quickly will I receive my cash advance?
After completing the Capital for Merchants Application, you can expect the approved cash advance in as little as 72 hours.

How can I use the cash?
You can spend the money from your merchant cash advance from Capital for Merchants any way that you want. We are only interested in your continued success.

How much cash can I get?
Capital for Merchants can fund your business up to $250,000 per location depending on your businesses credit card transaction volume.

For answers to any of your other questions or for more general information on Capital for Merchants or North American Bancard call 800-BANCARD.

If you're looking to offer your customers the best credit card processing for small business, North American Bancard can outfit you with state-of-the-art equipment to help you do just this.  Our product line includes one of the largest selections of credit card processing equipment in the industry, so no matter your needs we can fulfill them.

What sort of equipment does your business need to optimize efficiency of your POS?

- Internet Connected Terminal:  Allows you to process transactions through an internet connection (or a phone line)
   
- Wireless Terminal:  Uses the GPRS wireless network to process transactions wirelessly for businesses on the go
   
- e-Commerce Solutions:  Enables you to accept credit card and electronic check payments from your e-Commerce Web site
  
- Payment Processing Software:  Turns any PC or PC-based POS system into a secure payment-accepting and processing device
   
- Check Imager: Converts paper checks to electronic transactions at the point of sale
  
- Tap and Go: Enables almost any point of sale (POS) and Electronic Cash Registers (ECR) systems with contactless payments


In addition to the type of equipment that you need, you should consider whether the equipment provides you with adequate safeguards for your business and your customers.  All equipment provided by North American Bancard arrives fully PCI compliant and ready to use so you can start accepting credit cards faster.  Equipment is preloaded with your merchant information, pre-programmed for your specific needs and pre-tested to ensure full functionality.  Many of the retail credit card machines, including our wireless credit card processing machines, are offered to our clients as part of our free equipment program.  For more information on our free equipment program, visit our website today.

This is yet another way we meet your needs and help to ensure that your business is as successful and profitable as it can be.

 

Processing Rates & Fees:  With any merchant account, you'll pay various fees.  These will vary depending on the type of merchant account you need and the company that you select as your MSP.  However, there are two main costs that are charged.  Discount rates and Authorization Fees are the most common.

The discount rate charged is typically determined by classifying the purchase into one of three levels, qualified, mid-qualified and non-qualified.  Each level and rate is determined by the type of card used, and/or how it is accepted and processed.  The authorization fee is charged for each electronic authorization request made.  This includes ALL sales, those approved, declined, returns, voids, etc.
 

When you have decided that you need a new merchant account and have done your research to find the company that you believe to be the best fit, you're still not quite done.  There are still a couple of items that, if you pay attention, could help you save even more on your POS system and payment processor software.

Advances in technology have made the prospect of offering credit or debit card payment options to your clients a cost-effective reality.  Many times merchant accounts can be setup with little to no start-up costs by some of the most reputable service providers in the industry.

Here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Don't sign a long term agreement

Even if you have fully-vetted the merchant account provider, signing a long-term contract locks you into commitments that you may have to pay to break.  If customer service is lacking or if you end up finding a better company, better service or a better rate at another merchant account provider, you'll be stuck.  Many times merchant account providers charge steep termination fees or require payment of the remaining monthly fees up to $1,000.

2. Try to save money on processing equipment

While costs of retail credit card machines and processing equipment have declined significantly in recent years, this should still be a concern.  Many companies now offer complimentary applications for processing via Blackberry, iPhone or other smartphone device.  North American Bancard even offers its clients a free terminal program which includes the use of many of the latest traditional payment devices and wireless credit card processing machines at no cost to them.

3. Be sure that the merchant account type fits your business needs

While a particular company may seem like a good fit, take a moment to ensure that the type of merchant account that you are purchasing from that company makes sense for your purposes.  Be sure that the merchant account provider you choose can clearly explain the differences between different types of accounts and has asked specific questions of you during the intro period to ensure that they sell you the correct type.

To find out more about opening a new merchant account or to speak with a knowledgeable representative from North American Bancard, who can help you out, call 800-BANCARD or visit our website today.

As you probably already know, PCI compliance aims to protect credit card users by securing their personal information by using various secure data management policies. Any organization that transmits cardholder data, regardless of size or frequency of transaction, is subject to PCI Compliance.  With this in mind, many small businesses are hesitant to step into the "PCI world", afraid of the risks and potential fees associated with any mistakes made that could lead to a data or security breach. 

Part of the PCI Compliance Program at North American Bancard, the Breach Protection Program offers liability protection for merchants who have completed the PCI requirements that are required for their business.  This protection covers up to $25,000 in assessment fees, merchant fines and other expenses related to a qualified PCI data breach.  This protection does not equate to a full "PCI insurance policy", it does mitigate some of the risk that you face as a merchant offering credit and debit cards as payment options.

The protection covers a range of items and includes any qualifying merchant that receives written notice from any card association asserting that a breach has occured.  With this sort of offering, North American Bancard hopes to help ensure that small businesses, just like their larger competitors, have the freedom to offer credit and debit card services to their clients without fear of losing everything due to a PCI compliance error or breach. 

The ability to accept electronic payments and traditional retail payments is essential to the success of any type of business.  With the help of our secure payment processor software and payment devices, our clients can mitigate much of the risk of data breaches but the breach protection program adds that much more security to our clients' bottom line.




   

Sometimes, it can seem like there are millions of merchant services providers out there and that to begin researching them to find the best one would be like finding a needle in a haystack.  The truth is, that while there are numerous options, doing your own research and knowing what to look for in a merchant services provider can really make a difference in finding a good company.

Here are a few things to look for:

Price:  Certainly price is usually the most important factor when choosing a merchant account provider.  Finding the best credit card terminal fees or rates should be at the top of this list, but not the entire list.  As you'll find out (if you haven't already) there are a lot of options for providers who will "woo" you with very low rates only to hit you with hidden charges or frustrate you with lack of service.

Service & Support: This might be something that is overlooked most often, but can be critically important during emergencies and service outages that could cost you sales.  The best merchant service providers will offer to provide you with multiple referrals from current clients.  In order to ensure that they have experience serving your specific industry, ask for referrals from businesses in your industry and those that are approximately your size.  Then, once you have the referral, rather than simply asking whether they like the MSP, ask the client detailed questions about how issues are handled.  How long does it take to reach a CSR?  How are chargebacks handled?  Are interruptions in service fix quickly?  Is phone support 24/7?  Etc.

E-Commerce: If you'll be selling services or merchandise online, you'll want to look for an MSP that can provide you with secure ordering using SSL (secure socket layer) security.  Setting up a secure site on your own can be expensive and confusing, so be sure to go with someone who already has this capability.

In order to fully understand the need for PCI compliance, it is essential that you understand how everything works and many times the process is a bit confusing.  Let's take a quick look at the "ins and outs" of PCI compliance.

Compliance with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standard is a requirement for all merchants that process, store or transmit credit card data.  This requirement applies to all payment channels, regardless of industry or business type, including traditional retailers, mail order, pay-by-phone, and e-commerce merchants too.  The PCI standard has been endorsed by all major credit card brands by their respective data security programs.

Ensuring PCI compliance means adhering to a set of twelve basic requirements, which fall within the following categories:

Build and Maintain a Secure Network

Requirement 1: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data
Requirement 2: Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters

Protect Cardholder Data

Requirement 3: Protect stored cardholder data
Requirement 4: Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks

Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program

Requirement 5: Use and regularly update anti-virus software
Requirement 6: Develop and maintain secure systems and applications

Implement Strong Access Control Measures

Requirement 7: Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know
Requirement 8: Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access
Requirement 9: Restrict physical access to cardholder data

Regularly Monitor and Test Networks

Requirement 10: Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
Requirement 11: Regularly test security systems and processes

Maintain an Information Security Policy

Requirement 12: Maintain a policy that addresses information security

In addition to compliance requirements, businesses are also required to maintain proper certification, or validation, of compliance by demonstrating it.  North American Bancard's partner, ControlScan and it's interactive PCI portal walks you through each step of the certification process.  From selecting and completing a self-assessment questionnaire and conducting vulnerability scanning to preparing security policy documents, we can help through the entire process and make accepting credit cards that much easier.

For more information on North American Bancard's PCI Compliance assistance programs visit us online or call us at 800-BANCARD.

 

As you probably already know, having the ability to accept credit cards or other non-cash payments has become more and more of a necessity in today's business world.  Customers have come to expect these options, so it only makes sense that your business offers them.

For many small businesses, considering adding the ability to accept credit cards to your POS offering can seem like a daunting task.  In reality, while the benefits that you could enjoy are great, the actual process of starting things up isn't painful at all when working with North American Bancard.  We offer comprehensive payment processor software to ensure that your business can offer the convenience of payment by credit or debit card, to your customer.  In addition, because we are an industry leader, we can also offer the guaranteed lowest rates in the industry.

The benefits of working with North American Bancard don't stop at our low rates. Your business needs to offer your customers more payment options than just credit cards.  With this in mind, we offer capabilities to accept debit card, pre-paid cards, electronic balance transfers, gift cards, loyalty cards and more.

In addition, clients of North American Bancard enjoy the following benefits:
So, whether you are a business that is just realizing a need to accept credit cards for the first time or an established business looking for better processing options, North American Bancard is committed to help you grow your business by improving profitability and efficiency.

The most important thing to look at, when reviewing merchant accounts, is to find the right fit for you and your business.  Every type of business, from small corner bakery shops to the largest corporations can benefit from having a merchant account.  It does not matter the size of a company or the industry, having a merchant account, especially one provided by North American Bancard, can positively impact revenue and customer satisfaction.

Understanding the specific type of merchant account that fits you best can be a bit confusing at times, especially when more than one merchant account type seems to fit, but we are here to help.  Here are a few examples to help you figure out what might work best for you:

Traditional retail storefronts, which typically process credit cards on site by swiping cards manually will need retail credit card machines or countertop terminals to do so.  In addition, most retail merchants choose to add an integrated reporting package to their suite of software in order to more easily track sales and set goals for growth.

Businesses that process the majority of their sales online will need an internet merchant account.  This is needed to process card-not-present transactions, which require additional security measures to be taken because the credit card is not physically swiped.  Many businesses who choose to accept electronic payments choose to do so with the help of an online payment gateway like Authorize.net or with virtual terminal applications.  These software packages help merchants view reporting in real-time and monitor payments with ease.

Mobile merchants need to be able to process credit cards wherever they go.  North American Bancard offers merchant accounts that include convenient payment processing options that allow merchants to accept credit cards via cell phone or with small, wireless credit card processing machines.

By carefully researching your options and speaking with a knowledgeable representative, you will be able to ensure that you are getting the exact merchant account and equipment that fit your needs.

We understand that with great success comes great responsibility.  The success that we have enjoyed, providing traditional and internet merchant account services is based on, and because of, the corporate culture that our leaders have instilled and the great customers that we serve. 

With that in mind, our founder and President, Marc Gardner, along with our employees, believe in giving back. The success we have helping our clients grow, in turn affords us the opportunity to help our communities grow – whether it’s via life-saving blood drives, volunteering at food banks, or donating to needy charities and deserving causes. Helping our clients and our communities is part of North American Bancard’s overall philosophy of fulfilling the American dream.

Whether you need help fulfilling your entrepreneurial dreams of a successful business or are looking for a sponsor to help with a worthy cause, North American Bancard can help.  The products and payment processor software that we offer can help businesses everywhere.  To find out more about North American Bancard, our products and services and how we give back to the community, visit our website today or call 800-BANCARD.

Most people quickly grow tired of the way they are treated by other merchant account providers.  They pay way too much, either for things they don't actually need or use or for services that should be much less costly.  With North American Bancard serving businesses much like yours, there is no reason why you need to continue to spend your hard-earned profits on substandard or overpriced merchant account solutions. North American Bancard and its team of well-trained, experienced representatives will invest the time and energy necessary to create an ideal POS solution for your business at a cost that is within your budget, with some of the lowest processing rates in the industry.

To add even more value, many of the retail credit card machines that we offer are provided for use by our clients at no cost.  The free terminal program provides access to some of the latest POS equipment from manufacturers like Magtek and Hypercom, most times at no cost at all.

No longer do you have to give us great service or great devices to save money.  When you work with North American Bancard, you can expect the low rates and fees, great customer service/support and access to a wide variety of devices to make your checkout process as efficient as possible.

Visit us online or call 800-BANCARD to find out how we can save you thousands on payment processing fees while making your merchant account experience so much more enjoyable.

In what ways do you attempt to make your business "stand out"?  There are thousands of ways, many of which are expensive and not as beneficial as you may think.  One thing that you may not have considered is upgrading your payment system for accepting credit cards.   Now, initially this may not seem like the best way to make your business stand out from the others but just hear me out.

There is certainly a place for marketing, promotions, advertising, etc. but everyone else is doing it too, right?  Some other businesses probably have larger budgets than you and, subsequently, are getting more/better exposure.  What if, instead of spending your dollars in vain, trying to keep up with others, you took that money and invested it back into credit card processing equipment, software and services that actually improved your customers experience in the store?  This might help by:

- Improving the customer experience & creating more loyal customers
- Increasing "word-of-mouth" marketing from improved experiences
- Saving you money or wasted time & effort on outdated POS solutions

As you already know, the key to having a successful business is keeping up with changing demand and adapting new technologies to your benefit. Many people say "if your business isn't growing, it's dying", which may be true, but I believe that you're in trouble if you aren't constantly looking at how you run your business and making adjustments to optimize its' efficiency.

Less than 20 years ago, no one would have ever imagined that consumers would prefer to make payments with debit or credit cards rather than paying with cash. Even more hard to predict would have been the prevalence of online commerce. Fortunately, North American Bancard is a company that will evolve with you and your changing needs. Today, most of our clients desire the ability to process credit card payments both in-store and online, using our Authorize.net solutions. Who knows what the demands of tomorrow will be? But, whatever they may be, North American Bancard will be there with the latest innovations to help you keep up with the marketplace.