Resource Center

Esquire Risk Levels

Low Risk Merchants - Risk Level I and Risk Level II

Risk Level I Merchants shall have each of the following characteristics:

Store front merchants with 70% or more card present sales, evidencing the presence of the Card used to affect the transaction. These Merchants generally have a low percentage of credits and chargebacks. These factors are positive and are given favorable consideration in the acceptance process.

Risk Level II Merchants who do not qualify as Risk Level I and are not considered High Risk or Moderate Risk, shall be designated as Risk Level II.

Risk Level I and II Merchants with greater than 30 days or less than 180 days forward delivery may be escalated to Moderate Risk.

Moderate Risk Merchants

Moderate Risk Merchants exhibit a slightly higher risk than Level I and Level II merchants for a variety of reasons.

Moderate Risk Business Categories

  • Charities/Non-Profit Organizations
  • Collections/Debt Repayment (7322)
  • Computer Network/Inform. Systems (4816)
  • Counseling/Coaching/Mentoring (Personal or Marital) (7277)
  • Debt Repayment (6051)
  • Employment Agencies (7361)
  • Insurance Services, Direct Marketing (5960)
  • Legal Services (8111)
  • Massage Business, government licensed/registered or board certified only (7297)
  • Motor Home Dealers (5592)
  • Motor Home and Recreational Vehicles (7519)
  • Moving & Storage - (4214)
  • Non-Financial Institution - Foreign Currency, Money Orders,
  • Travelers Checks (6051)
  • Pawn Shops (5933)
  • Recreational Vehicles and Motor Homes (7519)
  • Security Brokers/Dealers (excluding Forex trades, binary trades, etc.) (6211)
  • Taxicabs/Limousines (4121)
  • Technical Support (4816)
  • Video Amusement Game Supplies (7993)

Additional Risk and Compliance Pricing - Risk/Compliance BPS

Certain merchants and merchant types require additional pricing known as “Risk/Compliance BPS”. Please note that not all Risk/Compliance BPS merchant types are listed below. Additionally, not all merchant types listed below are applicable for acceptance unless otherwise approved by management.

Esquire Risk/Compliance BPS Tier Structure

Tier 1

All Prohibited Merchant Types where an Exception has been granted by Bank.

Tier 2

Negative Option Merchants:

  • Nutra
  • Other types of negative option merchants as defined by Card Brand rules etc.

Gambling / Fantasy Sports.

  • Government owned lotteries.
  • Government licensed casinos - online state regulated casinos.
  • Government licensed casinos - online state regulated sport betting.
  • Government licensed horse/dog racing.

Tier 3

  • Collection Agencies
  • Credit Repair
  • Digital Goods (including, e- books, music, applications, games, etc.)
  • Nutra (various product types and sales modes including, straight sales, continuity, and subscription)
  • Online Pharmaceutical
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Website Hosting/Development (recurring billing model)

Tier 4

Tier 5

  • CBD Merchants
  • Doc Prep
  • Vape/eCig/Tobacco (Card Not Present)

Note: Other merchant types may require additional risk/compliance BPS depending on business model.