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:

(1) Average ticket is less than $1,000.
(2) Monthly volume less than $125,000.
(3) Store front merchants with at least 70% card present sales, evidencing the presence of the Card used to affect the transaction.

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.

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

  • Collections/Debt Repayment (7322)
  • Computer Network/Inform. Systems (4816)
  • Credit Repair (7277)
  • Counseling/Coaching/Mentoring (Personal or Marital) (7277)
  • Debt/Mortgage Counseling/Consolidation (7277)
  • Debt Repayment (7322)
  • Digital Goods – Applications (excluding games) (5817)
  • Digital Goods – Games (5816)
  • Digital Goods – Large Digital Goods Merchant (5818)
  • Digital Goods Media – Books, Movies and Music (5815)
  • Direct Marketing – Catalog Merchants (5964)
  • Direct Marketing – Combined Catalog and Retail (5965)
  • Direct Marketing – Door to Door Sales (5963)
  • Direct Marketing - Insurance Services (5960)
  • Direct Marketing - MOTO (5961)
  • Direct Marketing – Not Elsewhere Classified (5969)
  • Document Preparation (Business 7399) (Personal 7299)
  • Employment Agencies (7361)
  • Furniture, Home Furnishings (5712)
  • 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)
  • Non-Financial Institution – Foreign Currency, Money Orders, Travelers Checks (6051)
  • Pawn Shops (5933)
  • Recreational Vehicles and Motor Homes (7519)
  • Search Engine Optimization (7372)
  • Security Brokers/Dealers (excluding Forex trades, binary trades, etc.) (6211)
  • Taxicabs/Limousines (4121)
  • Technical Support (4816)
  • Theatrical Producers (7922)
  • Video Amusement Game Supplies (7993)
  • Website Design/Hosting (7372)

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.