High Risk (Restricted) Business Categories
High Risk Merchants are defined as companies operating in high-risk industries/verticals. High Risk Merchants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will be considered for acceptance based upon several factors including their financial strength, the quality of goods and services provided and the amount of reserves they agree to maintain if applicable.
Esquire Bank and the Card Brands have identified specific types of merchants considered to be of a higher risk.
These high-risk merchant types may require additional underwriting due diligence, documentation and reserves as well as additional risk/compliance monitoring. Certain high risk merchant types require registration with the Card Brands which is performed by Esquire Bank.
| High Risk Verticals |
|---|
| Bail Bonds and Bond Payments (9223) |
| Bus Lines (4131) |
| Casino/Gaming/Chips/Betting Activities (with or without monetary prizes) (requires management approval) (5816, 7994, 7800, 7801, 7802) (7995 card present only) |
| CBD Merchant (Cannabinoid) (5499) *excluded from American Express acceptance |
| Cigarette and Cigar (Vape/e-Cig/Cigarette/Cigar /Tobacco/Nicotine Merchants) (5993) |
| Consumer and Credit Reporting Agencies (7321) |
| Continuity/Subscription Merchant/Neg Option (5968) |
| Dating/Matchmaking Services (7273) (requires Visa registration) |
| Direct Marketing - High Risk Negative Option Billing/Continuity/Free trial (5968) |
| Drugs, Drug Proprieties, Druggist Sundries - (5122) |
| e-Cigarettes (Vape/e-Cig/Cigarette/Cigar/Tobacco/ Nicotine Merchants) (5993) |
| Escort/Companion Services (7273) |
| Fantasy Sports Merchants (Gambling Related) (5816 Digital Good (VS)/7994 Video Games (MC) |
| Firearms (5941) |
| Gambling Related – Fantasy Sports (requires management approval) (5816 Digital Good /7994 Video Games) |
| Gambling – (Government owned lotteries, Government licensed casinos – online state regulated casinos, (7801) |
| Government licensed casinos – online state regulated sport betting, Government licensed horse/dog racing) (requires management approval (7802) |
| Match Making (7273) (requires Visa registration) |
| Membership Clubs (7997) |
| Membership Organizations (8699) |
| Negative Option Response Marketing Sales Methods (i.e., free/low-cost trial offers) (5968) |
| Non-Financial Institution Stored Value Purchase/Load/Prepaid Processing (6540) (Digital Wallets prohibited) |
| Nutraceuticals / Nutritional Supplements / Herbals / Topicals / Pseudo-Pharmaceuticals (MOTO & eCommerce) (Various MCC) |
| Online Dating Sites (7273) |
| Passenger Railways (4112) |
| Online Pharmaceuticals (ecommerce and MOTO) (5912, 5122) |
| Railways - Passenger (4112) |
| Subscription/Continuity/Negative Option (5968) |
| Search Engine Optimization (7372) |
| Timeshare Advertising (7012) (Timeshare sale MCC 5962 - prohibited unless approved by Bank Management) |
| Tobacco Sales (Vape / e-Cig / Cigarette / Cigar / Tobacco / Nicotine Merchants) (5993) |
| Vape/e-Cig/Cigarette/Cigar/Tobacco/Nicotine Merch (5993) |