How To Get Your Merchant Account Approved

The underwriting team at our partner banks will need to review specific documents prior to the approval of your merchant account. The best way to prepare your documents for review is to:

1. Scan each document.
2. Give each document an appropriate name for easy identification.
3. Upload your documents to a DropBox folder or a Google Drive folder.
   

Required Documents

• • Certificate of Incorporation & Operating Agreement – if the applicant is a sole proprietorship submit a copy of your DBA paperwork.
    
  • IRS Letter. Proof of Employer Identification Number (EIN). If the application has a parent company, include IRS EIN Letter for that entity.
    
  • Color Copy of a Government I.D. or Driver’s License. The front and backside. The principal owner(s) must submit proof of ID.
    
  • Utility Bill with the name of the applicant or business. The name on the utility bill must match the name of the entity. Must be a recent document not more than 3 months old.
  • Proof of URL Website Domain Ownership – Must show the URL domain and the name of the person that purchased it.
  • 3 Months of Most Recent Merchant Processing History. All pages. Upload or forward the documents as a PDF file. 
    • The merchant bank statements should disclose transaction history, volume, refunds or charge-backs (if any).
    • If you do not have current processing history, send over personal bank account statement history OR statements of a separate business entity that you own.
      

Website Compliance Guidelines

• • Remove any and all unlawful marketing verbiage suggesting that CBD; “relieves pain”, “heals”, “cures”, “improves” or performs in a manner similar to a drug.
    
  • The website must be published at the time of submitting an application for a merchant account.
  • Age Verification Gate – must be activated. Persons under 21 years of age should not access website content.
  • Valid SSL Certificate – only SSL secure shopping cart and checkout pages will be approved.
  • All product ingredients must be published. It is recommended that the backside of each product label be featured on the same page of the product.
    
  • Published COAs – laboratory issued Certificates of Analysis for each batch of CBD product sold must be published on the website. Preferably in the footer area as a COA batch database.

Required Policy Pages On The Website

1. Terms and Conditions of Use
   
2. Refund & Returns Policy  – must describe the conditions upon which a refund will be approved and the manner, method and time frame that funds will be received
3. Shipping Policy – must include the actual postal couriers used and the estimated time-frame for delivery.
   
4. Privacy Policy
5. Complete Contact Information – info must include a physical ​business address, a customer service phone number, and ​a customer support email address.

Dietary Supplement & Suggested Usage

Hemp-derived CBD is not a dietary supplement nor a drug. For this reason, the sponsoring bank requires that any instructions regarding ‘suggested use’ or ‘recommended dosage’ be removed from the website or changed. Replace any usage/dosage instructions with verbiage similar to the following:

This product is non-toxic, contains no psychoactive substances, does not cause a euphoric high, and is safe for humans or pets if ingested.

Prohibited Statements or Claims In Advertising & Marketing

The website must not contain any false or misleading statements suggesting ‘cures, heals, mitigate’, or any other alleged medical claims. Links to clinical students, academic research, are acceptable.

Comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDC Act”) marketing and advertising practices acceptable rules of conduct.