International Merchant Accounts &
Cross-Border Acquiring

Offshore accounts carry higher setup complexity and longer approval timelines than domestic accounts, so they typically make sense once processing volume is substantial enough that the added complexity is offset by the value of continuity for categories domestic banks won't service. Below that point, a domestic high-risk account is almost always the right starting point — we'll tell you honestly which one fits during underwriting.

Yes. Offshore acquiring banks process Visa and Mastercard transactions globally — including cards issued by US banks. The cardholder experience is identical regardless of where the acquiring bank is located. Some offshore accounts may have slightly lower approval rates on US Amex cards, but Visa and Mastercard approval rates are generally comparable to domestic accounts when properly configured.

In most cases, yes. Offshore acquiring banks require a locally incorporated entity — a UK Ltd., a Malta company, or a Curaçao NV, for example — as the merchant of record on the account. The foreign company contracts with the bank, processes the transactions, and remits funds back to your US operating entity under an intercompany services agreement. We connect you with qualified local counsel for incorporation, and support the corporate substance documentation the acquiring bank requires as part of the placement process.

Funds settle from the offshore acquiring bank into the foreign entity's corporate bank account, typically weekly or biweekly. From there, they're transferred to the US parent entity via international wire under an intercompany services agreement or management fee structure. The FX conversion happens at the bank's settlement rate — we structure accounts with native USD settlement where possible to minimize currency conversion losses. Your US tax obligations apply to all income regardless of where it originates.