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) |
| CBD Merchant (Cannabinoid) (5499) |
| Cigarette and Cigar (Vape/e-Cig/Cigarette/Cigar /Tobacco/Nicotine Merchants) (5993) |
| Credit Repair (7277) |
| Consumer and Credit Reporting Agencies (7321) |
| Document Preparation (Business 7399) (Personal 7299) |
| Direct Marketing - Digital Goods Media - Books, Movies and Music (5815) |
| Direct Marketing - Digital Goods - Games (5816) |
| Direct Marketing - Digital Goods - Applications (excluding games) (5817) |
| 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) |
| Direct Marketing - Continuity Subscription (5968) |
| Direct Marketing - High Risk Negative Option Billing/Continuity/Free trial (5968) |
| Direct Marketing - Nutraceuticals / Nutritional Supplements / Herbals / Topicals / Pseudo-Pharmaceuticals . (Straight Sale - 5969 / Continuity - 5968) |
| Drugs, Drug Proprieties, Druggist Sundries - (5122) |
| Firearms (5941) (must use MCC 5723 for CA and CO) |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings (5712) |
| Match Making (7273) (requires Visa registration) |
| Membership Clubs (7997) |
| Membership Organizations (8699) |
| Moving Brokers, 3rd party Moving Arrangement Services (4214) |
| Pawn Shops who sell Firearms (5933) |
| Passenger Railways (4112) |
| Online Pharmaceuticals (ecommerce and MOTO) (5912, 5122) |
| Railways - Passenger (4112) |
| Search Engine Optimization (7372) |
| Sports Forecasting/Odds Making (Gambling Related) (5815) |
| Telemedicine (LegitScript or NABP required) (8099) |
| Ticket Brokers/Theatrical Producers (7922) |
| 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) |
| Warranty Programs (one year or less) (5960) |
| Website Design/Hosting (7372) |