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The Official Merchant Services Blog

MasterCard’s New B2B Trade Platform

  • On September 17, 2018
In partnership with Microsoft, MasterCard has just announced a new B2B digital platform designed to simplify global trade for small businesses. The platform, called MasterCard Track, is powered by Microsoft Azure. It works by connecting suppliers and buyers with lenders and other networks. MasterCard pointed out that while digitalization has played a major role in […]
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Top New Trends in Payments

  • On September 10, 2018
The payment processing landscape has changed dramatically over the last decade with the rise of NFC technology and mobile payment platforms but the industry isn’t gone transforming in response to new technology, competition, and changing consumer demands. Here are some of the biggest trends in the payment industry and how merchant services providers, card issuers, […]
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AVS Downgrades Can Increase Your Fees

  • On September 5, 2018
You have probably heard the term “downgrading” in reference to payment processing fees and wonder what it means exactly for what you will be paying. Downgrades are an avoidable expense when accepting debit and credit cards but understanding and catching them can be a bit tricky. One of the easiest downgrades to avoid is the […]
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The Benefits of an E-Commerce Business

  • On August 27, 2018
If you are still relying on selling your services and products through a brick-and-mortar store, you may be missing out on a big opportunity. According to recent surveys, up to 97% of consumers look online first for products and services before buying locally today. Setting up payment processing and an online storefront can come with […]
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New Credit Card Trends

  • On August 24, 2018
As consumer spending trends, security threats and technology change, credit card issuers like banks, credit unions and partner retailers and credit card companies keep pace with these changes in a variety of ways. New trends typically involve updates designed to make the use of credit cards more attractive to consumers and create strong, long-term issuer […]
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What is PCI Compliance

  • On August 16, 2018
PCI compliance is an essential component of payment processing and security. When signing up for merchant services, it pays to ensure your provider offers PCI compliant solutions to reduce liability in a data breach and avoid steep fines. Here’s what you should know about what PCI compliance really means and why it’s important for your […]
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What You Should Know About Card Not Present Transactions

  • On August 13, 2018
When it comes to credit card processing, there are essentially two ways to process a debit or credit card payment: in person through contactless, swipe, or chip technology or through keyed entry. These transactions are called Card Not Present (CNP) transactions when the card or cardholder is not present, even if the physical card is […]
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Networking Tips for Small Businesses

  • On August 8, 2018
If you own a small business you have probably already figured out that networking is an important part of keeping it thriving. Even though many people are intimidating at the idea of networking, there is no need to be. Here are some networking tips for small businesses. The first tip is to use an opportunity […]
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How to Setup a Merchant Account

  • On August 6, 2018
A merchant account is essentially a special bank account that allows you to accept credit and debit card payments. This account will hold funds from these transactions before they are transferred to your bank account. Setting up a merchant account isn’t as complicated as it may seem and it’s the first step toward credit card […]
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What Questions to Ask Before Signing up for a Point of Sale

  • On August 1, 2018
Merchants today use their software based POS systems to run a greater share of their business. A point-of-sale is an intricate system that can control and track almost every activity from inventory and transactions to employee scheduling. The platform you choose isn’t just an IT decision and your POS is more than a fancy cash […]
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