FAQs

NMI is a leading provider of embedded payment solutions. We offer a comprehensive, all-in-one platform that enables businesses to integrate and accept payments seamlessly across various channels, including online, in-store, mobile and self-service environments. Our modular approach allows for flexibility and scalability, and it empowers organizations to manage the entire merchant lifecycle efficiently — from onboarding to transaction processing — while sharing in the net payment revenue. By delivering secure, reliable and customizable payment capabilities, we help our partners drive new revenue streams and provide unparalleled payment experiences to their customers.

NMI provides a comprehensive suite of payment solutions designed to empower businesses across various industries with flexibility, security and scalability. Here is an overview of our key services:

• Payment Gateway:
  Our feature-rich, white-label payment gateway supports online, in-store, mobile and self-service payments. It integrates with over 200 payment processors and 125+ shopping carts. That enables seamless payment acceptance and management across multiple channels
• Merchant Relationship Management:
  NMI’s Merchant Relationship Management suite is more than just a set of tools; it’s your strategic partner that transforms the way you interact with your merchant portfolio, setting new standards for success
• White-Label Solutions:
  Our platform offers robust white-labeling options, allowing businesses to add their logos and colors and customize the URLs to maintain their brand identity. This enables our clients to extend their brand while leveraging our secure and efficient payment solutions
• Mobile Payments:
  NMI provides mobile payment solutions that allow merchants to accept in-app, EMV and contactless payments via smartphones and tablets. This includes turnkey mobile applications and software development kits (SDKs) for both iOS and Android devices
• Ecommerce Payments:
  Our ecommerce solutions enable merchants to quickly set up and accept online payments. We offer hosted payment pages, application program interface (API) integrations and advanced fraud prevention tools to ensure secure and efficient online transactions
• Unattended and Self-Service Payments:
  We support secure payment processing for self-service environments such as vending machines, self-service kiosks and parking systems. Our solutions include certified payment devices and robust security features to handle unattended transactions
• Fraud Prevention:
  The Fraud Defense Suite includes advanced tools that utilize AI and machine learning to provide real-time risk analysis and protect against fraudulent activities
• Network Tokens with Customer Token Vault:
  NMI’s Network Tokenization solution expands on Customer Vault and replaces sensitive payment data with secure network tokens from the card brands, helping businesses reduce fraud and improve authorization rates. By automatically refreshing tokens when cards expire or are reissued, it also minimizes disruption for recurring transactions. This streamlined approach enhances security, cuts costs and makes payment acceptance more efficient for merchants
• Customer Vault:
  Customer Vault safely stores customer card information to enable faster, more secure repeat and future transactions. It maintains a unique gateway token value, which allows merchants to process subsequent repeat and subscription transactions without having to store or re-collect and reenter customers’ sensitive payment data
• Automatic Card Updater:
  Automatic Card Updater seamlessly validates data with card networks on any processor, simplifying operations for your merchants and enhancing customer retention. It works with Customer Vault ensuring that stored payment card information is always up-to-date, reducing the risk of payment declines and improving customer retention
• Level III Advantage:
  Level III Advantage lets you deliver instant access to significant Level II and Level III interchange fee savings. With this platform, we automatically optimize data fields with benchmarked information from our platform and customers’ business and government card transactions to help your merchants qualify for reduced interchange rates
• Electronic Invoicing:
  Our electronic invoicing allows you to gather payments with a single click. Merchants can send invoices through a brand-customizable email, offering customers a variety of ways to pay just by clicking a link. Invoices are generated with detailed line-by-line information, automatically converted to PDFs and emailed directly to customers
• Bill Connect Quickbooks Integration:
  NMI’s integrated Bill Connect solution increases back-end office efficiencies for merchants by connecting seamlessly with QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online, and Xero accounting software. Integrate secure online payments, bulk payments, payment fees, automated invoicing and reconciliation while consolidating payment providers to reduce costs and workload. This solution ensures robust business growth, increased transactional revenue and stronger partner engagement
• Text-to-Pay Mobile Payments:
  Our mobile payment solution enables merchants to securely request and receive payments via text. This offers a quick and convenient way to complete transactions
• iProcess:
  We offer a mobile application that allows merchants to accept card payments on the go, supporting both Apple and Android devices. This app provides features like digital signatures, tips and geotagged receipts

NMI’s comprehensive payment solutions are designed to benefit a wide range of organizations. We provide flexibility, security and scalability to meet diverse business needs. Here are the key beneficiaries of NMI’s solutions:

• Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs):
  ISOs can drive value and maximize revenue with NMI’s omnichannel payments platform. Our solutions provide full flexibility and control, enabling ISOs to serve their customers effectively across various payment channels. By leveraging our unified merchant underwriting, onboarding and management tools, ISOs can streamline their operations and enhance their service offerings
• Software/Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Companies:
  Businesses can integrate NMI’s modular, feature-rich embedded payments platform into their applications to offer seamless payment processing capabilities. This integration helps build innovative solutions that enhance customer retention and generate additional revenue streams. Our platform supports various payment methods and ensures secure transactions. That makes it an ideal choice for software companies looking to expand their services                                                 
• Banks:
  Banks can leverage NMI’s solutions to offer advanced payment processing services to their merchant clients. By integrating our secure and reliable payment gateway, banks can help their merchants compete effectively in the market. NMI’s solutions also provide robust fraud prevention tools that ensure safe and compliant transactions, which are critical for banking institutions
• Payment Facilitators (PayFacs):                         
  Payment facilitators benefit from the way NMI’s solutions reduce onboarding friction and manage the full merchant life cycle efficiently. Our platform supports seamless merchant onboarding, comprehensive risk management and flexible payment processing, enabling payment facilitators to scale their operations and provide superior service to their clients
• Other Industry Verticals:
  Various industry verticals, including retail, healthcare, transportation, hospitality and unattended operators, benefit from NMI’s versatile payment solutions. Our platform supports multiple payment methods, including in-person, mobile, ecommerce and unattended payments, making it suitable for businesses across different sectors. With robust integration capabilities for software providers and unattended vertical integrators, we offer secure and efficient payment processing that helps businesses enhance customer experiences and streamline their operations

NMI is dedicated to making payment processing accessible and straightforward for customers who are new to the industry. We provide a range of user-friendly solutions designed for easy implementation and navigation to ensure a smooth transition into the world of payments. Here’s how we support new-to-payments customers:

• Intuitive Onboarding Process:
  NMI’s platform features an intuitive onboarding process that simplifies the setup and integration of payment solutions. Our user-friendly interface guides new customers through each step, ensuring they can get started quickly without needing extensive technical knowledge
• Comprehensive Documentation and Resources:
  We offer detailed documentation, tutorials and support materials to help new customers understand and utilize our payment solutions effectively. This includes integration guides, FAQs and best practice articles that cover every aspect of payment processing. Our extensive resources ensure that new users can easily find the information they need
• Dedicated Customer Support:
  NMI provides dedicated customer support to assist new-to-payments customers with any questions or issues they may encounter. Our support team is available to help with everything from initial setup to troubleshooting and optimization. We ensure a seamless experience for our users
• Scalable Solutions:
  Our solutions are designed to scale with your business. Whether you are just starting or expanding your operations, NMI’s platform can grow with you, providing the flexibility needed to handle increasing transaction volumes and diverse payment needs
• Comprehensive Training Programs:
  NMI offers training programs and webinars that cover the essentials of payment processing and how to make the most of our platform. These educational resources are designed to empower new users and give them the confidence and knowledge they need to manage their payment operations effectively
• User-Friendly Interface:
  The NMI platform is built with a focus on user experience. It features a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for new users to navigate and perform essential tasks. This ensures that even those with limited technical expertise can manage their payment processing smoothly

By providing these comprehensive support services and resources, NMI ensures that new-to-payments customers can easily implement and navigate our solutions, enabling them to start processing payments quickly and efficiently.

The NMI Payment Gateway is a comprehensive, white-label solution that enables businesses to accept payments securely and reliably across various channels, including online, in-store, self-service and mobile platforms. We support multiple payment methods and provide features like tokenization for secure handling of cardholder data, point-to-point encryption (P2PE) to protect transaction information and a terminal management system for remote device oversight. Additionally, we enable the onboarding and management of multiple Merchant Identification Numbers (MIDs) within a single account. This streamlines reporting and organizational processes.

Payments is unique because we provide a full commerce solution that supports payments across various channels, including in-store, mobile, online and unattended transactions. We offer flexibility with customizable solutions tailored to business needs and ensure a seamless, secure payment experience by integrating advanced fraud prevention and security features. Our modular design allows businesses to adapt and scale their payment capabilities effectively.

NMI streamlines merchant onboarding by offering tools that simplify payment integration and configuration processes. Our platform ensures a seamless setup with its modular and user-friendly approach, allowing businesses to onboard merchants efficiently while supporting various payment methods and secure transactions.

NMI serves ISOs, software/SaaS companies, banks, payment facilitators and other industry verticals

You can reach NMI through multiple channels:

• Contact Form: Visit our contact page and fill out the contact form with your details.
• Phone: Call their support numbers:
  • US Office: +1 (847) 352-4850 or +1 (800) 617-4850
  • UK Office: +44 (0) 117 930 4455

If you need support from NMI, you can contact their customer service team through several methods:

• Support Portal: Access the NMI Support Portal to submit a ticket or browse our knowledge base
• Phone: Call our support numbers:
  • US Office: +1 (847) 352-4850 or +1 (800) 617-4850
  • UK Office: +44 (0) 117 930 4455

Mobile payments are transactions completed using smartphones or tablets through apps, digital wallets, or contactless EMV technology, offering fast and secure checkout experiences.

NMI’s mobile payment solutions include Tap-To-Pay, iProcess and Text-to-Pay. softPOS, mPOS, and contactless EMV support, along with Apple Pay and Google Pay integrations, enabling merchants to securely accept payments anywhere.

Yes, mobile payments use tokenization, encryption, and EMV security standards to protect sensitive data, making them a safe and reliable option for both merchants and customers.

Tap to Pay transactions run through the same gateway fee structure as any card-present transaction. The per-transaction gateway fee applies. Processing fees (interchange, assessment, processor markup) are set by your processor. There’s no separate Tap to Pay surcharge at the gateway level. For the most accurate cost breakdown, review that merchant’s fee schedule in your partner portal.

NMI has a certified Tap to Pay solution for Android that turns any compatible Android device into a contactless payment terminal, no additional hardware required. iOS Tap to Pay availability depends on the current integration roadmap. Check with your account team for the latest status on iOS support.

eCommerce payment processing is the system that enables online businesses to securely accept and authorize digital payments from customers. It involves capturing payment details, routing the transaction through a secure payment gateway or processor, and transferring funds from the customer’s account to the merchant’s. A reliable ecommerce payment processing solution ensures fast, secure, and seamless checkout experiences for online shoppers.

Common payment methods for ecommerce include credit and debit cards, digital wallets (such as Apple Pay and Google Pay), and ACH transfers. Advanced ecommerce payment processing platforms also support recurring billing, tokenized payments, and alternative local payment methods to accommodate global shoppers.

The ecommerce transaction process begins when a customer initiates a purchase online. Their payment details are securely captured and sent through a payment processor for authorization. If approved, the funds are transferred to the merchant’s account. The entire process typically takes just a few seconds, but behind the scenes, it involves encryption, fraud screening, and multiple financial parties to ensure security and compliance.

Yes, you can configure expiration settings on Collect Checkout links. This is useful for invoice workflows where you want to close a payment window after a certain date. Configuration options are in your gateway settings. If you need help setting this up, our support team can walk you through it.

Yes. NMI supports recurring and or one-time Apple Pay and Google Pay payments through our hosted payment forms (Collect Checkout) and via the CollectJS library for custom integrations. Each requires some setup, including domain verification for Apple Pay. Availability may also depend on your processor.

Keyed entry (also called MOTO, or Mail Order/Telephone Order) is when a merchant manually types a customer’s card number into a virtual terminal. eCommerce is when the customer types their own card information on a website checkout page. The distinction matters for interchange rates and liability. Keyed entry carries higher risk and higher interchange. eCommerce with 3DS authentication can reduce that risk.

SoftPOS turns a smartphone or an NFC-enabled tablet into a payment terminal without extra hardware, while mPOS uses a card reader connected to a mobile device. Both offer flexible ways to accept payments on-the-go.

An in-person payment happens when you and your customer are physically face-to-face and the customer taps, dips, or swipes a card, or uses a phone or wearable, on a payment device.

You can accept EMV chip cards, contactless cards, mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as smartwatch or QR code payments. Offering several options gives customers flexibility and keeps lines moving.

SoftPOS turns a supported Apple iPhone or Android phone or tablet into a secure contactless card reader. After you download the app and finish a quick verification, customers can tap their card or phone on your device to pay. No extra hardware required.

NMI integrates with a wide range of certified terminals including Ingenico, LANDI, ID TECH, Payter, and Pax devices. Compatibility depends on your processor as well, since the terminal, gateway, and processor all need certified connections. Before ordering hardware, confirm the device is supported by both NMI and your acquirer.

Yes. NMI supports both SDK-based integration (where your app communicates directly with the device) and Cloud API integration (where transaction commands go through our servers). The right choice depends on your use case. SDK gives you more direct device control. Cloud API works well when you need to connect browser-based or web apps to physical hardware.

NMI adopts a multi-layered approach to fraud prevention, offering tailored solutions to meet diverse needs. We provide a Fraud Prevention Suite that enables businesses to establish specific parameters—such as transaction volume per user and maximum charge amounts—to detect and block suspicious activities.

For our Advanced Fraud Protection, we also partner with solutions like Kount to provide an AI-driven fraud prevention solution that analyzes transaction data in real time, assigning risk scores that automatically approve, decline or flag transactions for further review. This advanced system leverages machine learning to provide accurate evaluations of risk and trust, thereby minimizing false declines and increasing revenue by accepting more legitimate orders.

By integrating these comprehensive tools, we empower merchants to effectively safeguard their transactions and maintain customer trust.

Fraud prevention uses advanced security tools, technology and processes to identify and stop fraudulent transactions before they happen. Effective payment fraud prevention is essential for merchants to avoid costly chargebacks, lost revenue and damaging the trust of their customers. NMI’s Fraud Defense Suite delivers multi-layered protection with AI-powered fraud detection, rule-based filters and automatic card testing, to help your merchants minimize losses due to fraud while keeping approval rates high.

Products like Kount Advanced Fraud Protection use artificial intelligence and machine learning to power advanced fraud prevention and fraud detection. By analyzing data from more than 30 billion transactions annually, it evaluates hundreds of signals — such as device fingerprinting, IP geolocation, purchase patterns, velocity checks, and behavioral analytics — to assess risk in real time. Its adaptive AI continuously learns from new fraud tactics, sharing insights across its global network to enhance detection accuracy and reduce false positives for all protected merchants

Kount Advanced Fraud Protection is an AI-driven fraud prevention and detection solution designed for medium to large merchants processing higher transaction volumes. It uses machine learning to analyze data from over 30 billion transactions annually, delivering automated and guided payment fraud prevention and real-time risk scoring with minimal setup. iSpy Fraud, on the other hand, is a rule-based system that lets merchants set their own thresholds and controls for customized protection. It’s a cost-effective option for smaller merchants seeking straightforward fraud prevention without the complexity of AI. Many merchants combine both solutions for layered, comprehensive defense.

Card testing occurs when fraudsters make small transactions to confirm stolen card numbers are valid before attempting larger fraudulent purchases. NMI’s Automatic Card Testing Detection uses advanced algorithms for fraud detection and payment fraud prevention, identifying suspicious behavior such as repeated small transactions, rapid-fire attempts from the same IP, or unusual geographic activity. When detected, the system automatically blocks suspect accounts and alerts merchants in real time, preventing fraudsters from validating stolen cards and safeguarding your business.

Online remote key injection (RKI) allows for automatic, quick and secure payment device cryptographic key injection at the point-of-sale. The system offers a more cost effective, faster and highly secure alternative to the industry’s traditional manual secure room key injection process.

Online vs. offline PIN verification
In the United States, and a number of European countries, card transactions need to be verified and authorized in real time with online PIN. Elsewhere, PIN verification and authentication takes place between the terminal and the card, which is known as offline PIN verification.

In countries with online PIN verification, payment terminals need to be injected with special keys to enable them to encrypt the PIN and create an Enciphered PIN Block. Injecting these special cryptographic keys without RKI means this process has to take place in a key injection facility (KIF), which is a highly secure environment subject to PCI PIN, TR-39 standards and other standards or audits.

Manual key injection vs. remote key injection
NMI’s RKI eliminates the need for an off-site secure KIF and the associated cost, inventory complexities and distribution delays by utilizing a secure channel to remotely inject payment devices. This enables PIN debit and other data encryption keys, such as those used for point to point encryption (P2PE), to be safely and securely injected, no matter where the payment device is located.

PCI PIN and TR-39 compliance
NMI has been audited and assessed to comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) TR-39 and PCI PIN.

Benefits of remote key injection

• RKI eliminates dependencies of a KIF as an unlimited number of payment devices can be injected instantly no matter of their location
• RKI eliminates shipment cost, downtime and disruptions as there is no need to ship payment devices to and from a KIF
• RKI eliminates administrative costs and overhead associated with the key management process

Point to point encryption (P2PE) provides the most secure and effective solution to protect sensitive cardholder data in combination with EMV and Tokenization, while potentially reducing the cost and scope of PCI DSS and PA-DSS. Encrypted cardholder data has no value if stolen.

How does P2PE work?
P2PE ensures no actual cardholder data is exposed at any time during a transaction. It does this by encrypting the data inside the card reader or payment device, making it useless and void of any value if a skimming attack is attempted. Using the payment industry standard encryption algorithm, DUKPT (Derived Unique Key Per Transaction), a key is injected securely into each card reader or payment device when it’s manufactured and is used to encrypt every single transaction.

1. At the point of card acceptance, i.e. within the card reader or payment device, the card data is securely encrypted
2. It can then be passed freely over standard public networks to the payment gateway and processor
3. Once within the secure data zone of a PCI DSS certified payment gateway, it is decrypted and passed to the bank processor for authorization.

P2PE Benefits:

• Reduce scope, complexity and compliance cost of PCI DSS
• Simplified PA-DSS for equipment manufacturers
• Mitigate the risk of cardholder data fraud
• Reduce financial liability
• Reduce software development cost
• Increased cardholder data protection
• Simplified payment processing architecture

P2PE can help protect you from:

• Loss of cardholder data in the event of a breach
• Brand and reputation damage
• Loss of revenues
• Payment brand penalties
• PCI fines

Some of the safest online payment methods are:
– Virtual Cards
– Digital Wallets
– Prepaid Cards
These options hide your real card or bank details and add extra protection. That way, even if your info is stolen, your main account stays secure.

Virtual payment solutions are digital tools that let people pay without using cash. They work through websites, apps, or online banking. These systems make it easy and safe to buy things online or send money without needing a physical card or cash.

Payment providers help businesses accept payments from customers. They connect the business, the customer’s bank, and the payment processor. When someone pays, the provider sends the payment details through a secure system so the money reaches the business’s account.

A payment solution is a tool or system that helps businesses accept payments. This can include card readers, online checkouts, or mobile apps. It lets customers pay using different methods, like cash, credit, bank transfers, or even by phone or online.

A payment gateway collects and checks card details during a sale. Then, it sends that info to the processor. A payment solution is the full system businesses use to accept payments. This system encompasses the gateway, software, and tools for online or in-person sales.

Online payment processors take payment details from a gateway and check if everything is correct. Then, they send the info to the bank and card network for approval. Once approved, the money moves from the customer’s account to the business’s account.

Online payment processors take payment details from a gateway and check if everything is correct. Then, they send the info to the bank and card network for approval. Once approved, the money moves from the customer’s account to the business’s account.

Yes. If you accept credit, debit, prepaid, or gift cards online or in person, you need a payment processor. It works with your gateway to move money from the customer’s bank to your business account after each transaction is approved.

A digital payment platform is a system that lets people send or receive money online. It supports bank transfers, eChecks, and wire transfers. These platforms make it easy to pay or get paid without using cash or physical cards.

A payment platform is a digital system that helps move money between people or businesses. It allows secure and easy payments online, in stores, or through apps. These platforms connect banks, cards, and other tools to complete each transaction.

Yes, payment gateways are safe when you use a trusted provider. They protect customer data by using encryption to keep card details secure. This helps keep information from being stolen during online payments or shared with the wrong people.

A payment gateway helps businesses accept payments safely. It sends payment details from a credit card or digital wallet to the bank for approval. It works behind the scenes to make sure each transaction is secure, fast, and goes through correctly.

Look for a gateway that’s easy to set up, works with your website or system, and keeps payments secure. Check the costs, how it connects to your bank or merchant account, and whether it’s hosted or built into your site.

Yes. If you want to take credit card payments online or on a mobile device, you need a payment gateway. It checks the customer’s payment info and helps complete the sale. Without it, you can’t safely process card payments.

A payment gateway encrypts card details and checks for fraud. Then, it sends the payment info to the business’s bank, which passes it to the card network and the customer’s bank. The business receives the money after approval.

A POS (point-of-sale) system is used for in-person payments, like at a store. A payment gateway is used online, where the buyer enters card details on a website or app. Gateways handle payments when the buyer and seller aren’t face-to-face.

A payment gateway is the technology that securely routes transaction data between a merchant, the card networks, and a processor. Think of it as the connection layer. A payment processor is the financial institution that actually moves money between the customer’s bank and the merchant’s bank account. Most merchants need both. NMI is a gateway, which means we connect to a wide range of processors so you’re not locked into one acquiring relationship.

NMI is a payment gateway, not a direct processor for most use cases. You’ll need a merchant account and a processor relationship to move money. We connect to 175+ processors and acquiring banks, so in most cases your processor already has a certified NMI integration. NMI Payments is our acquiring solution for partners who want a more integrated option.

The NMI gateway is software. It routes, secures, and manages transaction data. NMI Payments is our acquiring solution, meaning it can also handle the processing and merchant account side. Partners who want an all-in-one setup use NMI Payments. Partners with existing processor relationships typically use the gateway only.

Yes. If your merchant already has a processing relationship with a bank or acquirer that integrates with NMI, they add the gateway on top. They keep their existing rates, their existing merchant account, and their existing banking relationship. You provide them with a VAR sheet (the account credentials) and the gateway connects to their processor.

VAR stands for Value Added Reseller. A VAR sheet is a document from your processor that contains the technical credentials and configuration details NMI needs to connect the gateway to that processor. When you set up a merchant account with a processor, they provide this sheet. You submit it to NMI so we can configure the gateway connection. It’s a required step for gateway-only setups.

NMI charges gateway fees, which typically include a monthly platform fee per merchant and a small per-transaction fee. These are separate from your processor’s fees, which cover interchange, assessments, and the processor’s markup. Your merchant will see two cost components: the gateway fee (NMI) and the processing fee (their acquirer). As a partner, you can mark up NMI’s gateway fees above your buy rate.

White labeling means you can brand the NMI gateway as your own. Merchants see your logo, your colors, and (depending on your setup) your domain. They don’t see NMI branding. The depth of white labeling varies by configuration, from logo-only setups to fully embedded web forms with custom domains.

You can authenticate a transaction by asking the customer to enter a PIN, password, or use a mobile banking app. Some systems also use biometrics, like a fingerprint, face scan or voice recognition, to confirm the payment is real and secure.

Payer verification checks if the name on a payment matches the name on the bank account. It helps stop fraud and chargebacks. Merchants often use this when setting up direct debit payments to make sure the details are real and correct.

Authentication checks who is making the payment, like asking for a password or fingerprint. Authorization checks if the payment can go through, including if there’s enough money. Both steps help protect against fraud and make sure the transaction is safe and approved.

Payer authentication asks the buyer to confirm their identity through their card issuer. This might include a password, code or face scan. The process uses risk levels to decide how much verification is necessary, helping to stop fraud while keeping checkout streamlined.

In most cases, yes. Authentication checks who the user is, and authorization decides if they can make a payment. Knowing the user’s identity helps systems approve or reject transactions. Some cases need passwords or other steps, while others may not.

The three main types are:
– Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), which gives access based on a person’s role.
– Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC), which uses relationships to give access.
– Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), which looks at things like location or time to allow or block access.

To authenticate a payment means proving that you are the real cardholder. This step helps stop fraud. You might enter a code, password, or use a fingerprint to show that the payment is real and made by you.

Payment verification checks that the payment info is correct and that the person using it is allowed to. For example, it makes sure the card number, end date, and security code match what the bank has before approving the payment.

Payer identification, or Payer ID, is a number used to send payments or insurance claims to the correct company. Every company has its own Payer ID to ensure claims go to the right place and are handled the right way.

Card authentication checks if a payment card is real. The card reader asks the chip for secure data. Then, the chip sends back a coded answer. The system checks that answer to make sure the card is valid and hasn’t been copied or changed.

Customer verification confirms a user’s identity using personal details, typically during account setup. These details include ID documents or account info. Authentication ensures that the verified person is accessing the service, using methods like passwords, biometrics, or two-factor authentication during logins or transactions.

Two-step verification is a security method that requires two forms of identification to log in. Usually, the forms of identification are something you know, like a password, and something you have, like a phone or code sent by text or app.

Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) when possible for extra security. Start with a strong password, then add a second method like a text code or biometrics. This greatly reduces the chance of unauthorized access.

3DS adds an authentication step between the customer and their bank, which shifts chargeback liability to the card issuer when the transaction passes. If the customer authenticates successfully, you’re protected from most fraud-related chargebacks. If authentication fails or is abandoned, the transaction is declined. If 3DS is unavailable (the issuer’s ACS times out), most gateways allow the transaction to proceed without authentication, but liability stays with the merchant. You can configure your gateway rules to allow or block unauthenticated transactions.

Advanced Fraud Protection by Kount involves tools and strategies that stop unauthorized or fake transactions. Methods include like identity verification monitoring, and AI analysis to detect suspicious activity and protect both businesses and customers from financial loss.

Software that monitors transactions in real time are key in detecting payment fraud. It looks for red flags like unusual purchase patterns, mismatched location data, or fake account details. Machine learning and rules-based systems help flag or block suspicious activity automatically.

To enable secure payments, use encrypted connections (like HTTPS), strong authentication (like MFA) and fraud detection tools. Regularly update software, follow PCI compliance standards and monitor transactions to catch any unusual or unauthorized activity early.

Online payment fraud occurs when criminals steal payment details like credit card numbers or login info. They then use them to make unauthorized purchases. This occurs through phishing, data breaches, malware or fake websites that trick users into sharing sensitive information.

The gateway includes several built-in tools: velocity filters (limits on how many transactions can run in a time window), IP blocking, AVS (Address Verification Service) rules, CVV validation requirements, and transaction amount thresholds. These run at the gateway level before a transaction even reaches your processor. For more advanced fraud needs, we offer Kount360, a valued-added solution that uses AI and behavioral analytics (device fingerprinting, risk scoring, bot/synthetic-ID detection) to screen transactions, rather than relying on merchant-configured rules.

Yes. The gateway supports webhook-based notifications that you can configure to fire when decline thresholds are hit within a defined time window. This lets you catch a card testing attack in near real time rather than discovering it on your monthly statement. Setup requires some technical configuration. Your account team or our developer docs can walk you through it.

VAMP (Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program) is Visa’s updated fraud and dispute monitoring framework. It sets thresholds at the BIN level, which means your portfolio’s fraud and dispute rates are measured against your acquirer’s overall numbers. Merchants that push an acquirer over the threshold can trigger fines. NMI’s fraud tools help partners monitor their portfolios and keep merchants compliant.

You cannot store the full credit card number (PAN), CVV/CVC code, or magnetic strip data after authorization. Only limited info, like the last four digits and expiration date, can be stored. Even that, however, must follow strict PCI compliance rules.

Safely store credit card information by using tokenization, encryption, and PCI-compliance storage systems. Never store CVV codes. Use secure, audited third-party payment processors whenever possible to reduce risk and ensure all handling meets industry security standards.

Protect payment card data by using encryption, tokenization and secure networks. Limit data access, avoid storing sensitive info like CVV and follow PCI DSS standards. Be sure to regularly update systems, monitor for threats and train staff on secure data handling practices.

You can keep certain credit card details, like the last four digits and expiration date, but only if you follow PCI DSS rules. Storing full card numbers or CVV codes is not allowed unless you meet strict security requirements.

It’s not illegal to store credit card information, but it must be done under strict PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) guidelines. Storing sensitive data like the CVV is prohibited. Failing to follow these rules can lead to legal penalties and data breach risks.

No, it is not legal to store a CVV number after authorization, even if the transaction is approved. PCI DSS strictly prohibits storing CVV data to protect cardholder security and prevent fraud.

The risks of not following PCI standards include data breaches, financial penalties, legal action, and losing customer faith. Non-compliance can expose sensitive card data, leading to fraud and higher costs for security recovery and legal defense.

Yes. The Customer Vault supports secure link workflows where customers can enter or update their own payment information without you handling the raw card data. This reduces your PCI scope and lets the customer manage their credentials directly.

In most cases, yes. NMI supports vault data portability, meaning if you switch your downstream processor, your tokenized card data stays with NMI. Your merchants don’t need to re-enter cards. The process and timeline depend on the processors involved. Reach out to your account team to map out the migration before you start the processor switch.

The Customer Vault stores a tokenized reference to the card data. The Customer Token Vault goes a step further and uses network tokenization (from Visa, Mastercard, etc.), which can improve authorization rates and reduce interchange costs. Network tokens also update automatically when a card is reissued, which improves recurring payment success rates.

The Automatic Card Updater charges only for successful updates, not for every card checked. If a card comes back unchanged, there’s no charge for that lookup. Pricing details are in your partner schedule. This is one of the highest-ROI features for merchants with large recurring billing portfolios.

Interchange is a fee paid by the merchant’s bank to the cardholder’s bank for processing a card payment. It covers handling costs, fraud risk and credit. The fee is set by card networks and varies based on card type, transaction type and industry.

A system interchange refers to the basic routing of transactions between banks and card networks. A service interchange includes added services like fraud tools or analytics. Service interchanges usually have higher fees because they offer more value beyond simple transaction processing.

Interchange rates are set by card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) based on factors such as card type (debit, credit, rewards), transaction method (in-store, online), industry and risk level. These rates balance cost recovery and encourage card acceptance.

Level II and Level III processing applies to B2B and B2G (business-to-government) transactions where additional data fields (like purchase order numbers, tax amounts, and line-item detail) are passed with the transaction. When that data is present, card networks reward it with lower interchange rates. The savings can be significant for high-volume commercial card users. NMI’s Level III Advantage feature handles much of this automatically.

Yes, NMI’s Data Transfer tool supports CSV-based file imports for bulk transaction data and merchant records. This is useful for migrations and batch processing workflows. Formatting requirements are documented in the developer portal. If you’re migrating from another platform, your account team can help you map fields correctly.

NMI operates exclusively through a partner channel. We don’t directly onboard individual merchants as end users. If you’re a merchant looking to use NMI, you’ll work with one of our certified reseller or ISO partners, who configure the gateway and handle your account. If you’re a business that wants to offer payment processing to your own customers, becoming an NMI partner is the right path.

All three are NMI distribution partners, but they operate differently. An ISO (independent sales organization) is registered with the card networks and takes on merchant liability. A reseller typically works under a registered ISO and earns revenue share without taking on full liability. A white-label partner uses NMI’s platform branded as their own. The right model depends on your volume, risk tolerance, and how much control you want over the merchant experience.

As a partner, you have a buy rate, which is the cost NMI charges you for gateway services. You can mark up fees above that buy rate, and anything above it is your margin. On the processing side, revenue share splits the spread between your costs and what you charge the merchant. The percentage split depends on your partner agreement and volume tier.

A PayFac is a company that acts as a merchant of record and onboards sub-merchants under its own master merchant account, similar to how Stripe or Square work. NMI is a gateway, not a PayFac. However, NMI can support PayFac and semi-PayFac models where partners want to streamline sub-merchant onboarding with instant approvals.

Partner enrollment and merchant underwriting are two separate processes. As a partner, you go through a lighter vetting process to get set up. Your merchants are the ones who go through full underwriting, since they’re the ones accepting card payments and taking on transaction risk. You don’t need a merchant account yourself just to become a reseller or ISO partner.

You can send merchants an application link or embed a sign-up form on your site to collect the required information. Once a merchant submits, the application moves into underwriting, handled either by NMI Payments or by your chosen processor. Approval timelines vary by processor and by the merchant’s risk profile. After approval, we create the merchant account and configure the gateway.

TurboApp is Merchant Central’s automated boarding engine. After a merchant signs their merchant processing application (MPA), TurboApp pulls that data and populates the boarding application for the processor you select, including any default pricing plans you’ve configured. That removes the line-by-line data entry between documents and processor portals. Boarding that traditionally takes up to 30 minutes takes as little as five, even for new team members. TurboApp also boards the merchant to the processor and the NMI gateway at the same time, so your team never circles back for gateway setup after processor approval.

It depends on the setup. Multiple locations can be managed under a single partner account with separate merchant IDs (MIDs) for each location. You can configure reporting, user access, and fee schedules per location. For merchants where each location is a distinct legal entity, separate applications are typically required.

Flat rate pricing charges the merchant a single percentage (like 2.9% + 30 cents) regardless of card type. It’s simple to explain but often more expensive for merchants with a good mix of debit cards and basic credit cards. Interchange plus (IC+) pricing passes the actual interchange cost through to the merchant, then adds a fixed markup. It’s more transparent and usually saves money for higher-volume merchants, but requires more explanation at the point of sale.

Basis points are a way of expressing small percentages. One basis point equals 0.01%, so 100 basis points equals 1%. In payments, markups and interchange rates are often quoted in BPS. For example, a 25 BPS markup means 0.25% added on top of the base interchange rate. This is the standard unit of measure for pricing conversations in the ISO and acquiring world.

The monthly minimum is typically calculated based on gateway revenue generated from your merchant portfolio, meaning the fees charged to merchants for gateway services. In most cases, processing fees that flow through a third-party processor (not NMI Payments) do not count toward the gateway minimum. Check your specific partner agreement for the exact calculation, since this varies.

It’s possible if you set merchant fees below your buy rate. If you waive or underprice gateway fees, you cover the shortfall out of pocket. Before adjusting any merchant’s fee schedule, confirm your costs against your partner schedule. Merchant Central’s fee management tools let you set floor pricing to prevent accidentally going below cost.

A gateway token is an NMI-generated reference that replaces the raw card number in our system. A network token is issued directly by the card networks (Visa, Mastercard) and travels with the card across platforms and processors. Network tokens update automatically when a card is reissued, provide higher authorization rates, and can reduce interchange costs. They require the Customer Token Vault.

Yes, though your compliance requirements depend on how you handle (or don’t handle) cardholder data. If you’re using hosted payment forms like CollectJS and never touch raw card numbers, your PCI scope is significantly reduced. Partners who handle cardholder data directly have more requirements. NMI’s hosted tools are built to help you minimize scope.

Standard gateway tokens are tied to the gateway account where they were created. If you’re operating with a single gateway account and multiple processor MIDs (via multi-processor routing), tokens are accessible across those connections. Cross-gateway token portability (moving tokens from one NMI gateway account to another) requires a vault migration process. Contact your account team to scope that out before starting.

Yes. NMI supports ACH (eCheck) processing through our recent acquisition with Dwolla, and third-party integrations with ACH processors. ACH is available as an add-on and requires a separate application and approval. Once approved, merchants can accept ACH alongside credit and debit cards from a single gateway. Pricing is separate from card processing fees.

Standard ACH settlement takes two to three business days from the transaction date. Same-day ACH is available through some processors for an additional fee. Unlike card transactions, ACH doesn’t provide instant approval, so return codes (similar to chargebacks) can appear days after the transaction. Review your ACH processor’s funding timeline and return code policies before setting merchant expectations.

Yes. If ACH is enabled on a merchant’s account, customers can select ACH as a payment method through NMI’s hosted payment forms, including Collect Checkout links and invoice workflows. The checkout experience prompts customers to enter their bank routing and account numbers. Availability depends on your gateway configuration and ACH approval status.

NMI is actively tracking open banking developments. At this time, traditional ACH is our primary bank-direct payment method. For current open banking integration availability, check with your account team or the latest product updates.

Money Movement by Dwolla (formerly Dwolla) is an API-first, white-label platform for embedding account-to-account (A2A) payments directly into your web or mobile application. It connects your business to the United States banking system through an established relationship with one of our partner financial institutions. From there, built-in stored-value (digital wallet) functionality lets you move funds in almost any direction: pay out to users and vendors, collect pay-ins from customers, move money between users on your platform and transfer between a single user’s own linked accounts (often called Me-to-Me).

It fits businesses of every size, from early-stage startups to large enterprises. How much engineering work you need depends on which parts of the platform you use and how custom your funds flow needs to be. A simple payout can go live quickly, while a multi-party marketplace flow takes more planning.

At a minimum, plan for a working knowledge of HTTP requests and responses, JSON and standard security practices. A full build usually involves both front-end and back-end web or mobile development. Because the platform runs on a REST API, you can integrate using common languages such as Node.js, Python, PHP, C#, Java/Kotlin and Ruby. To move faster, low-code Drop-in Components handle many common tasks out of the box and can be styled to match your brand.

The platform supports a range of flows so you can embed payments the way your product works:

• Payouts: send money to users, sellers, contractors or vendors
• Pay-ins: collect money from your customers
• User-to-user transfers: move money between accounts across your platform (many-to-many)
• Me-to-Me: move money between one user’s own linked accounts

You can send and receive money across bank and real-time rails through a single integration:

• Same-day ACH: extra daily processing windows so you can send and collect via ACH faster
• Real-time payments: push funds instantly, around the clock; pre-fund your balance to enable near-instant payments 24/7/365
• Standard ACH and real-time rails: unified through one API, so you standardize status, exceptions and reporting across both

• Fast, secure transfers over the ACH network and real-time rails
• Transaction costs that often run lower than card-based processing
• A flexible API you can shape to your funds flow, with real-time webhooks that keep your application in sync with every event on the platform
• Scale and reliability, backed by 99.9% uptime as your volume grows
• Detailed reporting and analytics to track transfers, reconcile activity and manage cash flow

Not at this time. The platform is available to businesses registered to operate in the U.S., and it connects to U.S. banking rails, so funding sources generally need U.S. bank accounts.

Straightforward flows, like a basic payout or pay-in, are quick to stand up. More sophisticated funds flows take more planning, especially for teams that are newer to working with APIs. Drop-in Components and NMI’s support team help shorten that path.

Through an established relationship with one of our partner financial institutions. That connection gives your business access to U.S. ACH and real-time payment rails without you having to build, certify and maintain those bank integrations yourself.

You keep the bank payment infrastructure, team and support you already rely on. Over time you also gain access to NMI’s broader payment acceptance capabilities, including card, mobile, in-person and unattended payments, through the same platform. We will continue to support existing Dwolla customers and partners as the product integrates into NMI.