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Updated Apr 04, 2024

North Payments Review

Mike Berner
Written By: Mike BernerSenior Analyst & Expert on Business Operations
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A business.com editor verified this analysis to ensure it meets our standards for accuracy, expertise and integrity.
Shari Weiss
Senior Editor & Expert on Business Operations
Business.com earns commissions from some listed providers. Editorial Guidelines.
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Editors Score:8.1/10
North Payments is our pick for the best credit card processor for fast setup. It offers a platform with no setup costs and free equipment, and it provides fast approval and funding to many business types, including high-risk businesses.
Thumbs Up Pros
  • North Payments is willing to work with high-risk industries. 
  • The processor promises fast approval, an easy setup process and free equipment. 
Thumbs Down Cons
  • North Payments does not disclose its full range of processing rates. 
  • The company's offerings lack some of the bells and whistles of competitors that provide integrated POS and credit card processing solutions. 
North Payments logo
Editor's Rating8.1/10

North Payments is a credit card processor that stands out from competitors by making setup fast and easy. The company is willing to work with many different business types, even those in high-risk industries. This is significant because finding a credit card processor in a high-risk industry can be a challenge. Additionally, North Payments provides fast and easy approval, free equipment, and next-day funding. Through Payments Hub, you can also access many of the same payment tools big-name credit card processors provide. 

North Payments Editor's Rating:

8.1 / 10

Pricing and fees
8/10
Customer service
8.5/10
Third-party integrations
8/10
Payment options
8.5/10
Added POS tools
7.7/10

Why We Chose North Payments as the Best Credit Card Processor for Fast Setup 

North Payments promises an easy application process, fast approval, and straightforward setup for businesses that want to start accepting credit card payments. Notably, unlike many competitors, North Payments will work with businesses in high-risk industries, including CBD, debt collection, peptides, telemedicine and credit repair.

Additionally, we like that the company offers next-day funding with cut-off times as late as 12 a.m. EST. You can also choose from various free equipment options upon signup to get up and running with credit card processing immediately. For these reasons, North American Bancard is our pick for the best credit card processor for fast setup. 

Did You Know?Did you know
Other credit card processors that work with nontraditional businesses include Helcim, Square and Stax. Read our review of Helcim, our Square review and our review of Stax to learn more.

North American Bancard website header

North Payments focuses on simplifying the payments process.  Source: North Payments

Ease of Use

North Payments uses a merchant portal called Payments Hub as its customer-facing software. We liked the user interface — it’s well-designed and intuitive, with a modern and sleek dashboard featuring collapsible menus. 

From the Payments Hub main screen, you can easily view data analytics and key statistics like gross sales, transactions, refunds, disputes, and other recent activities. You’ll also access the virtual terminal, invoicing, and other tools from the main screen. We believe business owners and their employees won’t face a steep learning curve when using Payments Hub for the first time. 

North American Bancard merchant portal

North Payments’ merchant portal is called Payments Hub. Source: North Payments

North Payments Features

North Payments offers several services and features that businesses of all sizes will find valuable, especially those seeking flexibility. Here’s an overview of North Payments’ key features. 

Reporting

Small business data analytics can paint a picture of what is going on with your business, and we liked Payments Hub’s reporting feature for this reason. Here you can view data on gross sales, transactions, average transaction amount and more. You can also run and export reports using various preset or custom fields. One particularly neat feature is that you can sort your employees by various factors, including sales, discounts, tips and more. 

Virtual Terminal 

You’ll find the virtual terminal on Payments Hub. This is where you can manually key in credit card information. For businesses that want to accept credit card payments over the phone, the virtual terminal tool is indispensable. We liked that you can also use this feature with a card reader to accept payments with a physical credit card. 

North American Bancard payments hub

Payments Hub’s virtual terminal allows you to enter transactions manually. Source: North Payments

E-Commerce

If you’re looking to create an online store, Payments Hub’s developer portal provides the resources you need to create a payment solution on your website, even if you don’t have web design prowess. We liked that more tech-savvy business owners can integrate North Payments’ processing services into their online stores to add checkout functionality, integrate terminals with internal software, process payments on WooCommerce, and more. 

TipBottom line
If you're integrating with WooCommerce, consider using WooCommerce plug-ins to boost sales. For example, create custom product tabs and automate abandoned shopping cart emails.

Inventory Management 

You can use the Payments Hub portal to manage your inventory and create a catalog of your products. Set multiple prices, add modifiers and product images, track your in-stock items, and itemize your receipts. We like that you can integrate this system with a barcode scanner, so retail businesses can sync their POS operations with inventory management. 

Security

Credit card payment processing laws business owners must understand include PCI compliance. We like that North Payments simplifies the PCI compliance process by eliminating the need for annual reports if you use a Payanywhere device. The company also partners with SecureTrust to provide a team of service professionals to help you with the technical aspects of PCI compliance. We were impressed by North Payments’ added PCI Plus service, which includes a more personalized, white-glove treatment so business owners don’t have to worry about staying in compliance. 

Hardware

North Payments provides an impressive amount of third-party POS devices. New customers will receive free equipment when they sign up for a contract. Options include the Payanywhere Bluetooth credit card reader, which can accept EMV, magstripe and NFC contactless payments, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Other Payanywhere devices offered include the handheld Smart Terminal, the Smart Keypad and the Smart Flex. The Smart POS+ functions as a full cash register, complete with a customer-facing touchscreen, receipt printer and optional port for a cash drawer. North American Bancard also offers the handheld Ingenico iCT 220 terminal. 

North American Bancard Payanywhere terminal

The Payanywhere Smart Terminal is one of North American Bancard’s hardware offerings. Source: Payanywhere

Cash Discounting Program

Although there are many benefits to going cashless, some businesses still accept most of their payments in cash. Unlike many competitors, North Payments offers a unique service called EDGE that’s designed to reward customers for paying in cash. Additionally, when merchants face the cost of accepting transactions from rewards credit cards, they often must raise prices to compensate. The EDGE program is designed to automatically adjust the transaction to reflect the payment method, which boosts your profit margins. We think this feature could prove especially useful for businesses that still deal with many cash transactions. 

Did You Know?Did you know
While cash may be a convenient payment form for specific businesses, going cashless can save time and speed up checkout lines at a POS terminal.

North Payments Pricing

In regard to credit card processing fees, North Payments offers both interchange-plus pricing and tiered pricing. Interchange-plus consists of a percentage of the transaction charged by the credit card issuer and an additional percentage tacked on by the credit card processor. This pricing model often also includes a small fixed fee per transaction. The tiered pricing model separates credit card transactions by type and charges different rates for different transaction types. 

Unlike other credit card processors we reviewed, North Payments doesn’t publicly disclose its rates. The company says it offers rates as low as 0.29% per transaction. This is a very low rate compared to other credit card processors, but factors such as your business’s total transaction volume determine your actual rate. Speak to a North American Bancard representative for a customized quote. 

Implementation and Onboarding

We were impressed by North Payments’ quick setup, including a straightforward application process and fast approval. You can apply online and receive approval in as little as one day, or call the company directly to get started. North Payments works with various businesses, even those in controversial and high-risk industries. New customers also have the option to receive free equipment upon signup. 

Customer Support

North Payments maintains a 24/7 customer service helpline. We appreciate that the company offers round-the-clock technical support by phone, especially in an era where many credit card processors have outsourced their customer service to automated systems or curtailed their hours. Additionally, North American Bancard has an online knowledge base and FAQ section where customers can find answers. 

North American Bancard knowledge base

North Payments hosts an online knowledge base where customers can find answers.  Source: North Payments

Limitations

North Payments doesn’t disclose a full range of processing rates, which we see as a downside. Instead, you must call the company for a quote. The software also lacks some of the bells and whistles of competitors. For example, North Payments doesn’t offer a fully integrated POS system and credit card processing solution like some competitors, including Clover. Learn more in our in-depth Clover review

We also noted that some customers complained about high termination fees and other undisclosed charges on user-generated review sites. Although North Payments doesn’t publicly advertise fees, we advise customers to read the fine print in their contracts to avoid misunderstandings. 

Methodology

We researched and analyzed leading credit card processors to find the best credit card processors for small businesses. We investigated by exploring demos and free trials, carefully examining user reviews, and interacting with each vendor’s customer service team. We looked at the usability of each company’s hardware and software offerings, as well as how fair the contract terms are to merchants. Additionally, we scrutinized the rates and fees each processor charges. To identify the best credit card processor for fast setup, we paid particular attention to the application process, ease of approval and free equipment provisions. 

FAQs

North Payments funds accounts as quickly as the next day.
Yes. You can cancel North Payments anytime, but review your contract for any termination fees.
Yes. North Payments works with businesses in CBD, debt collection, peptides, telemedicine, credit repair and other high-risk industries.

Bottom Line

We recommend North Payments for …

  • High-risk businesses that want to get started quickly with a credit card processor. 
  • Businesses that still deal with many cash transactions. 

We don’t recommend North Payments for …

  • Business owners that want an integrated POS and credit card processing solution. 
  • Merchants in search of rate transparency before they call to sign up. 
Did you find this content helpful?
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Mike Berner
Written By: Mike BernerSenior Analyst & Expert on Business Operations
Mike Berner brings to business.com over half a decade of experience as a finance expert, having previously served as an economic analyst for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His expertise lies in conducting quantitative analysis and research, providing invaluable guidance for navigating the modern financial landscape. Berner, who has a bachelor's degree in economics and a bachelor of business administration in finance, enjoys simplifying complicated financial concepts for entrepreneurs and business owners. From deciphering the intricacies of business loans and accounting to identifying the best payroll systems and credit card processors, he offers comprehensive insights tailored to meet diverse business needs. At business.com, Berner covers business plans, funding solutions, accounting software, the ins and outs of credit card processing and more. Beyond dedicating himself to exploring and evaluating the latest financial solutions, Berner has also become adept at explaining how businesses can take advantage of artificial intelligence tools. His passion for sharing knowledge extends to various platforms, including Substack, TikTok and YouTube, where he imparts tips and strategies on topics like sales tactics, savvy investing and tax saving.
North Payments logo
Editor's Rating8.1/10
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