The foreign exchange or FOREX trade market is a global marketplace where international currencies are bought, sold, and kept track of. FOREX merchant accounts benefit foreign exchange merchants and trading programs.
A FOREX merchant account is a specialized account that enables merchants to accept payments in foreign currencies. It allows businesses operating in the Forex market to efficiently manage their transactions and avoid the fees associated with currency conversion. Once Forex merchant accounts are set up,merchants can use them to process transactions online or via point-of-sale terminals. Overall, businesses operating in the Forex industry seeking to expand payment options for clients worldwide should consider obtaining a Forex merchant account.
Forex Merchant Accounts: What Are They?
Forex Merchant Accounts are bank accounts that enable the trader or trading program to obtain credit or debit card payments from customers in foreign currencies. This type of account is popular among online retailers or any company that does business with customers in another country than their own.
Why Are Forex Merchant Accounts High-Risk?
Companies that do business in Forex are considered high-risk because of the unstable nature of the international money markets. There are other reasons besides consistent price fluctuations that it is difficult to be accepted for a Forex Merchant Account, including:
- Unclear regulations
- A large number of chargebacks
- Money laundering suspicion
- Lack of money documentation
- Lack of a consistent track record
Factors That Affect Eligibility For A Forex Account
When processing applications for a Forex account, banks and other payment processors weigh the risks of opening the account with income from foreign market trading activity; when reviewing applications, banks will consider these factors:
1. License Status
License status shows whether the FCA, Financial Conduct Authority, or another regulatory program authorizes the merchant. Foreign exchange merchants can’t apply for a Forex merchant account unless they have the proper license.
2. Payment Statements
Established companies have a better chance of being approved by a Forex payment processor because it is easy for them to prove their track record and financial qualifications. Accurate transaction history can remarkably improve the chances of your business being accepted.
3. Trade Volume
Merchant applications are considered based on financial worries, so the higher the volume of transactions, the more it can improve your chances and balance your risk level to the processor.
Types Of Forex Merchant Accounts
Forex business owners accept payments in several varieties and currencies. Due to the market consistently changing, timing is crucial when making trades.
Credit and debit card payments provide the quickest, most convenient ways to fund a trading account.
These are the most popular types of Forex merchant accounts:
1. Credit Card Processor Accounts
Forex merchants want credit and debit payment processing options because they are the quickest way to obtain money for foreign currency trading. However, regulations made by major companies such as Visa or Mastercard make it extremely grueling to maintain a Forex credit card processing account.
2. Check Processor Accounts
Check payments are a highly-used alternative to credit or debit cards for Forex payments. Settlement timing for checks can take days, but there are also fewer restrictions on checks, so these accounts can be simpler to keep up with.
3. Cryptocurrency Processor Accounts
While cryptocurrency is becoming a popular payment method, not many Forex merchants use digital currency to transfer funds. Completing payments with cryptocurrency is difficult and complex, and the actual value of digital currencies could be more stable.
4. Bank Transfers
Wire transfers are becoming a payment method of the past. They are seen as inconvenient due to the sheer amount of forms consumers need to complete to make deposits. Transfers also take a more extended amount of time to complete than methods like credit cards.
The Benefits of A Forex Merchant Account
The Benefits of a Forex merchant account include the following:
- A large bank networking framework
- High-volume payment processing
- Ability to process high-value transactions
- Processing multiple currencies
- Flexible payment options
- Fraud management
- Payments through multiple channels
- Credit card processing interface
How To Apply For A Forex Merchant Account
Applying for a Forex merchant account is similar to applying for any merchant account. Depending on where your company is located, the requirements for applying will be different.
For example, in certain countries, you must live there or be registered as a foreign currency merchant in that location. All these requirements must be followed first before applying.
Once those basic requirements are met, there are vital documents that you will need to supply to improve the odds that the account is approved.
These include:
- Ownership details for the account
- At least three months of bank statements
- Three to six months of statements for payment processing history
- Corporate documents that establish ownership of the company
- Photo identification
- Utility bills for proof of business address
- Business domain registration
What to Look For In A Forex Merchant Payment Gateway Supplier
An online payment system is critical for any Forex merchant looking to do business on the internet. Merchant payment gateway providers offer credit card processing to take payments quickly.
When choosing a payment gateway, look for the following:
1. Strong Security
The best Forex merchant processors provide security measures to ensure the safety of your customer’s personal information and payment.
2. Fraud Prevention
The foreign market has struggled to overcome fraud over the years. Hiring the right payment gateway can prevent fraud and reduce risks for your customers.
3. International Payment Processing
Forex merchants have to be able to process payments from multiple currencies to perform business. Finding a gateway that can accept payments in a large variety of worldwide currencies is vital.
4. Regulatory Compliance
A provider that offers regulatory compliance is critical for Forex merchant accounts. Find a provider that is an NFA member or is regulated by the CFTC. The NFA membership should be listed in the “About” section on the provider’s website.
Forex merchant accounts should be created with providers that are officially regulated to ensure the security of deposits.
5. Prevents Downtime
A Forex merchant account is vital for a foreign business that accepts online payments. If the provider you’re researching reports regular downtime, this can prevent you from doing business effectively.
Glitches like unexpected server shutdowns cost you money and irritate customers looking to buy from your company.
6. Great Customer Service
As with any service, you may have questions about your account. The provider that you choose should have customer service options available 24 hours per day, so you can always reach someone if there are issues.
If you have an online business, doing business never stops, whether at 3 am or 9 pm. It’s essential to be able to contact your provider to fix any issues quickly and keep business going.
Benefits Of Utilizing a High-Risk Merchant Bank For Forex Payments
High-risk merchant payment processors both understand the unique problems that a Forex merchant can experience and are also likely to be experienced in processing applications for high-risk trading.
Besides these factors, there are several reasons why a high-risk merchant account provider can benefit Forex merchant payment processing, including:
- Lower rates than standard merchant payment processors
- Ability to process high volumes of global transactions with different currencies
- Higher fraud detection and prevention
- Ability to process multi-channel payments
- Unified credit card processing systems that work with your existing systems
Should My Forex Business Have A License Before I Apply For A Forex Merchant Account?
Yes, high-risk merchant banks typically won’t accept applications for a Forex business that doesn’t have the proper license for their territory. Ensuring that your business is fully licensed before applying can increase your chances of application approval.
How Much Does A Forex Merchant Account Cost?
The specific cost for a Forex merchant account will vary for each company. The average account cost ranges from $19 to $45 per month, with a transaction fee of 2.49% or above.
Do I Need A Forex Merchant Account?
Forex Merchant accounts are crucial to conveniently running your foreign business. To accept quick payments with multiple currencies worldwide, a Forex account is necessary. Especially if you plan on doing business online, a merchant account is required if you want to get around using a payment gateway processor.
Final Thoughts
Although the foreign exchange market has been operating for decades, most banks still see it as a high-risk industry due to the variability and stability issues. The most important things you can offer your customers are ease of use and payment security.
To guarantee that you can deliver services to your worldwide customers, choose a payment processor that provides modern solutions and Forex merchant accounts. You will want to choose a processor that can offer greater security to your customers, allows you to process many currencies, provides regulatory compliance and excellent customer service, and works diligently to prevent fraud.
EmerchantBroker has been voted the #1 high-risk processor for Forex merchant accounts in the USA and provides merchants with highly secure, convenient Forex accounts. Open your Forex merchant account today with www.emerchantbroker.com.
A Forex payment gateway is a system that enables foreign exchange traders and trading programs to process payments made by customers in different currencies. Forex payment gateways are essential for businesses dealing with international clients, as they allow quick, secure transactions in multiple currencies. The right payment gateway can help prevent fraud, reduce risks, and offer a seamless transaction process for customers.
A Forex trading merchant account is a specific type of bank account that allows a trader or trading program to accept credit or debit card payments from customers in foreign currencies. Forex merchant accounts are popular among online retailers and other businesses that deal with customers from different countries. These accounts may be considered high-risk due to the volatile nature of the foreign exchange market and other factors, such as regulatory challenges and money laundering concerns.
When choosing a payment gateway for your Forex business, it’s essential to consider factors such as strong security, fraud prevention, international payment processing, regulatory compliance, minimal downtime, and excellent customer service. A reliable and efficient payment gateway can help streamline your transactions, handle multiple currencies, and provide a seamless experience for your customers.
A Forex payment solution is a service or system designed to facilitate financial transactions between a Forex business and its customers. This may include payment gateways, merchant accounts, and other tools that enable businesses to accept payments in multiple currencies. These solutions aim to provide a secure, user-friendly platform for traders and their clients to conduct transactions efficiently and effectively.
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