Interchange and assessments pass through
The card networks set these wholesale costs. They vary with card and transaction type and are not included in the target markup or comparison figures.
Answers about the rate, the application, the money and the support line.
Merchant accounts involve a referral partner, a processor, an acquiring bank and card networks. These answers keep their responsibilities separate so you know who can actually act.
Target pricing is not guaranteed · The processor underwrites and funds · Front-line support uses an AI voice agent
The terms that should not be hidden inside an accordion
The target is 5 basis points plus 5¢ per transaction
Pcnaid submits an application requesting that markup, but it is never a promise or guarantee. The processor’s underwriting department assigns the final rate.
Pcnaid is the referral partner
North American Bancard or CardConnect CoPilot processes transactions, monitors risk and sends eligible funds through its acquiring sponsor bank. Pcnaid does not hold funds or approve accounts.
Front-line support is AI-assisted
An AI voice agent answers first, records the issue, creates a reference and routes it. A human does not answer the support line immediately.
This compares processor markup and monthly fees only. Interchange and card-brand assessments are set by the card networks, apply equally to all providers, and are not included.
Pricing and account fees
What is the difference between interchange and markup?
Interchange is the wholesale cost set through Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express schedules and paid to the card issuer. Card-brand assessments are network charges. Both pass through. Processor markup is the separately stated percentage, transaction charge and account fees added above them; it is the negotiable layer.
Is the target markup of 5 basis points plus 5¢ per transaction guaranteed?
No. It is the pricing Pcnaid requests when submitting an application and is never a promise. The processor’s underwriting department assigns the final rate after reviewing business risk, processing history and credit.
Does the account carry a monthly or statement fee?
The account Pcnaid submits an application for carries a $0 monthly fee and no separate statement, gateway or batch fee. The processor’s approved agreement controls, so verify every fee line before signing.
Does the account carry an annual PCI compliance fee?
No separate PCI compliance fee is included in the submitted account structure. That does not remove the merchant’s obligation to complete the required annual PCI Self-Assessment Questionnaire.
Is there an early-termination fee?
The submitted account structure is month-to-month with no early-termination fee. The agreement is issued by the processor and should be read before signing. Closing the account still requires a formal closure request.
Are interchange and card-brand assessments included in pricing comparisons?
No. They are pass-through wholesale costs and are excluded so each table compares processor markup and account fees on the same basis. An all-in statement total will be higher because interchange and assessments still apply.
Underwriting, approval and documents
Who handles underwriting and risk management?
North American Bancard or CardConnect CoPilot handles underwriting, risk assessment and ongoing account monitoring with its acquiring sponsor bank. Pcnaid is the referral partner and cannot make or override those decisions.
How long does underwriting and approval usually take?
A complete application that requires no additional documentation may be reviewed in 1 to 3 business days. Document requests, risk complexity, weekends and verification work can extend that range, and the range is not an approval guarantee.
Will underwriting ask for additional documentation?
Often. Requests for prior processing statements, recent bank statements, a voided check, identity records, formation documents, invoices or fulfilment evidence are standard verification steps and do not by themselves mean the application will be declined.
What happens if the application is declined?
The processor communicates the decision. Common reasons include severe credit concerns, prohibited or restricted activity, unacceptable chargeback or fulfilment exposure, information that cannot be verified, or a MATCH-list record. Pcnaid cannot reverse a decline.
Processing, funding and account risk
Who actually processes the payments?
North American Bancard or CardConnect CoPilot and its acquiring sponsor bank perform transaction routing, settlement, risk monitoring and eligible daily funding. Pcnaid introduces and submits the merchant application; it is not the processor or bank.
Can anyone promise that funds will never be held or frozen?
No. A transaction or processing pattern that materially differs from the application can trigger review. The processor may request invoices or delivery evidence and hold funds while it investigates. Pcnaid does not control the hold and cannot release the money.
Do merchants still have to become PCI compliant?
Yes. Every merchant accepting cards has its own PCI obligations, including the applicable annual Self-Assessment Questionnaire. The processor and gateway secure their infrastructure, while the merchant remains responsible for card-handling practices, passwords, devices and the local network.
How is an account cancelled?
Submit a closure request directly to the processor and follow its verification and final-batch instructions. The account structure is month-to-month without an early-termination fee, but stopping transactions or unplugging a terminal does not itself close the account.
Support and escalation
What happens when I call customer support?
An AI voice agent answers first. It records the issue, creates a support ticket, provides a reference number and routes the request to the appropriate team. A human does not answer immediately. Funding, holds and account-balance issues must reach the processor because only it can act on them.
Why use an AI voice agent for front-line support?
The account targets 5 basis points plus 5¢ per transaction with a $0 monthly fee, so the referral operation keeps initial intake lean. The AI agent documents and routes requests without presenting itself as a human. Human teams handle the work that requires review or action.
Before relying on any answer here
The processor’s approved merchant agreement governs pricing, account terms, reserves, funding and closure. Website explanations and calculator results help compare structures but do not replace that agreement.
Interchange and assessments remain pass-through costs and are excluded from markup comparisons. The published markup is a target, never a guaranteed rate, and underwriting determines the final result.
If the responsibilities are clear, the application is the next concrete step.
Applying carries no obligation. The processor reviews the business and returns the actual pricing and terms for consideration.
Applying carries no obligation. Underwriting, approval and final rates are determined by the processor.
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