Closures in high-risk sectors are common and often come with held funds. What you do in the first few days decides how quickly you are taking payments again.
If Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments or a bank has closed your account, act in this order. Confirm in writing why the account was closed and when held funds will be released. Stop sending transactions to the closed route. Check whether you have been added to the MATCH list. Gather your processing history and company documents. Then apply, with full disclosure, to a provider that approves your category knowingly. Re-applying to mainstream platforms usually leads to another closure. We help high-risk merchants find a stable replacement quickly.
Providers commonly hold funds for a period after closure to cover refunds and chargebacks, which hits cash flow straight away.
Some terminations add the business to the MATCH list, which other acquirers check before approving you.
Every day without card processing is lost revenue, and customers may not come back.
We help merchants in high-risk sectors move from closure to a stable replacement, with the right disclosure from the start.
TriageA quick read of your closure notice, held funds and likely MATCH status.
Replacement acquiringIntroductions to acquirers that approve your category knowingly.
Banking that stays openBusiness accounts with providers that understand your business model.
A backup routeA second route so one closure never stops all your revenue again.
Providers move fastest when the file is complete on day one. Have these ready before you apply.
Company documentsCertificate of incorporation, registered address and a short description of what you sell and to whom.
Ownership and IDPassport or ID and proof of address for every owner with 25% or more, and for directors.
Processing historyYour last 3 to 6 months of processing statements, if you have them, including chargeback and refund levels.
Bank statementsRecent business bank statements showing how money moves in and out of the business.
A compliant websiteFull company details, terms, refund and shipping policies, and accurate product descriptions.
Volumes and flowsExpected monthly volume, average transaction size, main customer countries and settlement currency.
Closure detailsThe closure email or letter, the reason given, and the held funds and release schedule.
Full list by sector: high-risk merchant documents checklist →
A peptide, CBD or supplement store is closed by its payment platform under the restricted businesses policy.
A subscription business was terminated after a spike in disputes.
A business bank closed the account at review, leaving card settlements with nowhere to land.
In high-risk sectors, most closures happen because the business falls under the provider's restricted or prohibited business list, or because chargebacks, refunds or unusual volume triggered a review.
Commonly 90 to 180 days, depending on the provider's terms and your chargeback exposure. Ask for the release schedule in writing.
MATCH is a Mastercard database of merchants whose acquirers terminated them for specific reasons. Being listed makes approval harder, but some specialist acquirers will still consider you depending on the reason.
Opening a new account to get round a closure usually breaches the platform's terms and tends to end in another closure, often with more funds held.
Peptides and research compounds, CBD, vape, supplements, iGaming, forex and prop trading, crypto, adult and other lawful high-risk sectors.
Give us the detail upfront (volume, set-up, what has been declined) and we can check provider appetite before we speak. We will assess whether there is a suitable provider match and come back to you directly. No obligation, no hard sell.
Have a client in this sector?If you're an EMI, MSB, payment consultant, or adviser with clients in this space you can't service directly, we have a structured introducer arrangement.