It’s time to grow your business how and where you want without payment complexities holding you back. And an international merchant account from AltoPay can make that happen.
EUROPEAN MERCHANT ACCOUNTS
Eliminate payment stress and confusion so you can grow your business in Europe
Merchant accounts for online businesses expanding in Europe
EXPOSING CHALLENGES
Regional payment differences can hold you back
Your business is capable of selling in Europe and beyond — but only if you can master country-specific regulations and varying consumer preferences. Fail to adapt to regional differences and you’ll suffer the consequences.
Underwriting is different than you expected, so you aren’t prepared and the process takes longer than it should.
Regulations are different than you’re accustomed to, so you unintentionally break rules and receive penalties.
You’re using the wrong merchant account for international sales, so your approval rates are low and your fees are high.
You don’t embrace local payment methods, so you alienate customers and lower your earning potential.
GUIDING YOU TO SUCCESS
Finally — stable, reliable European processing
12% increase
Average approval rates for cross-boarder sales improve when switching to AltoPay
30+ countries
Serving businesses incorporated in the EEA, Switzerland, and the UK
100+ currencies
Global processing with local settlement in all major currencies
WHAT YOU GET
A stress-free way to process more payments
AltoPay is an EU merchant account provider. As you expand your growing business and face new challenges, we’ll make sure cross-border payment processing is as simple as possible.
- 15+ years experience working with European merchants and banks
- Local European office servicing multiple time zones
- Simplified application process with a dedicated underwriter
- Regularly scheduled consultations and on-demand support
- Complete suite of fraud and chargeback management solutions with a personalized risk management strategy
- Multiple payment acceptance options and local shopping cart integrations
MEETING EXPECTATIONS
Give your customers options
Customise your EU payment processing solutions to accept multiple payment methods, meet evolving expectations, and serve more customers.
Debit card and credit card networks
- American Express
- Cartes Bancaires
- Dankort
- Diners Club
- Discover
- Girocard
- JCB
- Maestro
- Mastercard
- V Pay
- Visa
Region-specific bank transfers
- BACS
- Bancontact
- EPS
- iDEAL
- Przelewy24
- Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
- Trustly
- Wero
Region-specific digital wallets
- Alipay
- Apple Pay
- Bitpay
- Google Wallet
- MB Way
- MobilePay
- Multibanco
- PayPal
- Paysafecard
- PayU
- Satispay
- Vipps
MEETING EXPECTATIONS
Give your customers options
Customise your EU payment processing solutions to accept multiple payment methods, meet evolving expectations, and serve more customers.
Debit card and credit card networks
- American Express
- Cartes Bancaires
- Dankort
- Diners Club
- Discover
- Girocard
- JCB
- Maestro
- Mastercard
- V Pay
- Visa
Region-specific bank transfers
- BACS
- Bancontact
- EPS
- iDEAL
- Przelewy24
- Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
- Trustly
- Wero
Region-specific digital wallets
- Alipay
- Apple Pay
- Bitpay
- Google Wallet
- MB Way
- MobilePay
- Multibanco
- PayPal
- Paysafecard
- PayU
- Satispay
- Vipps
ONBOARDING PROCESS
Activate your European merchant account in three easy steps
Gaining access to merchant services in Europe will be as simple and straightforward as possible.
1
Sign up
Complete our online application and provide requested documents.
2
AltoPay pre-approval
We’ll start the underwriting process, get familiar with your business, and pre-approve the account.
3
Acquirer approval
The underwriting team will review your application, complete the approval process, and issue a merchant account (MID).
You ought to be able to grow your business without payment challenges holding you back
Don’t let payment complexities scare you away from the European market. Global expansion doesn’t have to be a stressful, frustrating, confusing process. AltoPay provides stable, reliable payment processing so you can grow your business with confidence. Reach out today to get started.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
FAQs About European Merchant Accounts
What kind of documents do I need to submit with my application?
As part of the application process, we ask you to provide several documents. These documents help us verify the legitimacy of your business (a process called underwriting).
We usually ask for legible, unaltered copies of the following:
- The official, legal document filed with a local government agency (certificate of incorporation, memorandum, appointment of directors, etc.)
- Valid passport for all shareholders, owners, or directors
- Utility bill from all shareholders or directors
- Proof of physical presence in the country you are applying for
- Voided check or bank letter with account information for deposits
- Proof of website domain ownership
- VAT/tax registration or certificate
- Payment Card Industry (PCI) certificate or SAQ
- Last 6 months business bank statements
- Last 6 months processing history
If you sell physical goods, we ask that you also provide the following items:
- Fulfillment agreement (if you outsource the fulfillment process)
- Manufacturing agreement, paid invoices, or purchasing order (if fulfilled in house)
- Example email sent after order is fulfilled
- If your industry requires a license — for example pharmaceuticals, gaming, CBD — we’ll need a copy of your license.
We’ll let you know if we need any additional documents during the application process.
Do I need to have a physical presence in Europe to open a merchant account or can I just use a mail forwarding office?
You do need to have a physical presence in the region where the account is being set up (European Economic Area), so a mail forwarding office is not enough. You’ll need an office, warehouse, or registered entity in the region you plan to do business in order to get an EU merchant account.
If your business isn’t based in Europe, we can explore merchant account options for the region where your business is located. Reach out to our team to discuss possibilities.
Will a European merchant account allow me to process in the UK ?
Yes! A European merchant account allows you to process transactions globally — which includes the UK.
Is it difficult to get a merchant account in Europe if my business is considered high risk?
High-risk businesses typically have higher chargeback rates, increased risk of fraud, or regulatory complexities. So business activity is meticulously investigated during the underwriting process and merchant account applications are more challenging to get approved.
However, high-risk businesses all over the world face this scrutiny — Europe isn’t necessarily more restrictive than other regions.
If your European business is in any of these industries, expect a thorough underwriting process:
- High-risk financial services (forex, binary options, and crypto)
- Adult content
- CBD and cannabis-related products
- Gambling and betting
- Nutraceuticals and supplements
- Multi-level marketing (MLM)
While difficult, it is not impossible to get a European merchant account. You just need to work with the right provider.
We’ve helped high-risk businesses across the globe get the payment processing they need. We can help you overcome the challenges of obtaining a European merchant account so that you can expand your business. Reach out today to get started.
Can prevention alerts help reduce my VAMP ratio for a European merchant account?
Yes. Prevention alerts from vendors such as Ethoca and Verifi help you resolve disputes before they become chargebacks, effectively preventing disputes from counting against your VAMP ratio.
Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR) is another tool that is especially effective in Europe.
How long is the underwriting process?
Although we can’t provide an exact timeline — the process can vary from business to business — the initial phase of the approval process can usually be completed within a few days. Final approval might take a week or so.
Timelines are most commonly impacted by the following variables:
- How complicated or straight-forward your business structure is
- How quickly you can gather required documents and provide clear explanations to any questions
- How well the underwriting team understands your business
To help speed up the process, you can do the following:
- Provide clear, unaltered copies of all requested documents.
- Respond to emails and inquiries as soon as possible.
- Always provide honest, transparent information.
Ready to get started? Fill out our online interest form today!
What pricing model is used in Europe for processing fees?
In Europe and the UK, interchange++ is the most common pricing model due to government mandates on transparency. Check our guide on processing fees to learn more.
