High-risk merchant accounts
High-risk merchant accounts & payment processing in Europe
Accept payments across Europe seamlessly with dedicated high-risk merchant accounts, multi-currency processing, and transparent risk management designed for your business. Apply for a high-risk merchant account inside Genome.
What high-risk classification means for businesses
Chargeback thresholds and ratios
When businesses accept card payments, the card schemes strictly monitor dispute ratios across the funds they process. If your business exceeds the industry-set limits, it can be fined or even have its account terminated. A provider experienced with high-risk businesses helps you monitor disputes and act before limits are breached.
Regulatory and scheme exposure
Some e-commerce merchants, alongside companies in SaaS, digital media, subscription software, and cross-border retail, face heightened security scrutiny. Cross-border sales, higher transaction volumes, and delayed fulfillment contribute to this. As a result, companies have risk profiles that require high-risk payment processing. A specialized merchant account helps companies handle strict international regulations, prevent account holds, and keep the transaction flow stable.
Risk mitigation mechanisms
Your account security always remains a priority when you run a business. Genome protects your revenue by prioritizing Pay by Bank, which bypasses card networks to eliminate chargeback risks entirely. For eligible verticals like licensed gambling and traditional dating, card processing features strong anti-fraud tools. Start a high-risk merchant account in Europe to mitigate the risks.
High-risk merchant accounts
Industries we serve
E-commerce and subscription / SaaS
Software providers need consistent cash flow and friction-free payment flows across borders. With Genome’s high-risk ecommerce merchant account, SaaS companies can accept instant account-to-account payments via Pay by Bank, avoiding card dispute limits and high interchange overhead.
Media buying / marketing agencies
Media buying and marketing agencies often see sudden budget spikes and global client payments. This rapid growth can be seen as a risk, leading to frozen funds or delays. Genome’s high-risk merchant account gives your agency reliable payment processing and the Pay by Bank payment method to collect client payments smoothly.
Travel and ticketing
Travel agencies and ticketing platforms often take payments months before a trip or event. Cancellations and schedule changes can then lead to refunds or disputes. High-risk payment processing can help these businesses manage busy seasons and find settlement terms that fit their cash flow.
Digital goods and services
Digital downloads and online services have no shipping record to help resolve a payment dispute. That can make fraud and chargebacks harder to manage. Genome gives these businesses instant Pay by Bank settlement to bypass card fraud entirely and tools to confirm buyer identities.
iGaming and entertainment
iGaming and entertainment businesses may handle large numbers of payments across several countries, each with its own rules. This can make it harder to find a payment provider. A high-risk merchant account in Europe can support multi-currency business accounts and help businesses monitor transactions for fraud.
High-risk merchant accounts
How Genome solves high-risk processing challenges
High chargeback rates and account suspension risk
Unchecked disputes can quickly compromise your payment channels. Genome offers a Pay by Bank solution, eliminating card-related chargebacks entirely. Genome protects your high-risk payment processing with a secure hosted payment page, which is PCI DSS compliant. Because Pay by Bank transactions eliminate card chargebacks entirely, dispute risk is minimized. For card payments, the combination of 3D Secure authentication and anti-fraud tools keeps dispute ratios under control.
Slow payout cycles choking operational cash flow
Waiting days for settlements restricts your cash flow and hinders growth. Pairing your business with an EU high-risk merchant account powered by Genome grants access to instant payouts and Pay by Bank features. Using SEPA Instant Transfers, incoming settlements hit your account within seconds, ensuring your business maintains the steady balance needed to cover daily operational expenses.
Frozen funds and mixed capital risks
Keeping your day-to-day business funds together with customer payments can cause problems if a payment processor freezes your account. Genome supports high-risk merchant processing with dedicated EUR IBAN accounts. You can keep operating funds separate from payment processing balances, helping you cover everyday expenses if those balances are put on hold.
Payout errors and vendor invoice fraud
Sending money to the wrong account or paying a fake supplier invoice can cost your business money. As part of our high-risk merchant services, Genome uses automatic Verification of Payee (VoP) checks. Before you confirm an outgoing SEPA transfer, VoP checks whether the recipient’s name matches the name linked to their IBAN, helping you spot mistakes or possible fraud.
High-risk merchant accounts
Transparent high-risk merchant onboarding
Step 1: Digital application
Step 2: Documentation required
Step 3: Underwriting & compliance review
Step 4: Go-live: hosted payment page or host-to-host integration
High-risk merchant accounts
Need a high-risk merchant account?
Contact our sales team to learn more about high-risk merchant services and setup.
What defines a high-risk merchant account, and why do I need one?
Visa and Mastercard can mark businesses as high-risk when they handle international orders, delayed fulfillment, or frequent chargebacks. This is why many companies and online sellers need a high-risk e-commerce merchant account. These account types have anti-fraud and financial tools in place to mitigate risks your company can face.
How do I open a high-risk merchant account with Genome?
If you need an EU high-risk merchant account, you can open one completely online - inside Genome. First, register and get approved for a standard Genome business wallet. Once verified, open your Merchant Dashboard, click the plus button to apply for merchant services, fill out the merchant KYC questionnaire, and upload your business documents for underwriting review.
How does Genome help prevent chargebacks and account freezes?
Genome offers an instant Pay by Bank checkout solution powered by Open Banking, which completely eliminates card-related chargebacks. For card payment processing, our anti-fraud tools block unauthorized charges and keep your dispute ratios well under safe network limits.
What integration options are available for high-risk e-commerce checkouts?
We provide two types of payment page integrations: a hosted payment page for a quick setup that keeps payment data off your servers, and a host-to-host integration for running a customized checkout under your own domain. Both models support the security requirements for high-risk merchant processing.
Which high-risk industries does Genome support?
We support affiliate marketing, betting/gambling (licensed and regulated), brokers and agents (non-real estate), consumer credit vendors (non-bank loans)(regulated and licensed in the EU), direct marketing, electronic money institutions (EMI), holding companies/investments industry services, lead generation, lotteries (regulated and licensed in the EU), marketing, payment service provider (PSP), skill games, games of chance, and video game arcades (regulated and licensed in the EU), software as a service, subscription services, telemarketing, trading of stocks, indices, raw materials, currency (e.g., Forex), investment, or other services on Forex markets and other electronic currency trading systems (regulated and licensed in the EU/EEA and Seychelles), and traditional dating services. The final risk level is determined by the Genome team following due diligence and compliance checks.