Reviews and expert opinion National Processing

* Cancellation fee is waived if your Business closes or National Processing can’t beat your new rates. 

National Processing’s Rates Are Hard to Beat

National Processing offers several card processing solutions, as well as free hardware and gateway setup for all types of businesses. If you’re a small or new business that doesn’t currently have the resources to deal with technical issues, this service can be invaluable.

Although there’s no free plan, all of National Processing’s subscriptions are priced very competitively. The flat transaction fees range from 0% (cash discount account) to just 0.29% + 15¢ for online payments, which is much cheaper than most of the competition. Not only that, but National Processing offers a $500 meet-or-beat guarantee. So, if you’ve already got a good processing deal, it’s worth getting a quote from this processor for the chance of getting some extra cash.

After filling out your application, make sure you contact the sales team directly to receive your custom quote and get a better idea of what each subscription plan offers.

Just be aware that National Processing’s favorable rates are only available to low-risk merchants. If you’re in a high-risk industry (e.g., gambling, CBD), National Processing might not be the best choice for you.

Easy Payment Solutions for a Range of Businesses

National Processing doesn’t offer as many features as some competitors – but what it does, it does well. This makes it a great choice for small businesses looking for some of the best payment processing rates on the market.

National Processing offers competitive in-store, online, and mobile payment solutions, with low interchange-plus rates for low-risk merchants. You can also get a wide array of free equipment, but bear in mind that what you’re eligible for will depend on the length of your contract and your plan of choice.

Free SwipeSimple Mobile Reader for Retail Businesses and Restaurants

If you sign a contract with National Processing, you’ll receive a free SwipeSimple mobile reader as a welcome gift. You’ll also gain access to the SwipeSimple mobile app, which allows you to track sales, manage employees, and access reports on the go. Mind you, SwipeSimple isn’t the best mobile CCP solution out there – many experience connection issues, and the app itself is quite buggy.

If you’re a non-profit organization or sign up for the cash discount program, you’ll receive a free terminal and an extra mobile reader. Subscription Plus users get a free PIN pad, a free SwipeSimple terminal, and a free terminal upgrade every two years. National Processing also sells a wide range of hardware, including popular Clover and Dejavoo models.

E-commerce Solutions

National Processing offers a payment gateway, which allows you to take online payments directly from your website. Provided by Authorize.Net, this gateway is easy to navigate and adheres to industry-standard protocols (e.g., address verification, CVV2, customized restrictions, etc.).

The gateway comes with both a virtual terminal and a virtual POS, and it integrates with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. APIs are also available for merchants who want to create customized e-commerce solutions.

Various Payment Methods and Same-Day Payout

National Processing accepts payments from all major credit/debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Accepted digital payment methods include ACH, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cryptocurrency (including Bitcoin), Klarna, and Afterpay.

It normally takes 1-2 business days for your money to reach your bank account. If you need access to cash quickly, you can take advantage of National Processing’s free same-day funding service – provided your bank doesn’t put a hold on the funds. (More on this in our Support section.)

Generous Cash Discount Fees

National Processing offers a much-lauded cash discount program. Merchants only need to pay a monthly fee to ensure that customers who pay in cash receive a 3.99% discount. As long as you process a minimum of $3,000 a month, National Processing will then charge a 0% fee on all credit/debit card payments you accept.

Quick Onboarding and Plenty of Plans to Choose From

National Processing is one of the few merchant account providers that doesn’t charge any set-up fees. Once your account is approved, you can begin processing payments within a few days. Just pick the plan that best suits your needs, choose your hardware solution, and you’re ready to receive payments.

Getting Started With National Processing

You can fill out National Processing’s application form in less than five minutes. You’ll need to select the service(s) you need and then provide general information about your industry, your monthly processing volume, and the like. A National Processing representative will then contact you to discuss your options in more detail.

Although opening a merchant account with National Processing is relatively easy, you’ll need to submit several documents before your account is approved. Competitors like Payment Depot and Flagship Merchant Services have much quicker turnaround times.

What’s impressive is that National Processing will also give you $500 upon signing if they can’t beat your current rate – provided you’re a low-risk merchant processing at least $10,000/month. National Processing does accept some merchants in high-risk industries, but those merchants may not qualify for the low fees it advertises.

Free POS Reprogramming and Gateway Setup

National Processing is one of the few merchant services providers to offer free POS reprogramming of existing equipment. If you’re switching providers and already have hardware set up, National Processing will cover all the technical stuff and help reprogram your equipment free of charge.

All plans also include free gateway setup for online payments. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a developer on your team, or you don’t know how to create payment links or set up shopping carts – National Processing has you covered with specialized training in all things e-commerce.

Stats and Analytics Through the SwipeSimple App

The SwipeSimple App makes it easy to track sales and inventory, calculate tax, add tips, and create discounts. A real-time reporting tool also provides detailed transaction data that can easily be exported to CSV format.

While the app has all the features you’d expect from an e-commerce tool, the offline feature takes it one step further. If you experience connection issues or poor reception, the app will still capture your customer’s payment information, which will be processed once you’re back online.

National Processing’s Fees Are Very Competitive

That National Processing discloses its fees and subscriptions prominently on its homepage is a breath of fresh air – merchant providers don’t tend to disclose much about their pricing structure on their official website.

Although National Processing charges both a monthly subscription and per transaction fees, it’s still one of the cheapest options on the market. That’s because all plans benefit from an interchange plus pricing model. This means you’ll be paying a constant, flat margin on top of the base interchange rate. You won’t have to worry about complicated tiered pricing that results in unpredictable fee variations from month to month.

Here’s a list of available plans and their fees:

• Restaurant: $9.95/month, 0.14% + 7¢ per transaction
• Retail: $9.95/month, 0.18% + 10¢ per transaction
• E-commerce: $9.95/month, 0.29% + 15¢ per transaction
• Cash Discount: $39.95/month, 0% + 0¢ per transaction
• Non-Profit: $9.95/month, 0.12% + 6¢ per transaction
• ACH processing: $9.95/month, 0.18% + 10¢ per transaction
• Subscription: $59/month, 0% + 9¢ per transaction
• Subscription Plus: $199/month, 0% + 0.05¢ per transaction

There’s also a helpful fee estimator on the website. You pick your industry, processing volume, and the number of monthly transactions, and National Processing will calculate how much you can expect to pay in fees.

It’s worth noting that National Processing can only guarantee low rates to low-risk businesses that meet specific criteria – so before you get on the phone to cancel your current plan, fill out the application form and request a custom quote to discover exactly how much you’ll be paying.

National Processing charges a $495 – $595 early termination fee (ETF). If you already have your own equipment and would rather not commit to a long-term contract, you can also sign up to a non-binding month-to-month subscription with no cancellation fees.

National Processing doesn’t publicly disclose any additional fees, but according to customer reviews, there’s an $8 PCI compliance fee, a $100 PCI non-compliance fee, and a $20 chargeback fee.

All in all, National Processing implements a transparent pricing model with low fees and excellent rates for qualified merchants. This processor is ideal for all types of businesses that want to spend as little on fees as possible and don’t mind missing out on a few complimentary features.

National Processing Is PCI-Compliant

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) ensures that customer credit card information is accepted, processed, and stored in the safest way possible. All National Processing plans, gateways, and terminals are PCI-compliant, so you can rest assured that your sensitive data will be kept secure.

PCI Compliance & More

If you’re processing any kind of credit/debit card payments, it’s your responsibility to fill out the PCI DSS self-assessment questionnaire once a year.

National Processing will perform regular security scans to ensure your account is compliant, but keep in mind that you’ll be charged a compulsory $8/month compliance fee for this service. Make sure you become PCI-compliant as soon as possible – otherwise, you risk paying a hefty $100 non-compliance fee for every month you’re in breach of compliance.

National Processing is also CCPA compliant, covering the majority of California residents.

Additional Security Features

National Processing’s approved readers and terminals provide end-to-end encryption, keeping you and your customers safe from fraud and misuse. Many of its third-party hardware options (e.g., Clover) also come with additional safety features, such as fingerprint login and advanced employee permissions.

For e-commerce transactions, National Processing maintains PCI DSS compliance standards through Authorize.Net’s secure payment gateway. Payment information is processed via tokenization, an advanced encryption system that converts sensitive data into unreadable tokens.

For even tighter security, you can modify National Processing’s gateway to enable an Address Verification Service (AVS), CVV2, and specific restrictions on transactions.

National Processing’s Support Is a Step Above the Competition

The CCP industry is known for its less-than-stellar customer support. I’ve experienced this firsthand, often having a hard time reaching merchant services providers or simply failing to get my questions answered when I do. I’m pleased to say that National Processing is not one of those providers.

You can reach National Processing’s support team 24/7 via phone and email, and there’s even a chat function that’s available five days a week during office hours (PDT).

I first reached out via live chat to ask about this provider’s same-day funding service. My question was: Does National Processing offer a same-day funding service? How much does it cost?

It was early Monday morning (5:30 a.m. PDT), but I never heard back from them. A few days later, I decided to try my luck again, this time via email. A representative got back to me in less than an hour.

The next day, I called customer support late in the evening (around 11:00 p.m. PDT) and only had to wait a few minutes to reach the support center. I was on the phone for a good twenty minutes, asking more questions about National Processing’s plans, fees, and hardware solutions.

The phone representative was friendly, attentive, and eager to help me better understand National Processing’s offerings.

He answered my questions about additional charges that I couldn’t find on the website. I was also pleased to learn that my small (and imaginary) vegan-friendly bakery would probably qualify for National Processing’s guaranteed low rates – the representative said he needed to confirm that with another team.

If I agreed to sign a contract with National Processing, I would also qualify for a 50% discount on the Startup Bundle, which includes a SwipeSimple terminal, a thermal printer, and a cash drawer.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by National Processing’s response. The representatives were friendly and professional, even though I wasn’t yet a customer. While National Processing’s documentation falls short of the competition – Stax has the better knowledge base – the otherwise exceptional support more than makes up for it.