The MATCH list (Mastercard Alert To Control High-Risk Merchants), formerly called the TMF (Terminated Merchant File), is a database maintained by Mastercard that lists merchants and their principals whose accounts were terminated by acquiring banks due to risk violations. Processors check this list before approving new merchant accounts.
Reasons for MATCH listing include: - Excessive chargebacks (over 1% Mastercard threshold) - Fraudulent activity - Money laundering - Violation of card network rules - Account data compromise - Bankruptcy or other financial issues - Transaction laundering (processing transactions for other businesses) - Illegal transactions
Being placed on the MATCH list is essentially a processing blacklist. When you apply for a new merchant account, processors run your name and business information through MATCH. A MATCH hit significantly (though not impossibly) impairs your ability to get a new merchant account.
The MATCH list is not public — it's only accessible to member financial institutions and their ISOs. Merchants can request their own MATCH status from Mastercard through specific channels.
MATCH listings remain for 5 years. Removal before 5 years is very difficult and requires the original listing entity to request removal — which they rarely do voluntarily.
MATCH listing is serious — it can effectively prevent you from accepting card payments for up to 5 years through traditional channels. If you're MATCH listed, your options include: working with high-risk offshore processors (at high cost), using payment aggregators for small volumes, or pursuing legal removal of an incorrect listing.
Prevention is critical. Monitor your chargeback ratio, respond to all disputes, and never process transactions for other businesses through your merchant account (transaction laundering is a common reason for MATCH listing).
A merchant processes $200,000 in a month with an unusual spike of chargebacks (3% ratio): - Processor terminates the account for excessive chargebacks - Processor adds merchant's name, DBA, and principals to MATCH list - Merchant applies for new accounts with multiple processors - All run MATCH and decline due to the listing - Merchant must wait 5 years or work with specialized high-risk processors
You can check your MATCH status by contacting Mastercard directly or asking your processor. Equifax LNA (formerly Naviant) administers MATCH for Mastercard and has a process for merchants to inquiry about their status.
Removal requires the entity that listed you to request removal — usually the processor or acquiring bank. This rarely happens voluntarily. If you were incorrectly listed (fraud, error, identity theft), you can dispute the listing with documentation.
Standard processors will decline MATCH-listed merchants. Specialized high-risk processors and offshore acquiring banks may work with MATCH-listed merchants, but at significantly higher rates and with strict terms.
Liberty Bancard helps merchants understand their MATCH status and options. If you've been MATCH listed, we can help evaluate specialized processing options and work with you on a plan to address the underlying issues that led to the listing.
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