A Merchant Account When You Have Struggled to Get Approved Elsewhere
A low personal credit score can make mainstream processors difficult. SwissPay is a PayPal-managed payment facilitator that boards and underwrites merchants in-house on PayPal rails, so the account rests on SwissPay's own onboarding rather than a form you fill in at a bank.
Many processors weigh a business owner's personal credit when they underwrite, so a low score can make mainstream accounts hard to get. SwissPay is a PayPal-managed payment facilitator that reviews and underwrites each application in-house. Approved merchants accept cards and PayPal on PayPal rails without their own PayPal account, backed by PCI DSS Level 1 security.
Can you get a merchant account if you have struggled with credit?
It depends on the processor. Many lean heavily on a personal credit score, but that is a policy choice, not an industry rule, and other providers look at the business as a whole. SwissPay reviews and underwrites each application in-house and does not publish its underwriting criteria, so the fit depends on a legitimate, compliant business.
A weak personal score is one signal a processor may consider, and it is not the whole story of whether a business can process cleanly. Processors also look at what the business sells, how it bills customers, its website and its dispute history. Because SwissPay boards and underwrites in-house on PayPal rails, your application is reviewed by SwissPay directly rather than passed to an outside bank. Approval is not guaranteed, and the fit still depends on a legitimate, compliant business.
How is SwissPay different from a standard processor?
SwissPay is a PayPal-managed payment facilitator operated by MintAds Inc. It boards and underwrites merchants in-house on PayPal rails, and merchants do not need their own PayPal account. Payments are processed on PayPal, one of the most established payment networks on the internet, with settlement in USD to your own bank account.
The practical difference is who handles onboarding. Rather than routing you to an outside bank, SwissPay boards and underwrites merchants in-house on PayPal rails. Customers can pay from anywhere PayPal is accepted, using Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, the PayPal wallet, or PayPal Pay Later. Merchants do not need their own PayPal account, and funds settle T+2 in USD to the merchant's own bank account.
What does a SwissPay account include?
SwissPay boards and underwrites each merchant in-house on PayPal rails. The account is built for subscriptions, rebills and trials, with card and PayPal-wallet vaulting, real-time fraud scoring, chargeback and PayPal dispute handling with automated evidence submission, and USD settlement to your own bank account on T+2.
In-house underwriting on PayPal rails
SwissPay boards and underwrites merchants directly rather than passing you to an outside bank.
No PayPal account required
You can accept cards and the PayPal wallet without holding your own PayPal account.
Built for subscriptions and rebills
Card and PayPal-wallet vaulting supports subscriptions, trials and recurring billing.
Chargeback and dispute tooling
Real-time fraud scoring (AVS, device and risk signals) plus chargeback and PayPal dispute handling with automated evidence submission.
How does onboarding work?
Onboarding is online. You share your business details, SwissPay reviews and underwrites the application in-house, and once approved you integrate through the REST API, hosted checkout, or the Shopify or WooCommerce plugin and start accepting cards and PayPal on PayPal rails.
- 1Apply online with your business details
Share your business and how you process in one application.
- 2SwissPay reviews and underwrites in-house
Your application is reviewed and underwritten by SwissPay, not handed to an outside bank.
- 3If approved, integrate and go live
Connect through the REST API, hosted checkout, or the Shopify or WooCommerce plugin, then start accepting cards and PayPal. There is no need for your own PayPal account. Prefer email? Reach the team at support@swisspay.ai.
What can I accept, and how do I get paid?
You can accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, the PayPal wallet, and PayPal Pay Later (Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly). Customers can pay from anywhere PayPal is accepted. Funds settle in USD, T+2, to your own bank account, with card and PayPal-wallet vaulting for rebills.
Because payments are processed on PayPal, one of the most established payment networks on the internet, your customers get a familiar checkout. Card and PayPal-wallet details can be vaulted within the PCI DSS Level 1 environment for subscriptions and trials, and settlement lands in USD to the merchant's own bank account on a T+2 basis.
Can I take card payments on Shopify?
Yes. If Shopify Payments has been difficult, SwissPay adds a third-party payment path to your Shopify store through the SwissPay Shopify plugin. Approved stores accept cards and the PayPal wallet, underwritten in-house by SwissPay and processed on PayPal rails, with no PayPal account required.
Shopify Payments runs on Stripe-style underwriting that can decline or freeze a store. The SwissPay Shopify plugin adds a third-party payment path, with card and PayPal-wallet acceptance underwritten in-house by SwissPay and processed on PayPal rails. A WooCommerce plugin, REST API and hosted checkout are also available.
Who does SwissPay work with?
SwissPay serves US and Canadian merchants, including subscription and rebill businesses, nutraceuticals and supplements, telehealth, skincare and beauty, crypto and digital assets, and iGaming, plus standard e-commerce, digital goods and software. Apply once and SwissPay reviews your business in-house before any approval decision.
Supplements and subscriptions
Nutraceuticals, dietary supplements and health and wellness subscriptions.
Telehealth
Telehealth and telemedicine, including prescription via licensed pharmacy.
Beauty, crypto and iGaming
Skincare, cosmetics and beauty on subscription or trial, cryptocurrency and digital assets, and iGaming.
Standard e-commerce
Standard retail e-commerce, digital goods, software and SaaS, and professional services.
Ready to apply?
SwissPay boards and underwrites merchants in-house on PayPal rails, so you can accept cards and PayPal without your own PayPal account. One application starts the review.
Start your applicationRelated
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a merchant account if I have struggled with credit?
Do I need my own PayPal account?
What payment methods can I accept?
How and when do I get paid?
Can I accept payments on Shopify?
How secure is SwissPay?
Apply for a merchant account
Tell us about your business. One application, boarded and underwritten in-house on PayPal rails, with card and PayPal-wallet processing built for subscriptions.
- Boarded and underwritten in-house, no separate PayPal account needed
- Card and PayPal-wallet vaulting for subscriptions, trials and rebills
- PCI DSS Level 1, 3-D Secure 2 where required, and chargeback and dispute handling built in