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Banc Certified Merchant Services Review: Can They Really Offer 0% Credit Card Processing?

Name: Banc Certified Merchant Services
Item: Banc Certified Merchant Services
Rating: 5
Author: Phillip Parker

Author: Phillip Parker

Updated: September 25, 2025

Maintained Since: April 20, 2012

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We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

All mentions of rate and fee costs are estimations based on publicly available information and client feedback. Actual costs may vary based on a variety of factors unique to your business.

Banc Certified Merchant Services

Rating

5/5

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Pros

Month-to-month contracts

Mobile payment solutions

POS system offerings

E-commerce support

A+ BBB rating

Cons

Potential hidden fees

Contract term variability

Legal issues reported

Equipment leasing options

Transparency issues

Overview

In this review of Banc Certified Merchant Services, we take a closer look at the company’s credit card processing services. Their offerings include point-of-sale systems, mobile payments, and e-commerce solutions built to support different types of businesses. We’ll highlight which businesses may benefit most from these services. We’ll also review customer feedback to show common trends and concerns. In addition, we’ll cover pricing, contract terms, and what’s included. By the end, you’ll know whether BCMS is the right fit for your payment processing needs.

About Banc Certified Merchant Services

Screen Capture of Banc Certified Merchant Services Homepage — Banc Certified Merchant Services Homepage

Banc Certified Merchant Services, founded in 1996, is a merchant account provider focusing on web-based credit card processing platforms for small to mid-sized businesses. Banc Certified Merchant services is a reseller of Elavon contracts, although documents can be found online that also link the company to Sage Payment Solutions. Banc Certified Merchant Services prominently markets a service offered by a separate company called CardX that advertises the ability for merchants to effectively pay 0% on credit card processing fees by adding surcharges to customers’ transactions. The CEO of Banc Certified Merchant Services is an investor in CardX and shares a last name with CardX’s CEO. The company also partners with Talech for POS solutions. Other services include mobile processing and e-commerce services.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Minimal Complaints

We’ve located a few Banc Certified Merchant Services reviews on various consumer protection websites apart from the BBB, and a recent comment on this review raises a Banc Certified Merchant Services complaint regarding poor customer service and rate misrepresentation by a sales agent. Another complaint mentions annoyance with the company’s sales calls.

Legal Matters and Fines

In 2016, BCMS faced a lawsuit for alleged violations of the TCPA due to excessive faxes. As of 2023, the case remains ongoing.

Elavon, the merchant account provider associated with BCMS, has also encountered legal issues. In 2012, a restaurant named Cisero’s sued Elavon for PCI compliance fines. The situation arose when U.S. Bank (Elavon’s parent company) was fined $90,000 by Visa and MasterCard for alleged network insecurities leading to fraudulent transactions. Dissatisfied clients seeking non-litigious solutions should consider reporting their concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.

Customer Support by BCMS

Although Banc Certified Merchant Services is affiliated with Elavon, there’s no evidence suggesting that complaints directed at BCMS are rerouted to Elavon’s profiles. BCMS provides a dedicated phone line and an email form for customer inquiries. However, these support options are insufficient to merit BCMS as a top-rated credit card processor for customer service.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	5
BBB Rating	N/A

PaymentPop Rating for Banc Certified Merchant Services

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about Banc Certified Merchant Services on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

Switching to Banc Certified Merchant Services was one of the best decisions for my business. Their team is incredibly supportive, and the seamless payment solutions have made transactions faster and more reliable. I appreciate their personalized approach and excellent customer service, truly a partner you can trust.

Banc Certified Merchant Services BBB Rating

Banc Certified Merchant Services maintains an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau as of this update and has been BBB accredited since 2002. 0 complaints have been filed against the company’s profile. Because of the company’s affiliation with Elavon, it is possible that some complaints about Banc Certified may have been improperly diverted to Elavon’s BBB profile. However, we have seen no evidence of this.

What Merchants Say

BCMS has not received any informal reviews in the past 36 months.

An “A” Performance Overall

Given the company’s complaint rate and resolution ratio, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time. Business owners should note, however, that there is reason to be skeptical of the BBB’s reviews.

Processing Rates & Fees

An Elavon Reseller

Banc Certified Merchant Services (BCMS) operates as an Independent Sales Organization (ISO) of Elavon and additional providers, which grants it some flexibility in adjusting the terms of processor contracts. For context, a standard Elavon contract generally features a swipe rate of 2.65% + $0.19 and a keyed rate of 3.50% + $0.19, alongside a PCI compliance fee between $29 and $59 monthly, and a $10 monthly service fee.

A BCMS representative highlighted that the company predominantly offers a month-to-month agreement that doesn’t include an early termination fee (ETF), setting it apart from Elavon’s typical contracts. The terms provided by BCMS may vary based on how the account was established.

For POS solutions, BCMS collaborates with Talech, which offers three plan tiers: Starter, Standard, and Premium. The Starter Plan is priced at $528 annually or $49 monthly, suited for cafes or basic retail. The Standard Plan, aimed at casual and medium-sized retail, costs $744 annually or $69 monthly for the initial POS system, with additional devices at $420 annually or $39 monthly. The Premium Plan is designed for full-service restaurants and larger retail operations, at $1,068 annually or $99 monthly for the first system and $528 annually or $49 monthly for extra devices.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

Banc Certified Merchant Services also promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway services on its website, though specific pricing details are not publicly disclosed. E-commerce services such as these typically involve additional costs, including gateway fees, technical support, batch fees, and transaction rates.

BCMS Contract Pricing Complaints

Previously, online feedback indicated that Banc Certified’s contracts could include early termination fees ranging from $195 to $295 and monthly statement fees between $5 and $10. However, current practices suggest new clients are offered month-to-month contracts. Since BCMS employs independent sales agents, actual pricing might differ based on the agent handling the account setup. It’s worth noting that many contract terms, including fees, are typically negotiable. Business owners looking for competitive services are encouraged to review our selection of the best merchant accounts.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Outside Sales Agents

Banc Certified appears to hire independent sales agents and use telemarketing to market its services. The use of independent sales agents is a common industry practice that unfortunately can result in an unregulated, untrained sales team. We were able to locate a few Banc Certified reviews that mentioned misrepresentation by sales agents, but there does not appear to be an overall pattern of nondisclosure by the company’s sales team. In general, this compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

That said, if you suspect that Banc Certified’s sales team is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden charges.

Pricing Models

The company’s website offers a page explaining interchange fees and touting its “cost-plus” pricing structure, which is described as “the basic interchange rate plus a few basis points to cover our services.” At first glance, it is unclear whether BCMS is referring to interchange-plus pricing, which is the most transparent pricing plan available. According to a company representative, BCMS provides both tiered and interchange-plus pricing to clients, but the company strongly prefers to offer interchange-plus whenever merchants are comfortable with it. We would encourage businesses to request interchange-plus pricing through Banc Certified Merchant Services in order to receive the most transparent pricing model.

Banc Certified Merchant Services Competitors

Compare Banc Certified Merchant Services to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

Banc Certified Merchant Services stands out as a trustworthy credit card processing provider. The company maintains a commendably low complaint rate, particularly considering its size and duration in the industry. Moreover, its current contract terms are more favorable than the average, offering business owners competitive and transparent options that often exceed standard expectations.

However, it’s crucial for business owners to thoroughly read and understand their contracts, even when engaging with highly rated providers. This careful examination helps identify any hidden fees or terms that could affect long-term profitability. To ensure they’re securing the best possible value, business owners should also compare Banc Certified Merchant Services’ offerings with those of the top-rated merchant account providers. Such comparisons will empower businesses to find the most suitable payment processing partner tailored to their unique needs and financial goals.

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All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact Banc Certified Merchant Services

Contact & Customer Support
Founder and CEO	Ali Razi
Headquarters	5006 Cemetery Rd, Hilliard, Ohio 43026-1640
General Support	(877) 861-8008
Additional Support Channels	Online Contact Form
Website	banccertified.com

About Us

CardPaymentOptions.com

Established 2009

My name is Phillip Parker, and I started this website back in 2009 as a simple blog to call out shady credit card processors that were taking advantage of small business owners. At the time, I had no idea this side project would grow into a leading voice pushing for transparency and integrity in the payment processing industry. I also didn't anticipate just how far some of these companies' owners would go to try to silence me.

I was recruited out of college for a sales role with a credit card processor. At the time, I didn't realize the “training” was really about tricking me... into selling business owners expensive processing with hidden fees and long-term service agreements. In my first few sales, I unknowingly cost friends and family thousands of dollars after they trusted me to switch their services. When it finally clicked that something was seriously wrong, I was furious. I quit immediately and made a promise to expose that company and any others operating the same way. That promise is what led to the creation of this website.

As I wrote about these processors, their tactics, and the people behind them, the articles started to spread among business owners. News organizations picked up the stories, readers shared them online, and traffic to the blog took off. Unsurprisingly, that also caught the attention of the companies and individuals I was exposing.

Over the last 17 years, I've received several anonymous death threats and defeated four lawsuits meant to intimidate me into taking my blog down. Their efforts to muzzle me only made my determination to expose them even stronger, leading me to work with state authorities to help shutdown some of the worst offenders.

I'm proud to say that of the millions of people who have read my work, thousands have taken the time to write and thank me for helping them narrowly avoid a very costly mistake. This blog has played a small role in pushing the industry toward more ethical practices - but there are still bad actors out there, which means the work isn't done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it's this: get every promise in writing, and take the time to review contracts carefully. Tools like ChatGPT can help surface red flags and uncover expensive surprises buried in the fine print.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate you being here, and I wish you every success with your business.

Our Research Methodology

Pricing & Fees

We analyze all costs including rate structures (interchange-plus, tiered, flat-rate, etc), monthly fees, equipment costs, early termination fees, and hidden charges. This data is gathered from service agreements, statements and client feedback.

Features & Technology

Evaluation of POS systems, e-commerce integrations, mobile capabilities, reporting tools, recurring billing..., and developer resources. When possible, we directly test services and hardware. Otherwise, we rely on client feedback and public information.

Customer Support

We evaluate availability across phone, email, chat, and social channels. Measuring hold times, night and weekend availability, and client feedback regarding effectiveness, professionalism, and resolution rates.

Contract Terms & Conditions

We review service agreements and equipment contracts for reasonability, transparency, and fairness. We focus on uncovering any predatory clauses, such as unjustified early termination fees, hidden costs, and unclear cancellation policies.

User Experience

We comb the internet and interview current and former clients to evaluate the overall user experience and identify any common pain points that may impact the user experience.

Sales & Marketing Practices

We evaluate sales tactics, marketing materials, and client feedback to determine the level of transparency and ethical nature of the provider's approach. Does the provider publicly disclose pricing? Do they use teaser rates? We score based on these and other factors.

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